If you haven’t gotten a chance to read The Billionaire’s Vinegar, by Benjamin Wallace, consider adding it to your list. It tells of the story of a bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite Bordeaux which sold for $156,000 in 1985. Supposedly originally purchased by Thomas Jefferson back in the day, and possibly a clever fake, the book weaves the story of rare collectible wines, the industry that does not want to expose frauds, and a mystery that is, even today, being discussed in the headlines. Thomas Jefferson’s role as a wine collector, plays a large role in the book.

Domaine Carneros Taittinger 2005 Brut Cuvée
Napa, CA
12.0% alcohol
Est. Price: $26.99
(sparking wine cork)

Presidential story…
Bill Clinton served this winery’s Le Rêve sparkling wine for President Rawlings of Ghana in 1999. A little pricey at $85/bottle, so we went with something a little more affordable. It was paired with mango, pineapple ice cream and Gold Bars chocolate.

Critics say…
91 pts. Wine Spectator

FSW students say…
B+ 

Duckhorn Vineyards 2009 Sauvignon Blanc
Napa, CA
13% alcohol
Est. Price: $28.24
(cork)

Presidential story…
President Obama had this wine at his inauguration luncheon. It was paired with a seafood stew in puff pastry cups.

FSW students say…
C+

Potel Savigny-les-Beaune 2006 Burgundy Rouge
Nuits-St. Georges
Cote d’Or, France
13% alcohol
Est. Price: $26.99
(cork)

Presidential story…
One of Thomas Jefferson’s favorite wine growing regions, the Cote d’Or in Burgundy was on many of his stops in France – he was the ambassador to France in the 1780s.

Critics say…
90 pts., Wine Spectator

FSW students say…
B-

Château Aney Haut-Médoc2007 Bordeaux Rouge
Haut-Médoc, France
13.0% alcohol
Est. Price: $29.99
(cork)

Presidential story…
Richard Nixon was notorious for having himself served the finest French Bordeaux wines, while his guests were served much less expensive reds. Remember his nickname was “Tricky Dick.”

FSW students say…
A-

Pacific Rim 2007 Vin de Glaciere Riesling Selenium Vineyard
Columbia Valley, WA
10.5%alcohol
Est. price: $13.99
(cork)

Presidential story…
George W. Bush served this wine to the president of Poland in 2002, (back then it was Bonny Doon Muscat Vin de Glaciere,) paired with peaches and cherries, ginger-almond ice cream, and cookies. Now it has been spun off as a part of the Pacific Rim line and is made with Riesling grapes from WA.

FSW students say…
B-