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Feature
Article:
Submitted by Rita Chapman of Indianapolis, IN
A
Presidential History of Wine
California celebrates its
rich wine heritage in the movie, "Sideways."
This state ranks first in wine production within the United States.
The only President born in California, truly experienced an "early
harvest." Yes, "Mr.
Watergate" returned to California with the popularity of a "jug
wine!"
America's
"first distinguished viticulturist," Thomas Jefferson, was born
in Shadwell, Virginia. He
considered fine wines a daily necessity of life and "heartily"
encouraged the development of early viticulture experimentation in
Virginia. Pennsylvania
produced some of the first commercial wines ever produced, showcasing the
Alexander grape, which is a hybrid of vinifera and labrusca wines.
The State of Virginia is home to eight of the forty three
Presidents. This could hardly
be classified as "backwards."
Our
first President, George Washington enjoyed fine foods and wines.
Jefferson served as a wine advisor to Presidents Washington, Adams,
Madison and Monroe. The First
Lady, Martha Washington enjoyed daily toddys.
Martha's "???happy hour" began at 3:00 P. M. and
continued until dinner. Presidents George Washington and James Monroe "celebrate"
Westmoreland County, Virginia as their birthplace.
President
Thomas Jefferson was a true oenophile.
Jefferson, the noted wine connoisseur, felt that wine was a healthy
alternative to harder spirits.
His travels throughout France and Italy developed his
true love of wines and fine foods. He
was known for stocking the White House with fine wines from around the
world. Even though his personal culinary skills were void, he
imported oil from Italy; mustard from France; introduced vanilla and
macaroni to the states and owned the first ice cream freezer on
record.
Jefferson
was truly ahead of his time as he was concerned about Virginia's strong
dependence on tobacco and encouraged
farmers to grow grapes. He
was not known as a heavy drinker, but one who just enjoyed and played a
gracious host. During
his presidency, White House food and wine bills truly did not contribute
to a "balanced budget."
Jefferson is noted as one of the most prolific statesmen of our
country; however, he died leaving debts over $1 million. Jefferson and
President John Adams both died on July 4, 1826.
Bordeaux and Madeira grew successfully during this period. Website:
http://www.monticellowinetrail.org/
Ingleside
Vineyards, located in Oak Grove, VA, lies in Westmoreland County. This
site served as a Civil War Garrison; Washington Academy for Boys;
courthouse and dairy. The
Chesapeake, VA area is known for its great seafood. Several of Ingleside wines are labeled with a crab and are
appropriately called Blue Crab Blanc, Blue Crab Blush and Blue Crab Red.
Ingleside Winery also hosts an annual wine dinner to celebrate
Washington's birthday. Website: http://www.inglesidevineyards.com/index.php
Barboursville
Vineyards is known for its historic ruins of a house designed by Thomas
Jefferson. Barboursville
Vineyards "celebrates" this history by showcasing a picture of
the ruins on its Octagon wine label.
During Queen Elizabeth II's recent visit, this winery was selected
to provide wines for the reception. Viognier,
Octagon and Malvaxia Passito were served.
Some very unusual dessert wines are produced such
as Phileo and Malvaxia Passito. Website:
www.barboursvillewine.com
Virginia
viticulturists are truly proud of their heritage as the First Colony
Winery is named after the first star on the United States flag which is
Virginia. First Colony also
produces a Sweet Shannado wine, named after Shenandoah. Website:
www.firstcolonywinery.com
Jefferson
Vineyards uses a true "vintage" approach as it produces mostly
dry wines on the actual vineyard site of Thomas Jefferson.
This is one of Virginia's most award winning wineries which would
truly make Jefferson proud. Website:
www.jeffersonvineyards.com
Keswick
Vineyards, located in Kenswick, VA, property is connected to the
Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It
offers the only Touriga wine, which is a Portuguese red grape used in
making Port wine. Website:
www.keswickvineyards.com
Oakencroft
Vineyards offers a Jefferson Claret with Jefferson's picture on the label.
Website:
www.oakencroft.com
President
James Monroe, also hails from Westmoreland County, Virginia.
An annual wine festival is held on the grounds of this
President's estate. Website:
http://www.ashlawnhighland.org/
Since Winery Adventures
covers neighboring states, the State of New York and President Martin van
Buren are next on this "capsule" of
Presidents and wines. On
an educational note, a "capsule," is the wrapping which covers
the neck and cork of a wine bottle. van
Buren is from Kinderhook, New York, which is a Dutch settlement named after
"children's in the corner."
van Buren is known as one of the heaviest drinkers thus his
nickname of "Blue Whiskey Van." He developed gout in his 50's associated to his dietary
habits and excessive wine consumption.
The nearest wine region is the Hudson River Valley. New York's Finger Lakes Region is the best known for its
source of sparkling wines and is around 200 miles from van Buren's
birthplace. Some of the
earliest grapes cultivated in New York were the Isabella and Catawba
grapes. The Delaware, Concord, Norton and Clinton grapes also were
pioneers to the New York State wine industry. Website:
http://www.newyorkwines.org/
Surely,
President Tyler of Richmond, Virginia had something to do with the moniker,
"Virginia is for Lovers." Tyler
was a true romantic that loved wines and poetry.
Obviously, he possessed other "affinities!" He was married twice and fathered fifteen children.
The Heart of Virginia Wine Trail is near Richmond, VA.
Grayhaven Winery makes a red wine appropriately named "Rendezvous."
James River Winery offers a unique dessert wine called Dolce Vino. Website:
http://www.hovawinetrail.com/
The
Keystone State of Pennsylvania is the birthplace of President James
Buchanan. Buchanan, of Cove Gap, PA, was a childless President and a heavy
drinker. He ridiculed his
liquor merchants for delivering champagne to the White House in small
bottles. He would travel on
Sundays to purchase larger casks of liquor.
He began drinking cognac and ended with old rye.
Adams County Winery is the closest and
appropriately offers red wines called "Three Ships to the Wind,"
and "Rebel Red." This
wine region has recently established a wine trail called the Mason-Dixon
Wine Trail. Website:
http://www.masondixonwinetrail.com/
Although
Galena, Illinois is most noted for President Ulysses Grant, he was
actually born in Point Pleasant, Ohio.
Point Pleasant is an unincorporated community twenty-five miles
southeast of Cincinnati, Ohio near the Ohio River.
When he was separated from his family he seemed to have
a drinking problem. Supposedly,
President Grant drank whiskey while he led his troops and President
Lincoln supposedly tried to locate the brand to provide to other Generals.
Grant's favorite wine was Norton.
Norton, a dry red wine, is successfully grown in Missouri and
Virginia. It is also known as
Cynthiana. Harmony Hill
Winery, located in Bethel, OH, is the closest to Point Pleasant.
This is a small boutique winery which wine labels truly strike a
chord. They are called Rhapsody; Serenade; Ovation and Concerto.
Harmony Hill Winery is a part of the Nicholas Longworth Wine Trail.
Longworth is an Ohio vintner who made the grape Catawba famous in
the Midwest. Website:
http://www.ohiowines.org/winetrails.shtml
The
next President hailing from the Buckeye State is definitely not known for
his booze! President
Rutherford Hayes hails from Delaware, OH.
First Lady Lucy Hayes, affectionately known as "Lemonade
Lucy," banned alcohol, smoking, dancing and card playing during his
Presidency. The Women's Temperance Movement also gained momentum during
his term. I was
truly hoping not to find any wineries in this area.
The closest winery is Shamrock Vineyards in Waldo, OH, eleven miles
away. No, they do not have
any wines called, "Where's Waldo", or "Lemonade
Lucy!" Delaware,
OH is twenty-two miles from Columbus, OH.
The Capital City Wine Trail resides in this area. Website:
http://www.shamrockvineyard.com/
President
Warren Harding is also from Ohio. Harding's
term was during the Prohibition Era. He hails from Blooming Grove, OH.
The
last President to be explored is President Franklin Roosevelt. His
campaign platform was to end National Prohibition.
He did indeed serve as President and ended Prohibition.
He hails from Hyde Park, New York.
To
end this "presidential history of wines" story, there truly is a
Clinton grape. It
is a red, relatively unknown Red hybrid vine noted for resistance of vine
diseases and immunity to phylloxera.
I
cannot end this without paying more tribute to California.
An unnamed winery in the Sonoma area produces a Zinfandel from a
vineyard called Jackass Hill.
It is appropriately named because it is the steepest vineyard in
California and can be only farmed with a jackass.
Oh,
I almost forgot, President Nixon drank rum and coke.
On this
Fourth of July, celebrate with a toast of wine and honor our Presidents!!
Jefferson would be proud!!
Rita
Chapman is a frequent visitor to the Winery Adventures website.
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In
June, Gary and I had another spectacular trip within our home state of
Ohio. We traveled to the northeast corner of the state and visited
several wineries for the first time (Laleure Vineyards, Buccia Winery,
Markko Vineyards, Biscotti Winery, Tarsitano Winery and Virant Family
Winery). We also re-visited a couple of wineries in the area (Harpersfield
Vineyards, The Lakehouse Inn Winery and Old Firehouse Winery). Two
fantastic discoveries on this trip were the Old Firehouse Cabernet
Sauvignon (this wine is absolutely wonderful) and dinner at Tarsitano
Winery (the chef there, who is also the winemaker, is so talented). Our
only disappointment was that we returned home with a corrupted memory card
and lost all of our photos from this trip. We are in
the process of writing all the reviews, so watch the 
