The Unofficial White House Wine List

The most important wine presidents to date have been Thomas Jefferson – for being obsessed about wine, Franklin D. Roosevelt – for repealing Prohibition and John F. Kennedy – for being the best at partying.

On election night you’ll drink for joy or to drown your sorrows…so why not drink like the president?

The unofficial White House wine list

Discover the wines enjoyed by presidents (at least the non-teetotaling ones) at official state dinners for the last 100 years. The White House has sipped both the best… and the cheapest wines… out there.

Drink Like a President… on the Cheap

Inglenook Pinot-Chardonnay (Harry S. Truman) $6
Paul Masson Rare Sherry (1977 Jimmy Carter) $6
Fetzer Reserve Cab. Sauv. (George W. Bush) $7**
Sterling Chenin Blanc (Gerald Ford) $8***
Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc (President Obama) $11
Charles Krug Gamay Beaujolais (Jimmy Carter) $14****
Korbel Natural Brut N.V. (George W. Bush) $14
Beaulieu Vineyard Cab. Sauv. (1973 Gerald Ford) $16
Barra Pinot Blanc (George W. Bush) $18
 
*Inglenook pinot-chardonnay is now called “Chablis”
**Fetzer no longer produces a “Reserve”
***Chenin Blanc is no longer produced by Sterling
****Now called “Family Burgundy” available as a 4 liter box

The Most Expensive Presidential Wines

Chimney Rock Reserve Cabernet (George W. Bush) $90
Mi Seuno Cabernet Sauvignon “Herren Selecion Rebecca” (Barack Obama) $125
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon (Barack Obama) $150
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon “Hillside Select” (George W. Bush) $245
Chateau Haut-Brion (Harry S. Truman & Woodrow Wilson) $560
Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc (John F. Kennedy) $1000
Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Thomas Jefferson) $1500

The Boss Loves Bubbles

Schramsburg Blanc de Blancs (1977 Jimmy Carter) $25
Schramsberg Cremant Demi-Sec (Bill Clinton & George W. Bush) $37
Piper Heidsieck (enjoyed 1963 Harry S. Truman) $42
Mumm Napa “Carlos Santana Brut” (Barack Obama) $50
Moet et Chandon (Woodrow Wilson & John F. Kennedy) $52
Veuve Cliquot (Grover Cleveland) $55
Dom Perignon (John F. Kennedy) $130

The White House Chardonnay & Pinot Freakout

Chardonnay

Monticello Cellars Chardonnay (Bill Clinton) $30
Ancien Wines Chardonnay (Bill Clinton) $32
Mi Sueno Chardonnay “Carneros” (George W. Bush) $37
Sonoma-Cutrer Les Pierres Chardonnay (George W. Bush) $40
Dumol Chardonnay “Russian River” (President Obama) $49
Paul Hobbs “Ulises Valdez” Chardonnay (Barack Obama) $70

Pinot Noir

Saintsbury Pinot Noir (Bill Clinton) $26
Goldeneye Pinot Noir (Barack Obama) $40
Flowers Pinot Noir (Bill Clinton) $40

What’s For Dessert?

Chateau d’Yquem (Thomas Jefferson) $232
Paumanok Late Harvest (Bill Clinton) $45
Poet’s Leap Riesling “Botrytis” (Barack Obama) $45

Sources
“Menus From History” including notes on Thomas Jefferson from scribd.com
Gerald Ford Official White House Dinner Wines fordlibrarymuseum.gov
“pulling a Nixon” quote from Gregory dal Piaz in Snooth’s Presidential Wine Cellar
“Red Wine, White House” from Winespectator.com
Historic Photograph of Roosevelt from whitehousehistory.org
George W. Bush Presidential Dining and Diplomacy Archives