May 5th - 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.

  • Samuel Pepys won a quart of sack (sherry) from John Creed for being able to jump over a fountain well.
  • Napoleon died in 1821 in Saint Helena.  he is known for saying "Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it."
  • Eugénie de Montijo was born in 1826.  She was married to Napoleon III who was both President and Emperor of France (sadly, in that order) and was the last empress of France.  She was the grand-daughter of a Scottish wine merchant.
  • French Kiss a movie starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Klein about a thief who steals a diamond necklace to start his own vineyard is released in 1995.
  • Happy Cinco de Derby! (It is Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby Day.