Jefferson's Wine

The following book is a great read on Jefferson's travels through France and Europe. It documents his food and wine experiences.

http://www.amazon.com/Passions-Wines-Travels-Thomas-Jefferson/dp/product-description/0961352531

Thomas Jefferson is often considered America’s first food & wine connoisseur.   He brought back many fine wines and vine clippings from his travels in France.  At Monticello he experimented constantly with viticulture and winemaking.  The most expensive bottles of wine ever sold at auction came from his private cellar. 

President Jefferson introduced French culinary technique to the Whitehouse. He had an oval table placed in the dining room—there were no heads at the formal dining room table.  He made it a point to pay for his gastronomic habit out of his own pocket. His guests were invited as Thomas Jefferson, not President Jefferson.  During the French Revolution, while in Paris, Jefferson witnessed many of the aristocracy’s top chefs and winemakers taken to the guillotine!

Jefferson is accredited with bringing many foodstuffs to light in American society.  These include Mac N' Cheese, eggplant, Parmesan Cheese, just to name of few. 

To see the effects of Jefferson's efforts, check out Virginia wines.  My favorite Virginia winery is Barboursville Vineyards.  It was designed by Jefferson for his good friend and neighbor James Barbour, the first Governor of Virginia.  Today, Italian born winemaker Luca Paschina does an extraordinary job of preserving the history and producing wines that are reflective of the Monticello Terrior.  Viognier and cabernet franc are the two varieties that are thriving in this region.