Thomas Jefferson, Father of Virginia Wine
Third US President, Statesman, Wine Connoisseur and Advocate
Aug 7, 2009
While Thomas Jefferson is best known as the third president of the United States, Minister to France and Secretary of State, but he was also the 2nd Vice President, Virginia Governor, an inventor, wine connoisseur, gastronome, avid writer and vineyard operator. His role in promoting grape growing and wine in the United States is probably his least known accomplishment, but one of significance to US vineyards. Jefferson's views on wine are supported by many of his quotes such as this one:
No nation is drunken where wine is cheap, and none sober, where the dearness of wine substitutes ardent spirits as the common beverage. - Thomas JeffersonDuring Jefferson's lifetime he became known as a wine expert and his opinions became a matter of historic record, thanks to Presidential Archives and personal records preserved at Monticello, Jefferson's beloved home. His basic wine knowledge and taste preferences were honed during his years in France, as he enjoyed the best wines of France and Europe at both private and public functions.
Upon Thomas Jefferson's return from France, he found that he had been made President George Washington's Secretary of State. A perk of Jefferson's service was to serve as Washington's wine expert, stocking the Presidential wine cellar. Records indicate that the wines favored Champagne and Sauternes preferred by the President. Wines represented at Presidential dinners included wines from Madeira, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, and the United States.
Thomas Jefferson's reputation as a wine connoisseur grew as he also stocked second President John Adam's presidential cellar and his own during his term as third US President. As president, Jefferson earned $25,000 of which he spent more than $7000 on wine in one year to stock the cellar. Presidential records also show that in one month, more than two hundred bottles of Champagne were served at Presidential dinners.
Wine, being among the earliest luxuries in which we indulge ourselves, it is desirable that it should be made here and we have every soil, aspect and climate of the best wine countries. – Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson believed that Virginia's rolling, red clay hills and mild climate were perfect for vine growth. In 1773, Jefferson first tried vineyard growth by hiring an Italian wine merchant and his Italian winemakers. Jefferson related this period as "The Parent of Misery" as this effort was costly, yet produced only a small quantity of American wines and none from imported European Vitis vinefera vines.
For more than sixty years, Jefferson wrote about grape growing and documented his vineyard efforts at Monticello. While his personal foray into wines only saw success as a connoisseur and not a wine producer, he was considered an expert during his lifetime. After leaving public office, Thomas Jefferson once again returned to his goal of having a productive vineyard in Virginia. This foray into grape production was hampered by his limited funds and lasted less than six years with much the same results as his earlier effort; European grape varieties did not adapt to Virginia.
Jefferson's Dream of Virginia Wines is Achieved
Thomas Jefferson's enthusiasm for wine, particularly native grown wines never dampened. His continued chasing of his dream of native wine growing has finally been achieved, as Virginia is now in the top ten US wine producers. Today, his Monticello Plantation is planted with more than 20 varieties of grapes and a successful winery. (www.monticello.org/gardens/fruit/vineyards.html) Jefferson's legacy is evidenced not only in Virginia wines, but the impact his knowledge imparted to future California wine growing. became the basis for today's thriving vineyards in the US. Raise a glass to Mr. Jefferson the next time a Virginia wine is tasted!
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