Obama’s Favorite Wines
Many winemakers and wine clubs have been through gloomy times recently as sales have been hit by the economic downturn, especially in the high end. With a dose of magical thinking, winemakers and vendors are jubilant at Barack Obama’s election to the presidency because he and his wife drink wine. Experts believe that winemakers and vendors have the wrong hopes that their personal consumption will somehow drive sales for a number of reasons. This article looks at whether President Obama’s popularity and his taste for wine will lead to an increase in wine sales.
2008 sales skyrocket
President George W. Bush abstained from alcohol, but during his presidency wine sales soared to the point that in 2008 Americans consumed more wine than any other nation. Experts say it may not be a coincidence because even though the economy began to unravel in 2008, people still had money to handle their denial with a good bottle of wine.
Obama’s wines
Even if President Obama were a more inspiring leader, making people want to emulate his lifestyle, no one really knows what wines he drinks. While the wine detectives are hard at work, they don’t have any concrete information yet. They know that Obama’s Chicago home has a 1,000-bottle wine cellar, but they are unaware of the quantity or types of wine stored there.
Considering President Obama’s propensity to think, many detectives theorize that he has filled his wine racks with books, even though he told People magazine that Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay was a staple in his home. Along with President Obama, legions of Americans buy Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay and most of it is mass-produced generic wine, which means that people who buy it normally don’t pay much attention to what’s in the glass – at least not enough. to cause an increase in the enjoyment of wine. Michelle Obama likes sparkling wine, specifically $ 15 gross from South African producer Graham Beck. Experts believe that this wine may be too dark for many Americans.
Dinners at the White House
Whether or not the Obamas succeed in increasing the nation’s wine sales in some remarkable way, their choices can influence the selection of wines for state dinners at the White House. The Bush administration created a scandal in November 2008 when it hosted an emergency economic summit for world leaders after the global economy began to unravel. Along with dinner, the White House served a Napa cult Cabernet, the Shafer 2003 Hillside Select, which sells variously for $ 250 to $ 500 a bottle, according to the vendor. Although President Bush was not responsible for this election, Two Buck Chuck would have been a more appropriate choice for the occasion.
The three wine selections for President Obama’s post-inauguration luncheon received high praise. These wines included $ 14 Korbel Natural California Champagne, $ 30 Duckhorn 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, and $ 50 Goldeneye 2005 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Some people credit California Sen. Diane Feinstein with those options, as she was the chair of the inauguration committee.
Winemakers and wine clubs have faith that President Obama can fix wine sales along with the economy. As the nation recovers once again, those in the wine industry are hopeful that wine sales will continue.