Today I want to share a story about the reach of The Providence Journal, geographically.
In April, I wrote a story, “Raise a glass to 250 years of US presidents and their favorite wines” about how wines were enjoyed and shared by a handful of presidents, some for diplomatic dinners.
The USA Today Network, of which The Journal is a part, shared my story with papers around the country. The story was featured in the Indy Star in Indianapolis on May 8.
I only know this because Carolyn Bogigian of Indianapolis sent me a thank-you email for the inspiration that led to a July Fourth party hosting her husband’s family.
She read about George Washington’s favorite wine, Madeira from Portugal, and how it was the toasting wine for the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
In fact, President Washington had a love for the historic wine, which he cherished from the 1750s until his death. In 1798, a guest at Mount Vernon noted that Washington “loves to chat after dinner with a glass of Madeira in his hand,” a testament to his lifelong affection for the rich and elegant wine, according to the museum at the Virginia estate.
“That got me to thinking,” Carolyn wrote. “What if I got a bottle of Madeira for toasting July 4th when the family is here to watch the fireworks on our balconies?
“The internet connected me to the Mount Vernon gift shop for George Washington’s favorite Madeira,” she said.
This was news to me.
Indeed, George Washington’s Mount Vernon online gift shop offers bottles of George Washington Special Reserve Madeira Wine for $75.
The wine is made in collaboration with Mount Vernon and imported from Portugal, crafted by Ricardo Freitas of the Barbeito winery. Extensive research into Washington’s correspondence with Madeira suppliers, conducted by wine historian Aaron Nix-Gomez, guided the creation of this special blend. The Madeira combines wines aged 10 to 20 years with exceptionally old vintages to offer depth and complexity.
Carolyn’s plans hit a little snag after that. Mount Vernon can’t ship their wine to Indiana. (They couldn’t ship to Rhode Island either because of our liquor laws.)
“But they do ship to Minnesota, where my sister lives, so I bought it and shipped it to her and she brought it when she came to visit in June,” wrote Carolyn.
It’s good to have sisters in states with more progressive liquor laws, right?
Carolyn’s story doesn’t end there.
“Then I got to thinking. Why not have a 1776 dinner to go with the Madeira?
“So I started doing research on menus and foods/recipes from 1776 and what they might have eaten during that time period. I found some recipes and menus and started testing them. One menu was supposedly what John and Abigail Adams ate during that time. Then I put together a menu for our July 4th Celebration dinner.
“The table setting included a copy of the dinner menu and on the back the Declaration of Independence rolled up with a simple ribbon tie at each place,” she wrote.
Mock Turtle Soup was the first course, followed by a main course of Poached Salmon with Egg Sauce, Green Peas, Boiled New Potatoes and dessert of Molasses Cookies and an Apple Pandowdy, which is a 19th-century traditional American dish that is a cross between a pie and cobbler. She served Anadama and Sally Lunn breads.
She poured the George Washington Reserve Madeira for the historic touch, as well as Aimery Sparkling Crémant Brut along with beer and porter.
There were 14 people altogether, so Carolyn did two different table settings. She spent an entire week getting ready, washing and ironing all the linens, polishing the silver, making floral arrangements and shining up all the glasses.
“I enjoyed every minute of planning and getting ready for the dinner,” she said. She also did all the cooking, adding that it was a bit exhausting.
“All in all, a lovely time was had by all that evening and hopefully an evening that we will all remember and it was started by you! Thank you!”
Thanks to Carolyn for sharing her lovely story inspired by a story written a thousand miles away.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: From Providence to Indiana, how a wine story traveled and inspired
Reporting by Gail Ciampa, Providence Journal / The Providence Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gail Ciampa, Providence Journal | USA TODAY Network
