Trump’s wines trounced 7-0
Donald Trump’s Virginian wines were overwhelmingly defeated by Californian equivalents at a blind tasting held last month.
The brainchild of Evening Standard wine columnist Douglas Blyde, and executed by James Hocking, wine director at The Vineyard Cellars and The Vineyard Hotel, “The Judgement of Our Times” pitted Trump’s wines against those from a selection of Californian estates.
The tasting, the name a reference to the eponymous “Judgement of Paris,” was this time an all-American affair. Held at The Vineyard Hotel, just outside Newbury in Berkshire, Trump’s wines were well and truly trounced.
In keeping with the format of the famous 1976 tasting, the wines were tasted in pairs, matched by style and price point.
The tasting panel included Blyde and also featured Paul Michael (The Vineyard Hotel and Peter Michael Winery,) Richard Siddle (editor of the Buyer,) Juel Mahoney (Wine Woman and Song,) Alastair Viner (head buyer at Hedonism,) Romain Bourger (head sommelier at The Vinyeard Hotel) and Mike Meyeres (head sommelier at Lucknam Park.) The Golden State triumphed 7-0.
Commenting on Trump’s wines, Hocking said: “Although we are known for being Californian specialists, tasting Trump wines was a first for The Vineyard team and was certainly eye-opening. Trumps Cru Fortified Chardonnay is somewhat unusually produced; rather than traditional fermentation, the Chardonnay juice is blended with grape brandy, and then aged in bourbon barrels. The winery describes it as “truly all-American”.
Barack Obama mocked Trump’s wines last year, saying: “I mean, come on. You know that’s, like, some $5 wine. They slap a label on it, they charge you $50 and say it’s the greatest wine ever.”
The Trump Winery, managed by Eric Trump, is the largest vineyard area in Virginia. The wines are currently not available in Europe.
The wine pairings included:
2010 Trump Winery Sparkling Blanc de Blancs, Charlottesville, VA
RSP: £39.60
vs
2013 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs, Calistoga, Napa Valley, CA
RSP:£28.24
* * *
2014 Donelan Family Wines “Venus”, Sonoma County, CA
RSP: £44.80
Partner Content
vs
2015 Trump Viognier, Charlottesville, VA
RSP: £28.05
* * *
2013 Benovia Winery La Pommeraie Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, CA
RSP: £41.07
vs
NV Trump Winery “CRU” Fortified Chardonnay, Charlottesville, VA
RSP: £39.60
* * *
2015 Trump Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Charlottesville, VA:
RSP £28.05
vs
2013 Ferrari-Carano Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, CA
RSP: £25.03
* * *
2013 Peter Michael Winery L’Esprit des Pavots, Knights Valley, Sonoma County, CA
RSP: £69.60
vs
2014 Trump Winery New World Reserve, Charlottesville, VA
RSP: £67.65
The full results of The Judgement of Our Times tasting will appear in today’s (27 April) Evening Standard magazine.
I’m not sure how fair that was – there are a lot better wineries in Virginia than Trumps. If you wanted to do a comparison with a big winery you should have just mtched them against, say, Mondavi
Seems to me this is more about being a publicity stunt rather than a seriously useful comparison. How many bottles of Trump wines are sold in the UK for starters? Comparing an ‘odd ball’ like the Trump Fortified Chardonnay against a Russian River Chardonnay is hardly comparing apples with apples either. Doubtless it was a bit of fun for the organisers and those who participated but as a serious bit of research it would seem to have little value and I doubt will make a jot of difference to the Trump sales either!
I agree with Charles. Quite a few people who may not have been aware of the scope of, or even the existence of “Trump Wines’ will be much aware now, more free publicity for “The Donald”, this time from one of the most esteemed Drinks Industry publications – The Drinks Business.
Agree with other comments. This was clearly for publicity and to make a political statement; rather than to have a wine tasting.
I believe it has value based on the fact that Trump wines are priced far beyond their worth. If you’re going to pit your high profile brand against the premium wines of the world, you better be prepared to back it up with quality in the bottle. As usual, Trump thinks his name is all he needs. Publicity stunt or not, it needs to be said. If the industry doesn’t push back against hollow claims, we are performing a disservice to the public.
Would love to do this same tasting on a varietal by varietal basis. Believe we would win viognier, cab franc, and petit Verdot. Would probably lose cab Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Meritage would be a jump ball. Dave Pollak, Pollak Vineyards, Charlottesville, Virginia
Certainly Trump wines are sold exclusively throughout their hotels, thus if they sell out at the winery what does it matter as one supply chain feeds the other. Is this another example of fake wine, or fake news? I’ll say one thing, maybe they could hire some Mexican labourers to produce better wines (terroir, afterall, starts in the soil).
Just a couple of points to clarify for the authors, who it seems have not had the pleasure of visiting Virginia Wine Country:
Trump Winery does produce a “traditional” Chardonnay that is vinified as a dry white wine that would be a better comparison to any other example of Chardonnay made by “traditional fermentation methods”. It is $22/770ml here’s a link:
http://trumpwinery.orderport.net/product-details/0517/2016-Chardonnay
The CRU Chardonnay produced by Trump Winery is a dessert wine and tasting it vs. a Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a ridiculous comparison. It is described as truly “all-American” because it is an interpretation of port-style dessert wine, yet it is not from Portugal but rather from the USA.
Next, the comparison of 2014 Trump New World Reserve to 2013 Peter Michael L’Esprit des Pavots is less ridiculous than the previous Chardonnay match-up, but remains a mismatch nevertheless. Your pricing is a bit off and can be researched with another quick web search. The going rate on the trump website for New World Reserve is $54/750ml and if you look for some 2013 (an outstanding vintage for CA wines) Peter Michael L’Esprit des Pavots, a quick look on wine-searcher.com gives an average price of $104/750ml. Price-points aside, after tasting Virginia Wines in Virginia just a few weeks ago (including the Trump wines), I would never try to line up their reds against California red wines to make any sort of comparison for better or for worse. They are a completely different palate and approach and they should remain that way. Neither is better or worse, but each has a unique identity.
Lastly, I have tasted two separate vintages of the Trump Blanc de Blanc blind side-by-side with French Champagne as well as domestic sparkling wines in similar price category and the Trump Blanc de Blanc can hold it’s own in this tasting. It is a lovely wine and a great value for Domestic Sparkling done in the methode Champenoise. If the Brits want a run-off on wine quality-for-value ratings, why not throw some of their own bubbly into the mix?
Lastly, for the gentleman who comments that Trump wines are available exclusively at their hotels, this is also misinformation as they are available in restaurant as well as retail establishments in the US as well as online. I can’t comment as to their availability in the international marketplace, but certainly they are in distribution across the U.S. However, many other Virginia wineries I tasted with were not available outside of local distribution channels on the East Coast or at the winery or via winery website or wine club.
Whether this was meant to be a light-hearted comparison or a publicity stunt or political joke makes no difference to me, but if you are going to represent yourselves as wine professionals to either others in the industry or to the consumer, do so with respect for truth and correctness in presenting facts and relevance in presenting your opinions.
Sad event really
There are so many better wineries here in Virginia than Trump!!!! Why pick from our “B” list to judge against California’s “A” list? And some may like the over oaked California Chardonnay, but I prefer steel or neutral oaks we do here in Virginia so I can taste the grape. Try doing the varietals we do best here. Petit Verdot, Tannat, Viognier…
This is the first time i’ve seen an article written about the loser of a blind competition. Regardless of who the Vintnor was it is done out of poor taste
I own a small fringe winery and I would never want
To enter a competition where the people who held the competition announced me as the loser. True competition should be blind.
Most people commenting here seem to have missed the point (except Deborah). This is exposing over priced wines that are marked up considerably because of the name on the label when quality doesn’t warrant it. There are many out there and they need exposing so that consumers don’t get ripped off by these celebrities and wineries who feel a name means we can slap on an unwarranted %.
Also I’m sure this was a very light hearted comparison, some people are far too serious!!