Hárslevelű (HARSH-leh-veh-loo)

Aromatic Hungarian grape that lends a smooth spicy character to the renowned botrytized sweet wine Tokay Aszú. Native to Hungary, hárslevelű is a progeny of furmint.

The official wine buyer for the White House carries what title?

A. Usher

B. Sommelier

C. Federal Taster

D. Secretary of Beverages

The person whose job it is to buy wine for the White House carries the title of “Usher.” The practice dates from the mid-nineteenth century when presidents chose their own White House staff and paid for them. Doormen (or “Ushers”) tended to remain employed over the course of several administrations since they were the individuals who knew best how the White House worked. Today the White House has a formal Usher’s Office through which all wine is purchased. That wine, since the Carter Administration, has always been American, and no free samples or donations are allowed.

“When I first started, there weren’t really any Black wine professionals—spotting one was like seeing a unicorn. When you see someone who looks like you, engaging in something that you never thought was for you, it’s a game changer.”

—André Hueston Mack, sommelier, author and winemaker Maison Noir Wines

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