Chair's Message

What can we say about our redheaded founding father that has not been said before, and often at that? Well, James M. Gabler did it, and in a fascinating, effervescent, and most palatable fashion. He served up the fruits of his research which culminated in the publication of his book Passions: The Wines and Travels of Thomas Jefferson. A lesser student of history, or a more self-concerned connoisseur could not have treated this basically unknown aspect of Thomas Jefferson's life with such a passion. From Jefferson's 1773 meeting with an expatriate Italian revolutionary minded vintner to the planting of his own vineyards. From his perusal of the account books of Monticello to his accounting of how many bottles of wine Jefferson bought within a few weeks of assuming his post as agent in Paris -- 270, while his good friend Benjamin Franklin had 1,110. Mr. Gabler is to be commended for increasing our knowledge of this founding father, and doing it in such an interesting and pleasing manner. We even partook of a wine at our dinners which would not have been unknown to Mr. Jefferson.

ARRT Home Page

Dave Jacobs