Political Winery showcased at inaugural balls

A 34-year-old Royal Oak man, who stood in the bitter cold as Barack Obama was sworn in as president, is proving that both Democrats and Republicans love his company’s wine at inaugural parties.

Christopher Trebilcock, a partner with John Helmholdt of Jenison in the Political Winery LLC, provided wine for attendees at Sunday’s party for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Inaugural Yellow Dog Benefit at the Rock and Roll Hotel.

Besides providing wine for Sunday’s event, The Political Winery did the same for the 2009 State Society of Arizona Inaugural Ball Tuesday at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and the Young Professionals Inaugural Ball, also Tuesday, at the President James Monroe Mansion, Trebilcock said in a telephone call from Washington, D.C., where he and his wife, Susan, waited for the inauguration to begin.

“It is truly an honor and privilege to know our political wine will be part of the inaugural celebrations during this historic time,” he said, noting it took four hours to get through security to the reserved section for the inauguration. “We are proud that our specialty Michigan wine is continuing to gain national interest.”

Trebilcock, an attorney, said his company works with the St. Julian Winery of Paw Paw — the largest winery in Michigan — to produce both red and white wines. He is president of the company.

Trebilcock believes political change can come by the bottle or the glass.

The company’s wine is distributed in 40 stores in Michigan, including the Tip Top party store in Royal Oak and the Oxford Wine Shop in Oxford, he said.

The first 300 cases were produced on June 2, he said. The wine costs $14.95 per bottle or a case sells for $162. There are 12 bottles in a case.

“We make two reds and two whites,” Trebilcock said. “The red for Republicans is Red Trunk and the White for GOP members is Eli Blanc.

“The white wine for Democrats is Jack Blue and the red is Jackie O’Rouge,” he added.

The Political Winery company was formed in November 2006. The first generation of political wines was produced on June 2, 2008.

Last July, The Political Winery secured Kent Beverage Co. as its Michigan distributor. Besides being available in Michigan, the wine is available online for shipment to 26 states, he said.