Wine Tasting – Thomas Jefferson, Wine Lover and Collector

Thomas Jefferson’s passion for wine began early in his life, but it blossomed during his years in France (1784–1789) as United States Minister. He traveled through Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, the Rhône, and northern Italy, taking meticulous notes. His journals reveal a striking fact:  many of the wines he admired some 250 years ago are still produced today!

Join WSET-3 Certified Sommelier Philippe Jeanjean in retracing Jefferson’s journey and experiencing his discoveries through a thoughtfully curated selection of  eight wines.  Accompanied by an elegant selection of artisanal cheeses and delightful pâtés, this experience promises a celebration of refined flavors and revolutionary spirit.  

For this tasting workshop, we will follow Thomas Jefferson’s journey through the vineyards of France and sample some of the wines that shaped his vision. Jefferson hoped the young United States would develop its own wine industry and viewed that ambition as an act of patriotism.

Our journey begins in Burgundy, where Jefferson discovered how carefully tended vineyards could produce Pinot Noir wines that were both elegant and “strong enough to bear transportation [to America].” Traveling south to the Rhône Valley, he came to appreciate the profound influence of terroir, describing its reds as producing “the manliest of wines.” He also fell in love with the whites of the southern Rhône, calling them “the first wine in the world without a single exception.”

Following the Canal du Midi toward Bordeaux, Jefferson praised the wines of Tavel near the Pont du Gard as “excellent and well-priced,” and enjoyed the sparkling wines of Limoux, which he found “much to our taste.”

Seating for this event is limited.

Use the BOOK NOW button to purchase tickets,  $60 for BCHS members, $65 for non-members. Become a member and start receiving discounts on event tickets.

This event is sponsored by The Feigenbaum Foundation,  Massachusetts Cultural Council, and Housatonic Heritage.