Presenting the potations of presidents past

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), 3rd President of the USA

The Man: Ah, good ol’ T.J. A wine man if ever there was one. His cellar at Monticello was famous for the quantity and quality of the wines housed therein. He even had a sort of dumb-waiter installed that ran from his dining room to the wine cellar in order to shorten the time it took to fetch more vino for his thirsty dinner guests.

The Vice: One of his favorites was Madeira, a fortified wine from Portugal, known for its robust flavor and heady aroma. Jefferson penned the first draft of the Declaration of Independence at a table in Boston’s Green Dragon Tavern (the same place where the Boston Tea Party plot was hatched), accompanied by a constant flow of Madeira. Though not as popular today as it once was, and used more often than not for cooking, you can still get your paws on the good stuff. City Wine on S. Colorado Blvd. offers both Leacock and Cossart Gordon, and Sam’s SE Liquors at the Southlands Mall keeps Cossart Gordon on hand at a very good price. Also, any wine bar worth its corkscrew will have some sort of Madeira on hand. Try the Cork House on E. Colfax.