IRON HORSE
At the White House, Toasts Call For Russian River Valley Wine
It’s sparkling and comes from Sonoma.
ON NOVEMBER 19, 1985, THE Geneva Summit brought President Ronald Reagan and the Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev together for the first time. The leaders had gathered in Geneva to ease tensions, draft a roadmap for peace and future diplomacy, and, as Reagan suggested, to consider an alliance in case of an invasion by space aliens.
They had also gathered to eat. On the eve of November 20, a petite soufflé of lobster, suprême of chicken Périgourdine, and an endive salad with mousse de fromage and avocado preceded pear sorbet, petit fours, and coffee. Waiters walked the Summit dining room pouring a 1983 Silverado Chardonnay, a Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon of 1974, and, notably, a 1982 Iron Horse Blanc de Blanc to pair with each course. Ever since, every administration has poured Iron Horse at diplomatic events, making it an unofficial wine of American diplomacy.
Sonoma’s Iron Horse Vineyards, which had only produced its first vintage of sparkling wine in 1980, owes this diplomatic connection to David Berkley, CEO of David Berkley Fine Wines & Specialty Foods in Sacramento, California. Berkley knew the Reagans from their time as Governor and First Lady of California, and after Reagan became the President in 1981, Berkley “became the unpaid wine advisor” to the White House, says Joy Sterling, owner and CEO of Iron Horse Vineyards.
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https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/wine-white-house