With 4th of July celebrations in the works, Westgarth Wines takes a look at American Presidents’ favorite wines. Whether a wine expert before there even were wine experts like Thomas Jefferson or a careful teetotaler in public and sweet wine lover in private like Calvin Coleridge, the story of wine and the White House occupant is a fascinating one.

Read on to find out if any of your top wine picks are on the Presidential list!

Madeira

Back in the 1700s, fortified wines were very popular in the 13 colonies. War of Independence leader and America’s founding head of state, Washington, was partial to the Portuguese wine Madeira, describing it as a “rich and oily wine”.

Anything French…and Italian, and German, and Spanish, and Portuguese.

The third president was arguably the country’s first unofficial state sommelier, thanks to the advice Jefferson gave the White House on dinner wines when he was both in and out of office. A big admirer of French wines, the cellar at his Charlottesville, Virginia home was stocked with wines from Bordeaux, appreciating the crus nearly three-quarters of a century before they were identified as First Growths. He’s also recognized as being one of the first enophiles to write detailed tasting notes and cellar inventory records. He enjoyed Château d'Yquem as well as Burgundy’s Chambertin, Clos de Vougeot, and Volnay. He loved dry Champagne, Rhône Valley wines, and Sancerre while also appreciating the humorous Italian blend of Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia, Montefiascone Est! Est!! Est!!! He has been quoted as describing White Hermitage as "marked with a touch of sweetness" and the "first wine in the world without exception". Like his fellow countrymen, he also liked a drop of Madeira.

Champagne and Bordeaux…during Prohibition!

Woodrow Wilson was a Champagne and Bordeaux man. The latter part of his tenure coincided with Prohibition (1920–1933), when all alcohol, except for medicinal or sacred use, was banned. On leaving the White House in 1921, Wilson secretly had his fine cellar transported from his former official residence to his home in Washington. Transporting alcohol was also illegal, but the story goes that Wilson didn’t want his successor, Warren G. Harding, who, reputedly, enjoyed a glass or two, to get his hands on the collection. In some ways, Wilson can be forgiven for this act of personal enrichment since he attempted to stand up to the Volstead Act which enforced Prohibition, with a veto – although his reasons were less ideological and moral than pragmatic: A kind of Prohibition had been enforced during WWI, and he saw no reason to extend and expand on the rules during peacetime.

Tokaji…also during Prohibition!

Another leader who had opposed Prohibition, the quiet and reserved Calvin Coolidge, nevertheless, respected the ban in public. In private, he apparently, enjoyed the dessert wine, Tokaji. Coolidge never put a foot wrong in his civic support of Prohibition. Famously, all eyes were on him at a 1928 state dinner in Cuba where he restrained himself and politely refused rare vintages and even the host’s hallmark cocktail, El Presidente.

Dom Pérignon Champagne

Like many Westgarth Wine readers, John F. Kennedy had a soft spot for Dom Pérignon Champagne. JFK admired the spy character, James Bond, who also admired this iconic sparkling wine, which made appearances in Ian Fleming’s novels and the espionage movies. Famously, while his wife Jacqueline had a penchant for Veuve Clicquot, at White House state dinners, Dom Pérignon bubbles flowed.

Anything American

In 1968, Johnson decreed that only American wines be served at official White House functions. While there have been a few exceptions, this wine menu philosophy has stood the test of time in Washington to this day.

Chȃteau Margaux

Whatever you may think about the infamous Richard Nixon of the Watergate scandal, the 37th President had good taste in wines. His favorite was the prestigious Château Margaux, one of Bordeaux’s First Growths, which he is said to have poured secretly at state dinners in defiance of the “only American” rule.

California, New York, South African, and Palestinian wines

Being a former Georgian peanut farmer, Jimmy Carter came from an agricultural background, and he even made small batches of his own wine from American grapes for personal use. During his presidency, he banned liquor at the White House, but at state dinners, top-tier Californian and New York wines graced the table. In travels with his wife Rosalyn, the couple explored international wines and expressed admiration for South African, West Bank, and Gaza producers.

Robert Mondavi, Schramsberg, Jordan, and Grgich Hills

A patriot through and through, Ronald Reagan proudly supported Californian wines at every opportunity. The Hollywood actor-turned-politician was the Governor of California for nearly a decade before becoming President, so he had plenty of opportunity to taste the local wines. He showcased the likes of Robert Mondavi, Schramsberg, and Jordan at White House dinners and even took top-tier Californian wines on official trips, including them in state occasions overseas. Many diplomats also enjoyed a gifted bottle of wine from the Golden State during Reagan’s time in office.

Texas wines

While not having one particular favorite, Bush was known to appreciate the wines of his home state, Texas. He was a fan of red wine, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, which was often featured on the White House dinner table, alongside wines from vineyards across America.

Talley Vineyards Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

Reportedly more of a beer than a wine man, his wife, Hilary, made the historic move, setting a precedent for following administrations, of appointing the first professional wine advisor at the White House. The first in the post was Daniel Shanks from Champagne house Chandon, California, now owned by LVMH Group. Through this influence, official White House events often showcased the cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of California’s Talley Vineyards.

Robert Mondavi, Quilceda Creek, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Thibaut-Janisson, Woodward Canyon, Peza do Rei Ribeira Sacra

While Barack Obama followed the 1968 “American wine first” edict, serving reds, whites, and sparklings from California, Virginia, and Washington State, to name a few, his most famous wine moment is Spanish. In 2009, he served a fruity, floral Galician white wine, Peza do Rei Ribeira Sacra, at a Hispanic Heritage event, boosting its popularity overnight. The wine sold out across Spain and America, giving the wine the nickname “Obama’s wine.”

Worth noting are the Presidents famous for being teetotalers. The list includes George W. Bush, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump. However, while these leaders eschewed alcohol, fine wine was still on the menu for guests at official White House functions.

What do you think of our Presidents’ picks? Let us know on our socials – and happy 4th of July!

Want to read more? Take a look at some of our other blogs here:

• • 15 Iconic American history moments…and wine
  • Six summer pairing ideas
  • Fine wines of war and remembrance