Presidential Wine Cellar

What have our presidents been drinking?

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George Washington

Back in the days before Nintendo and MTV, people had very limited means of entertaining themselves. Perhaps coincidentally, the consumption of alcohol back then was pretty high too. In fact, President Washington was a big spender when it came to booze. How big? Over $6,000 from September 1775 to March 1776. Mostly on Madeira, and thank god for it. I think much of our first great general’s strategerizing was done over bottles of Madeira!

Photo courtesy Dubes via Flickr/CC

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Tags: Holidays, Gregory Dal Piaz

Comments

TexasBob

106289 2

Ben Franklin was not, of course, a president.

Feb 20, 2012 at 9:31 PM
homestar

512161 83

I've heard Mac McDonald of Vision Cellars tell the story of how his Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir was requested by the White House (pretty sure it would have to be the Bush presidency). Mac had a limited # of cases and would only sell them 2 despite their request for the whole vintage. He also said that Prince Charles drank this wine every night during his stay.

Sorry, Mac, if I got any details wrong. PS, I love this wine too!

Feb 21, 2012 at 8:09 AM
Gregory-
Dal Piaz

Hand of Snooth Voice of Snooth

89065 88,916

Of course Ben Franklin was not a President, though his time in France certainly had an impact on what the Presidents were stocking and drinking.

Feb 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM
lakenvelde-
r

544484 448

Was wonder why Ben was on the list as he was a founding father and not President. He most likely enjoyed wine while in France as an ambassador. I read somewhere he invented the armonica from wine glasses.

Feb 22, 2012 at 8:11 PM