With the presidential primary elections quickly approaching I started pondering: If I were to describe the 2008 presidential candidates by comparing them each to a type of wine, which wines would I pick?

I tried to do this in a non-partisan way (i.e. I lambasted both dems and republicans, although a few got off clean).  You might be able to figure out my personal picks, but then again you may be surprised—my wine preferences don’t necessarily mirror my political picks.  I also tried not to get too obscure with the wine choices, although there may be better picks for some of these candidates if I did. 

This won’t make or break the campaign for anyone, but it may influence the wine choices for a few ardent supporters of the candidates.

Joe Biden: Merlot
Generic red wine sums up the personality of Merlot.  It’s proven and impressive, but overly familiar.  Merlot is often compared to Cabernet Sauvignon, but its flavor is less distinctive.  Similarly, Joe Biden makes a strong effort and he has some good ideas, but there’s nothing really exciting about him. 

Hillary Clinton: Chardonnay
Fans of Chardonnay think of it as elegant, complex and cheery.  A well made Chardonnay features bold, ripe, rich and intense fruit flavors. As a grape, Chardonnay tends to be fairly neutral and can be manipulated by winemakers to take on different characteristics—just as critics of Hillary accuse her of being manipulated by popular opinions and polls.

Chardonnay is a popular wine with a broad base of supporters.  In fact, I believe it’s the most consumed wine in the US.  But those that don’t like Chardonnay totally friggin hate it! 

John Edwards: Riesling
The first impression most people have of Riesling is its sweetness, which is also the first impression many have of John Edwards.  But Riesling doesn’t always have to be sweet.  When Riesling is really great it’s about clarity.  That is a characteristic where you can clearly taste the wines flavors in a simple way versus the thick and creamy personality that many other white wines have.

Riesling is fluid and can take on different characteristics, making it an interesting and versatile varietal.

Rudy Giuliani: Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a remarkably steady and consistent performer.  It has a lot of character with great intensity and depth of flavor.  It’s such a bold wine that it’s almost arrogant.  Similarly, some appreciate Rudy Giuliani for being strong but he can be disturbingly smug.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most “marketable” wines, as many people are familiar with it and have been impressed by it at one time or another.

Mike Huckabee:  Chenin Blanc
It is pleasant and refreshing, but subtle and understated.  Think light tones of melon, peach and citrus.  The characteristics of Chenin Blanc vary from dry and fresh to sweet.  Although it’s often overlooked or disregarded, Chenin Blanc is a strong performer with a lot of potential.  It has proven itself a strong contender in many ways: dry, sweet and sparkling.

Dennis Kucinich: Beaujolais Nouveau
Impatient, uncomplicated and quirky, Beajolais Nouveau is a very unique wine.  It makes a bold statement by being the first to scream, “I’m here!”  But it hasn’t taken the time to mature and refine its characteristics.  There are a few die hard fans, but most people really don’t like it.   If you still have some around by spring you might as well toss it because it won’t be any good by then.

John McCain: Zinfandel
Red Zinfandel, to be specific.  Not the sweet, fruity White Zinfandel style of wine.  The popularity of Zinfandel fluctuates.  At moments everyone’s excited about it, and then suddenly nobody’s buying it.  Zinfandel gives you an appreciation for old vines.  It’s often thought of as being spicy, which is when it is most interesting.

Barack Obama: Syrah
Oh, Syrah is a smoooooth wine.  Syrah (or Shiraz as it’s known in Australia) has grown in popularity in recent years, but may have not reached its peak yet.  Its combination of rich character and approachability make it first choice for many.  It can be very complex and a bit spicy, yet always silky smooth and comforting.  Syrah is a a majestic wine and it should age well.  

Ron Paul: Gewürztraminer
Those who like Gewürztraminer really think it’s something special.  But it tends to be a wine that either you like it or you don’t, which gives it somewhat of a cult following.  It can be seen as a bit off the wall and unpredictable.  Its aromas—floral, spices and tropical fruit—are insistent, if not exaggerated, and won’t go unnoticed.  It probably has the most distinct flavor profile of any grape, but that doesn’t mean it will be appreciated by everyone.

Bill Richardson: Grenache
Grenache is a medium-bodied, very approachable and pleasing varietal.  It’s typically thought of as a rather simple, fruity wine, but at times it’s unpredictable which adds a little spice.  Grenache is a popular blending grape.  I like the way Appellation America puts it, “Grenache you’re the most famous backup guitarist.” Similarly, I’ve heard many pundits characterize Bill Richardson as a Vice Presidential candidate (i.e. the backup guitarist).

Mitt Romney: Cabernet Franc
Some Americans find Cabernet Franc a bit mysterious as they are not yet strongly familiar with it, but it has some impressive characteristics.  While many are distracted by the boldness of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc offers softer tones that are more aromatic and fruity than Cabernet Sauvignon.  Graceful and elegant, Cabernet Franc is a great compliment to a Cabernet Sauvignon and when blended the two create wonderfully complex and exciting wines.

Fred Thompson: Muscat of Alexandria
Muscat or Alexandria is not particularly aromatic and as such can be considered not very cerebral—just like Fred Thompson.  It’s considered an ancient vine and it commonly used for producing raisins.  It tends to be a sweet, simple wine.  In fact so simple that unlike other varietals you might say it just tastes like grapes. 

Final Thoughts

There were a few candidates about whom I don’t know very much and I left them off this list: Chris Dodd, Mike Gravel, Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo.  And frankly I think they are hardly in this race anyway.

You may disagree with some of my assessments of the candidates (or of the wines) but hey… it’s all just for fun anyway.  Cheers!