As host of the popular weekly radio show and podcast the thomas jefferson hour, jenkinson applies jeffersonian perspective to current events. Before his journey to france in 1784, jefferson, like most of his countrymen, had been a consumer of madeira and port, with the occasional glass of red wine. This fascinating book chronicles the evolution of thomas jeffersons love and appreciation of fine wine. The best account given of his short but actionpacked visit to bordeaux comes care of. Thomas jefferson books wine 1793 autograph letter signed. By 1814 when the british burned the nations capitol and the library of congress, jefferson had acquired the largest. The goal at thomas jefferson wine company is to be recognized as the most professional and authoritative source for strategic advice in the fine wine industry.
Drinking habits of founding fathers of america thrillist. Exploring thomas jeffersons love of wine journal of the. Throughout his life, books were vital to thomas jeffersons education and wellbeing. Thomas jefferson on wine is the definitive account of a founding fathers lifelong pursuit of good wine. However, it is jefferson who stands as a symbol of this american love affair with bordeaux. Jefferson the englightenment thinker, jefferson the inventor. In both his personal and public lives, jefferson wielded his considerable expertise to influence the drinking habits of his friends, other founding fathers, and the american public away from hard liquor toward the healthier pleasures of wine. Jefferson is usually assumed to be a bordeaux man, in part because he wrote about it most and in part because bordeaux seems like the wine that reflects his character. Shadwell burned to the ground in 1770, destroying nearly every paper and book jefferson owned except for a few of his pocket account books, which are the sole source of his brief comments. It was touted as a rare bottle owned by thomas jefferson, with 1787 lafitte and th. In my book, thomas jefferson on wine university press of mississippi 2006, readers can now chronologically explore the evolution of thomas jeffersons tastes in wine as well as food, since you. And in 2012, the thomas jefferson foundation and monticello agreed. This bottle was a bordeaux, a 1787 chateau lafite, and, according to the guinness book of world records, 18 years later it still is the worlds most expensive bottle of wine.
The book then begins to focus on the sorry tale of the legal proceedings over the authenticity of the jefferson bottles, drawing into the discussion the thorny issue of counterfeit wine in. New book on jefferson bottles riddled with inaccuracies. University press of mississippi, 2006 dlc 2006010989 ocolc65978537. Wine, and jeffersons love of it, is a window through which we can better see and understand jefferson in all of his forms.
Since much of the finewine business is conducted in offthebooks. Broadbent, the legendary former head of christies wine department, alleges that wallace defamed him in his gripping whodunit about the socalled thomas jefferson bottlesa trove of wines initially. Book for the past decade, i have been working on a book which chronicles my 40 years in the wine industry. Founding father of wine thomas jefferson napa valley. The controversial german wine collector who will be forever linked to what many regard as one of the greatest wine frauds in history, the discovery and sale of the thomas jefferson bottles, has. I highly recommend it for those interested in wine and for those interested in jefferson.
Thomas jefferson was the nations third president, our first ambassador to france, an inventor and master gardener. Thomas jefferson on wine by john hailman, paperback. The story hinges on a bottle of 1787 chateau lafite supposedly owned by third us president thomas jefferson, authenticated and sold in 1985 to the forbes family for a record. Thomas jefferson, described as americas first distinguished viticulturist and the greatest patron of wine and wine growing that this country has yet had, established two vineyards at monticello.
Thomas jeffersons observations about wine wouldnt seem out of place in the current issue of wine spectator. He may also have been americas first wine connoisseur something. Jon meacham received the pulitzer prize for his 2008 biography of andrew jackson, american lion. Wine with thomas jefferson, thomas jeffersons favorite. My successes, failures, near misses, and the lessons i learned with the insight of todays. Gaye wilson talked about the clues in thomas jeffersons dress and mannerisms that reveal how he wished to present himself and his politics in the new republic. Historian calls for return to jeffersonian principles with. Through a combination of original research, imaginative writing, and beautiful illustrations, james gabler has captured an intimate portrait of thomas jefferson at leisure, enjoying two of his passionswine. Hailman brings jefferson to life for modern americans. Jefferson vineyards wines wine shop current releases. In thomas jefferson on wine, john hailman celebrates a fou. In 1985, a german rockmusic impresarioturnedwine dealer named hardy rodenstock claimed to have come into possession of a handful of bottles that he said were originally owned by. Alex henderson said in his history of ancient and modern wines, published the year after jefferson died, that his contemporaries thought canary wine to be the richest, the most firm, the best.
Thomas jefferson on wine by john hailman, paperback barnes. In this book, he distills jeffersons ethos into themes. His wine interest is so much part of his travels in europe that the subjects are aptly combined here. The level of the wine was exceptionally high for such an old bottlejust half an. Thomas jefferson on wine by john hailman overdrive. We are pleased to offer a diverse portfolio of wines best suited to our unique terroir along virginias blue ridge mountains. We dont believe those bottles ever belonged to thomas jefferson, she. As such, the text is divided into the following relevant. International wine judge and syndicated columnist john hailman traces jeffersons evolution from. In both his personal and public lives, jefferson wielded his considerable expertise to influence the drinking habits of his friends, other founding fathers, and the american public away from hard liquor.
Both were situated in the south orchard, below the garden wall. To jefferson, wine was a metaphor for the positive attributes and. Thomas jefferson is so well known that it is difficult to find a book about him that offers new insight into his multifaceted character. Flip through thomas jeffersons 18th century wine records. In thomas jefferson on wine, john hailman celebrates a founding fathers lifelong interest in wine and provides unprecedented insight into jeffersons character from this unique perspective. Thomas jefferson on wine by john hailman goodreads. An evening with thomas jefferson wine dinner colonial.
If you are interested in thomas jeffersons interest in wine and viticulture, this is the book to get. In celebration of thomas jeffersons birthdayapril we are digging deep into this founding father of wine and third potus grapegrowing experiments from his celebrated home in monticello, virginia. Especially useful appendices at the end, including a listing of jeffersons favorite wines that are. The name thomas jefferson immediately evokes thoughts of the enlightenment, and two of its prime attributes, wine and books. He is also the author of the new york times bestsellers thomas jefferson. My successes, failures, near misses, and the lessons i learned with the insight of todays 2020 vision.
463 950 1640 260 228 1647 974 1082 23 240 646 75 598 1330 177 82 1336 714 78 1113 1507 598 669 890 1002 1541 1441 576 1622 866 1037 891 270 1402 869 892 498 1409 719 235 1138 990 171 1350 1323