Queen Enjoys California Wines at White House Dinner
On their recent trip to the United States, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, were honored with the first white tie dinner of George Bush’s presidency. Dignitaries enjoyed three California wines along with a five course meal prepared by White House chefs.
The first wine poured was the Newton Chardonnay “Unfiltered” 2004. Made with grapes from the Carneros wine region, this wine was fermented with natural yeasts and aged in French oak. It has a nice mix of fresh, citrus flavors and tropical fruit notes. The Wine Advocate has called this wine, “Consistently one of California’s finest, longest-lived Chardonnays…”
The Newton Chardonnay was followed by the Peter Michael Les Pavots 2003. This is a single vineyard wine made with grapes grown at an elevation of 1,800 feet on Mt. St. Helena. Les Pavots was originally developed by famed winemaker Helen Turley during the mid 1980s. The 2003 is a Bordeaux blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, and 5% Petite Verdot.
The final wine served was the Shramsberg Brut Rose 2004. Over the past few decades, Schramsberg sparkling wines have been enjoyed many times at presidential events and dinners. Probably the most famous occasion was the 1972 “Toast to Peace” by President Nixon and China’s Chou En-Lai.
Overall, it was a great day for the California wine industry. To see the complete menu for the White House dinner, click here.
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