November 19th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• A report from The Present State of Europe, Volume 17 (1706) indicates that the British soldiers are greatly recovered and had received gifts of refreshments from the King of Portugal that included 20 pipes of wine as well as oranges and lemons.

• Vermont established rules regarding wine measures in 1839.

• California's Guenoc Valley AVA was designated in 1981.  British Actress Lilly Langtry and courtesan, once owned a winery in the valley.

• Spain's Vinos de Madrid DO was created in 1990.

• Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney, died in 2013.  She along with her husband, owned Silverado Vineyards.

November 18th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Ignace Paderewski, Polish pianist, composer and statesman was born in 1860.  In 1913 he moved to Paso Robles, California and later planted Zinfandel.

• The California Fruit News of 1916, indicated that the steamship “Governor” left San Francisco for British Columbia with a shipment of wine, fruits, vegetables and legumes. 

• California's Sierra Foothills AVA was designated in 1987. 

• Belgium's "Heuvellandse wijn,” "Vlaamse landwijn,” (vin de pays flamand) and "Vlaamse mousserende kwaliteitswijn” (vin mousseux de qualité kwaliteitswijn " AOCs were designated in 2005.

November 17th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Zeno becomes sole Byzantine Emperor in 474 when his son and co-emperor, Leo II dies in 474. Legend holds that he was buried alive after becoming insensible with drink and hist wife Ariadne refused to allow anyone to open his sarcophagus.

• Louis XVIII was born in 1755.  After having spent  decades in exile after the death of his brother, Louis XVI, upon his restoration he promised the people that taxes on tobacco, wine and salt would be abolished.  He did not keep this promise.

• The U.S. Army established Fort Buchanan in 1856.  The fort was created to protect the newly acquired Gadsen Purchase.  Today the land the fort is located on is part of Arizona’s Sonoita viticultural area.

• União Vinícola da Região do Moscatel de Setúbal was created in Portugal in 1933.

November 16th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Oklahoma was admitted to the Union in 1907.  It is home to the Ozark Mountain viticultural area.  

• The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin was reformed in 1934 in the Caveau Nuiton of Nuits-Saint-Georges.

• Spain's Alella DO andTarragona DO were created in 1976.

• It is the feast day of St. Othmar. He died in exile on the island of Werd in Lake Constance.  His body was moved to St. Gallen in Switzerland.  The men that rowed his body had only one barrel of wine left but it never emptied, no matter how much they drank.  The barrel became one of his attributes.

November 15th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Blessed Giovanni Liccio died in 1511.  It is also his feast day.  He was known for his long life (111 years) and for being a miracle worker.  He was specifically known for being able to double the amount of bread and wine available.

• James Mayer de Rothschild died in 1868.  He was the founder of the French branch of the Rothschild family.  He is known for banking and for purchasing the Château Lafite Rothschild.

• Earl Stevens, a rapper who uses the name E-40 was born in 1967.  He is also owner of Earl Stevens Selections.

• The Campidano di Terralba DOC was created in 1975.

• California's Mt. Harlan AVA and San Ysidro District AVA were designated in 1990.

• Spain's Valle de la Orotava DO was established in 1995.

• Happy Beaujolais Nouveau Day.

November 14th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel the German philosopher died in 1831.  At one point in his career he because the tutor for a wine merchant’s family in Frankfurt.

• France’s Anjou, Muscadet-Coteaux de la Loire, Muscadet-Sèvre Maine, Saumur, Saumur-Champigny and Pauillac AOCs were created in 1936.

• France’s Bandol and Bellet AOCs were created in 1941.

• Italy’s Moscato d'Asti DOC was created in 1977.

• France’s Anjou Villages AOC was created in 1991.

• Spain’s Cava DO was created in 1991.

• Italy’s Morellino di Scansano DOC designation was established in 2006.

November 13th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Louis VII of France married Adela of Champagne in 1160.

• Wine, a silent film starring Fatty Arbuckle was released in 1913. 

• Casa do Douro was created in 1932.

• Washington and Oregon's Columbia Valley AVA was designated in 1984.

November 12 - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1789.  It is home of the Appalachian High Country, Haw Valley, Swan Creek, Yadkin Valley and Upper Hiwassee Highlands viticultural areas.  

• King George I of Greece returns after his country is freed from the Ottoman Empire in 1912.  The king grew his own grapes for wine, Chateau Décélie.

• The Australian Geographical Indication "Riverina" was registered in 1998.

• AOC Aloxe-Corton et Aloxe-Corton 1er cru were designated an AOC in 2007.

November 9th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Albrecht III, Elector of Brandenburg was born in 1414.  He established the right to levy taxes on wine after he was crowned.

• The Mayflower see Cape Cod, Massachusetts today in 1620. Previously, the Mayflower shipped wines from France to London.

• Aert van der Neer, a Dutch landscape artist died in 1677.  His work was undervalued that he was forced to open a wine tavern on the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam.  

• An 1889 report in Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular describes the Hungarian wines from Lake Platten were red “not very deep in color, but have a fine body and are capable of developing well”.

• The movie, Wine, Women and Song debuted in 1915.  It starred Gilbert Anderson, otherwise known as Broncho Billy.

November 8th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• In 397 St. Martin of Tours died in Candes-Saint-Martin.  St. Martin is the patrol saint of vintners, wine growers and winemakers.

• Baeda Maryam I, emperor of Ethiopia died in 1478.  After defeating the Dobe’a people, he declared that they should become cultivators as opposed to bandits and planted orange and lemon trees and vineyards as well as distributing bread, beer and honey wine.

• Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern and later Queen of Prussia was born in 1715.  In his will, Frederick II of Prussia left her her normal income, plus 10,000 Thalers annually, wine, fire-wood, game and residence at the royal palace of her choice.

• A report out of Epernay, France dated 1889 in Bonfort’s Wine & Spirit Journal indicates a rush to purchase the new champagnes.

• California's Tracy Hills AVA was designated in 2006.

November 6th - This Date in Wine History

Take your place in history - VOTE!

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Julian was named Caesar of the Western Provinces in 355.  He later tried to conquer the Persians but was injured.  He died as a result of having his wound irrigated with “dark wine”.

• The Synod of Rome was called by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I in 962.  During this Synod, Otto deposes Pope John XII on the grounds that he was depraved and worldly (and incited rebellion against the Emperor).  Witnesses claimed that the Pontiff had toasted the devil with wine.

• The French Bonnezeaux AOC was created in 1951.

• National Nachos Day… What wine would you pair with Nachos?

October 30th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Julia Augusti filia, known as Julia the Elder, was born in 39 BC.  She was daughter of Caesar Augustus, but after she was accused of adultery, she was exiled from Rome instead of being executed.  She was sent to the island of Pandateria with no men in sight and was even forbidden to drink wine.

• Danish Prince Vilhelm arrives in Athens in 1863 and ascends the throne as George I, King of the Hellenes.  At the Palace of Tatoi, the king grew his own grapes and made his own wine Chateau Décélie.

• The Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG designation was established in 1979.

October 26th - This Date in Wine History

Image courtesy of De Bortoli Wines

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• One of the first known serial killers, Gilles de Rais was executed in 1440 in Nantes, Brittany.  Young victims were dressed in expensive clothing, given an extravagant meal and hippocras, a sweetened, spiced wine before being tortured, murdered and dismembered.

• The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure reports from Bonn that the grape harvest of 1775 was so beyond expectation that there would be no empty casks available to make cider on the Moselle.

• Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V was crowned as King of Germany in 1520.  Charles was known for disliking wine, preferring to drink beer instead.

• Arizona's Sonoita AVA was designated in 1984.

• Deen De Bortoli of De Bortoli wines of Australia died in 2003.

October 25th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Geoffrey Chaucer died in 1400.  His work was so popular in England that he was granted a gallon of wine each day for the remainder off his life b Edward III in 1374.

• John Britton, later to be an English antiquarian was apprenticed to a wine merchant, Mr. Mendham in 1785.

• Max Stirner, German philosopher and father of nihilism was born in 1806.  He often met with a group of young philosophers called Die Freien for debates at Hippel’s wine bar in Berlin.

• Chilean football star, Elías Figueroa was born in 1946.  He is owner of Vino’s Don Elías in Chile’s Maipo Valley.

October 24th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Titus Flavius Domitianus, Roman Emperor known as Domitian, who banned planting of vineyards in order to increase grain production in the Empire was born in 51 CE.

• Pierre-Cécile Puvis de Chavannes the French painter died in 1898.  He is known for his work, The Wine Press.

• Cotes-de-Provence AOC was created in 1977.

• California's Alexander Valley AVA was designated in 1984.

• California's Central Coast AVA was designated in 1985.

• The Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC classification was created in 1995.

• The French have a saying, « Quand arrive la Saint-Magloire, vigneron sait ce qu'il peut boire. » or "When the Saint-Magloire arrives, the winemaker knows what he can drink. "

October 23rd - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, Queen of Sweden was born in 1636. At one point, her grandson, Charles XII encountered her while he was inebriated.  She gave him a withering look and turned her back on him.  long look and then turned her back to him. Charles emptied his cup and saying: “My Gracious Lady Grandmother is pleased to forgive me. From hereafter I will never more drink wine”.

• François Clicquot died in 1805, leaving his wife Nicole Barbe Ponsardin as La Veuve (the widow)  Cliquot.

• English writer and critic, George Saintsbury, author of Notes on a Cellar-Book was born in 1845.

• Baron Bettino Ricasoli, the Father of Chianti Classico, died in 1880.

• California's Temecula Valley AVA was designated in 1984.

October 22nd - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• In 1884, the California Agricultural Experiment Station crushed Trousseau grapes grown by William Pfeffer of Gubserville.

• The U.S. Department of Treasury determines that Vermouth which previously had be taxed as a cordial will now be taxed as a wine under the act of 1914.

• The Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato DOC was created in 1987.

• Sideways, starring Thomas Haden Church and Paul Giametti opened in 2004.

October 21st - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence was born in 1449.  He was accused of plotting his brother Edward IV and was executed in the Tower of London by being drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine.

• Horatio Nelson, Lord Admiral of the British Navy and the Hero of Trafalgar died in 1805. His body was placed in cask of brandy, mixed with camphor and myrrh and later transferred to a lead coffin filled with spirits of wine.

• Hermann Müller, a Swiss botanist and oenologist created the Müller-Thurgau varietal in 1882 was born in 1850.

• Ohio's Grand River Valley AVA was designated in 1983.

• New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania Lake Erie AVA was designated in 1983.

• California's Chalk Hill, Knights Valley, Russian River Valley AVA were designated in 1983.

• Verbicaro DOC was created in 1995.

• Wine for the Confused, a movie by John Cleese was released in 2004.

October 20th - This Date in Wine History

Photo courtesy of Doris Schneider, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof - 76833 Siebeldingen, GERMANY

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• Flemish painter, Simon de Vos, was born in 1603.  His paintings often depict people at social gatherings with wine, such as the “Wedding at Cana” and “Gathering of Smokers and Drinkers”.

• South African chemist and viticulturist, Abraham Izak Perold was born in 1880.

• Italy’s Rosso Conero DOC was created in 1990.

• Italy’s Verduno Pelaverga DOC was created in 1995.

• Spain's Rioja DOCa was created in 2004.

• Happy National Brandied Fruit Day!

• National Sweetest Day!

October 19th - This Date in Wine History

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature "This Date In Wine History," we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

• The English King John (Lackland) died in 1216.  He was known for his love of music, jewels, fancy clothes and “bad” wine.

• The German Wine Route was opened in 1935.

• Spain's Alicante DO and Valencia DO were created in 2000.

• It is the feast day of Saint Verain.  The French AOC Saint-Véran was named in his honor and surrounds the village of Saint-Vérand.

• Happy Global Champagne Day!