Reagan championed Californian wines, collaborating with local vineyards to elevate their profiles. He even designed wine and food pairings for state dinners, aiming to introduce distinguished guests to the exceptional offerings of Californian vineyards. Reagan meticulously selected wines, ensuring only the finest were served, often tasting them in advance to assess their quality.
Other presidents shared his love for wine. Figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Richard Nixon also had a taste for it. However, it was Reagan and his team who made a concerted effort to put Californian wines on the global stage.
Reagan’s wine cellars were legendary
While many former presidents stocked fine wines at the White House, Reagan took it a step further by having two separate cellars on the premises. The official White House wine cellar existed, but Reagan maintained an additional collection secretly tucked away in a closet in Michael K. Deaver’s office.
His collection included prestigious wines, boasting treasures like a 1962 LaTache, a 1947 Lafite Rothschild, and a Haut Brion from the same year. Despite his taste for expensive wines, he never overlooked the excellence of domestic options. Reagan’s cellars were abundant with California chardonnays, cabernet sauvignons, and pinot noirs, which he proudly shared with presidential guests.
Yet, Reagan’s palate also extended to cocktails enjoyed discreetly with his wife at their California ranch. He indulged in daiquiris, margaritas, screwdrivers, and even canned cocktails, but he had little interest in hard liquor. Many former U.S. Presidents leaned towards stronger spirits, including James Madison and Andrew Jackson, but for Reagan, it was all about the exquisite wines and highlighting California’s rich offerings to the world.
