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Warren faces backlash for ripping Buttigieg’s ‘wine cave’ event
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s attack on Democratic rival Pete Buttigieg for holding a fundraiser in an opulent wine cave in Napa Valley sounded like sour grapes to New York’s flourishing wine industry.
“Senator Warren is a little misinformed. Her comments were unfortunate and a misstep on her part,” fumed Jeff Shepley, president of the Seneca County Chamber of Commerce in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine region.
“Clearly Sen. Warren hasn’t been to the Finger Lakes wineries. If she did she would see how vital the wineries are to the economic health of upstate,” he said. “We’re talking salt of the earth. Our wineries are multi-generational, family owned and are the most accessible and opposite of elite.”
The reaction came in response to Warren raking Buttigieg over the coals in Thursday’s sixth Democratic presidential debate. “Billionaires in wine caves should not pick the next president of the United States,” Warren scolded.
Meaghan Frank, the fourth-generation operator of Dr. Frank Wine Cellars near Keuka Lake, said, “Warren perpetuated an old-school antiquated stereotype that wine is an elitist beverage. I don’t know if she’s aware of the economic impact of wineries, particularly in rural areas.”
The Frank winery directly employs 50 people, and she noted the industry is less snooty these days with wine sold in cork-less bottles, cans and bags and boxes.
“These are real people doing real work in the wine industry,” she said.
Frank said Warren should lighten up.
“Wine is for everybody. I don’t see having a fundraiser at a wine cave as a problem,” Frank said.
She said there are now 400 wineries in New York state, up from just a handful when her great-grandfather started the family business.
The New York wine industry accounts for 62,450 jobs and generated $13.8 billion in economic activity in 2017, according to National Association of Wineries.
The California wine industry generates 325,000 jobs in the Golden State and $57.6 billion in economic activity. The Democratic Party debate was held in Los Angeles on Thursday.
New York State Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs — who resides in winery-filled Long Island — said Warren flopped with her wine cave demonization of Buttigieg.
“She made a mistake. It was a fundraiser held in what we used to call a wine cellar. It’s no different than having a fundraiser at a restaurant,” Jacobs said.
Asked if Warren hurt her political chances in New York, Jacobs said, “I’m having a glass of wine tonight. Let’s leave it at that.”
Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was pictured dining in Hall Rutherford Wine cave, beneath a chandelier decked in 1,500 Swarovski crystals.
The wine cave also features an onyx banquet table to reflect the chandelier’s lights and bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon that sell for as much as $900 a pop.
The fundraiser was hosted by Craig and Kathryn Hall, the winery’s billionaire owners.
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