February 21st - This Date in Wine History

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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. 

  • Hieronymus Bock, a German botanist, physician and minister died in 1554.  He is the first person documented to use the term Riesling in his Kreutterbuch (Plant Book).
  • Jeanne Calment, the French supercentenarian who lived to 122 years, 164 days was born in 1875.  She was known to smoke a cigar or cigarette and drink a small glass of Port everyday from ages 111-114.
  • Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular reports that the steamer San Juan sailed for Panama in 1890 with a consignment of California wines.
  • Lidia Bastianich was born in 1947 in Pula, Croatia.  She is one of the owners of Bastianich Winery in Friuli, Italy with her son, Joe.
  • Spain's Dominio de Valdepusa Vino de Pago was created in 2003.  It is located in Malpica de Tajo