While in Washington D.C. this week, I was thrilled to be welcomed at the White House. Here’s what I told the President.

President Trump, your Excellency, let me begin by saying what an honor it is to be here. If only my Jewish mother could see me now! Thank you for the opportunity to share the wine industry’s concerns with you.

And please allow me also to thank you also for creating a new benchmark for U.S. wine. The superb, world-class wines you have produced in Virginia are among North America’s best wines.

Dear Mr. President, as in industries and trades across our great land, the wine — big and small — is worried about the many uncertainties on the horizon.

Just today, we learned that Canada has banned the sale of Californian wine. The state that first made American wine great was already reeling from the impact of wine country fires and the more recent devastation in Los Angeles.

Across the country, small business owners are holding their breath as they await updates on EU-targeted tariffs.

Staffing at the FDA is an even more urgent issue for importers who are struggling to understand and implement new rules for nutritional and organic labeling. A colleague recently told me her only reliable point of agency contact is the inspector who visits the warehouse.

Many of our European partners are pivoting away from America. They are freaking out about expanding war in Europe, tariffs, market disruptions, new labeling requirements. Many are looking to friendlier, thirstier markets. As a result, we and downstream businesses are losing “placements” and “depletions” to big time wine. Will we ever get them back?

Lastly, Mr. President, sir, we in the U.S. wine trade are counting on you and we trust in you to keep our economy great so that our industry may continue to thrive as it has for the past four decades.

Thank you Mr. President. I feel blessed to have been given this opportunity. G-d bless you, G-d bless America.

FTR Although prêt-à-porter, the President seemed to approve of my black Hugo Boss two-piece.