Monticello AVA |

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

The President celebrated his first State Dinner last night. There were a lot of complaints about the timing of the dinner being a couple of nights before Thanksgiving and though I haven’t heard it said aloud YET, I am sure that there will be complaints that the menu contained a vegetarian option.

Since the dinner was given in honor of Dr. Manmohan Singh, a Sikh, this is totally appropriate (plus there was a seafood option, you big babies).

I am including the menu from the dinner along with the wine pairings below:

The State Dinner Menu

First
Potato and Eggplant Salad
White House Arugula with Onion Seed Vinaigrette
2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Modus Operandi, Napa, California

Red Lentil Soup with Fresh Cheese
2006 Riesling, Brooks “Ara,” Willamette Valley, Oregon

Entree
Roasted Potato Dumplings
with Tomato Chutney
Chick Peas and Okra

or

Green Curry Prawns
Caramelized Salsify
with smoked Collard Greens
and Coconut Aged Basmati
2007 Grenache, Beckmen Vineyards, Santa Ynez, CA

Dessert
Pumpkin Pie Tart
Pear Tatin
Whipped Cream and Caramel Sauce
Sparkling Chardonnay, Thibaut Janisson Brut, Monticello, Virginia

Petis Fours and Coffee
Cashew Brittle
Pecan Pralines
Passion Fruit and Vanilla Glaces
Chocolate-Dipped Fruit

I loved that the wines were all American (there IS Indian wine), although this has become more common over the last couple of years… so the thing that I am clinging to is Thibaut Janisson Brut, Sparkling Chardonnay from Charlottesville, Virginia in the Monticello AVA.

So, the President believes in local wine!!! yeah!

Viva la Locapour! (‘Viva’ seeming inappropriate for a holiday that we associate as being New England in origin, aka Thanksgiving, but so be it!) On the other hand, Monticello is a perfect ‘American’ holiday connection as Thomas Jefferson was a founding father, Ambassador to France and one of America’s first vintners.

Yes, I am all over the place. I am tired. And geeked out at the same time.

Happy Thanksgiving!