“Vive la France and God bless America,” let’s drink!

So what wine do you serve the President of France at President Biden’s first official State Dinner? California wine, of course! More specifically:

• The party started with the Roederer Estate Brut Rosé NV.
• This was followed by the Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay ‘Napa Valley’ 2018 with butter poached Maine lobster and American Osetra Caviar.
• The main course featured the Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Knights Valley’ 2019 with calotte of beef and shallot marmalade followed by a course of American cheeses from Oregon, California and Wisconsin.
• And finally, dessert was an Orange chiffon cake and roasted pears with citrus sauce along with crème fraiche ice cream. Sadly, no wine was listed for this course but I bet you someone had a bottle of Brandy or Cognac stashed under the table.

Besides their California link, what do these wines all have in common? You guessed it, ties to France. The Roederer Estate Brut Rosé NV hails from Mendocino County but is owned by a French Champagne house. The Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay ‘Napa Valley’ 2018 is owned by French luxury powerhouse LMVH and the Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Knights Valley’ 2019 is produced in Sonoma County but crafted by a Bordeaux winemaker, Pierre Seillan. And, of course, all wines were served in French Baccarat crystal.

Paying homage to the French ties is not uncommon at State Dinners for French Presidents. Donald Trump served Macron an Oregon Domaine Serene Chardonnay whose vines started from plantings in Dijon, France, and an Oregon Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir that traces its roots to Burgundy. Barack Obama served then French President François Hollande a Virginia Thibaut-Janisson Chardonnay, which was founded by two French guys.

If you get an inkling to drink like a President, click on the links above and order a bottle or two. If they’re sold out because your fellow viewers beat you to it, just cut and paste the wines into Google and see where a deal might be lurking. As always, Happy Hunting!