From a Jackson Family Wines Press Release
Jess Jackson, majority owner of reigning Horse of the Year Curlin and owner of Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates, sent two cases of the winery's chardonnay to President-elect Barack Obama as a congratulatory gesture Nov. 6.
A recent story in People magazine profiling the family life of then-candidate, now President-elect Barack Obama mentioned that a bottle of Kendall-Jackson chardonnay sat on the Obamas’ kitchen countertop. It seemed only fitting that the California winemaker send a few congratulatory cases of the brand to the incoming President for his new wine cellar on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates sent two cases of its finest to President-elect Obama, care of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C. The cases contained America’s number-one best-selling chardonnay for the past 18 years—Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay.
“Our Vintners’ Reserve Chardonnay was a favorite in the Reagan Republican White House,” said winery founder Jess Jackson. “Now with a new Democratic administration coming in and charged with bringing our country together, we find that our wine provides some common ground for that.”
Whether or not the brand becomes a staple in the White House wine cellars, it has been the policy of past administrations to serve only American wine at state functions.
Also included in the wines being shipped to Obama is a special bottling of Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, featuring a label developed for the Breeders’ Cup, in which 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin ran last month, finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) Oct. 25.
“Curlin is one of the greatest horses of this century, winning five of seven races this year across two continents,” said Jackson. “Like the President-elect, he knows what it takes to win tough races, change the landscape, and hopefully, gather votes. In any case, we will raise our glasses to them both.”
