Influence on American Wine

Hello Wine Friends!

Today I would like to talk about the influence Thomas Jefferson had on the American wine scene. He obviously was the second President from 1801-1809 and helped to build and expand Monticello (his home) but he envisioned America planting and growing grapes and producing wines as good as the Europeans and particularly the French. He served as Minister to France and lived in Paris on the Champs-Elysees and became very fond of Lafite wines. Jefferson was not the only founding Father of our country to have a fondness of the grape, Ben Franklin did as well. Franklin called wine "proof that God loves us and likes to see us happy." The heck with electricity, get on with the wine!

When he first started to add on to Monticello the first part constructed was the cellar. As the second governor of Virginia he had access to the official stock of Bordeaux, Champagne, Burgundy and German Rieslings and enjoyed every minute of it! But it wasn't just drinking wine that Jefferson was in to, he believed that true independence meant agricultural self-sufficiency. Americans would have to make their own wine if they didn't want to rely on imports.

He first planted vines at Monticello in 1771, a few years before his trip to Europe. He encouraged an Italian immigrant named Filippo Mazzei to plant European wine-grape varieties by giving him 193 acres in Monticello's backyard. Both efforts failed, but Jefferson remained hopeful for American wine.

Jefferson traveled throughout France's different wine growing regions to learn their ways and and to acquire valuable knowledge that would later help with the American efforts. His trip in 1787 made Jefferson the greatest wine connoisseur writing in any language at the time!

Would our wine producing regions be what they are today without Jefferson's influence and passion to make America competitive with Europe? Tough question... but I believe the answer is Jefferson certainly had an impact on the American wine scene.

You may recall that not too long ago Christie's (The famous English auction house) sold a bottle of Lafite 1787 that was supposedly from Jefferson's private collection. (That is still out for debate) I believe the selling price for the bottle was $75,000... my oh my!

Down to the "nitty gritty" my wine review. I'll make it short and sweet... Chateau St Jean Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has complexity, depth and richness that certainly surpasses the $9.99 price tag!

Cheers!

J