Trump’s Sparkling Wine Triumphs!

It seems the Trump name is big not only in business and politics (don’t worry, we’re not going there) but also in the world of wine. Launched in 2011, Trump Winery is home to Virginia’s largest vineyard (you expected anything less than “yuge?”) and offers a variety of red, white and sparkling wines. Eric Trump, The Donald’s son, is the winery’s owner, and as president, he oversees everything from winemaking to sales and distribution.

So far, some of their most lauded wines are sparklers. The winery’s 2009 Sparkling Blanc de Blanc garnered 89 points in Wine Enthusiast and won double gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

But what really is setting the wine world afire today is Trump’s success in the most important and longest-standing competition for bubblies, the International Sparkling Wine Symposium. Launched on April 1, 1900 and held in Reims, France, the Symposium is a week of education topped off by a blind tasting of the world’s finest sparkling wines—always held on the Symposium’s founding day. In the competition’s 115-year history, wines from Champagne have won the title 98 times. In the other 17 years, the gold award has gone to a mix of Spanish Cavas, Italian Proseccos and French Cremants. Never has a wine from the new world won. Until now.

C’est Vrai?

Earlier today, the Symposium announced its gold award winner and you guessed it: Trump 2010 Sparkling Blanc de Blanc took home the prize. As you can imagine, the French are up in arms. Judges are being accused of accepting payoffs and rumors are flying that Eric’s papa Donald is going to start a hostile takeover of Veuve Clicquot in order to amass prized land in the hallowed Champagne region.

The only thing that can save the French from The Donald? That charming tradition some think might have roots in France, April Fool’s Day.

It’s true that the Trump family makes wine—including that 2009 Blanc de Blanc that won the award in San Francisco. And it’s true the Trumps own that big vineyard in Virginia. But the rest of this story? Yes, it’s an April Fool’s Day joke. Here’s hoping yours is made happy by lots of jokes just like this one. Cheers to all of us April Fools!