August 8th - 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.

  • George Canning, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, died in 1827.  He was born in Londonerry, Ireland, the son of a failed wine merchant and lawyer.
  • Baron James de Rothschild acquired the Chateau Lafite in 1868.
  • Salvador Dalí re-married Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, better known as Gala in a Catholic ceremony in 1958.  They were married in a civil ceremony in 1934. He later created a wine book, The Wines of Gala, as well as a cookbook, The Dinners of Gala in her honor.
  • New Jersey's Warren Hills AVA was designated in 1988.
  • It is the feast day of  Saint Cyriacus.  He is a patron saint of viticulture and is also known as one of the 14 holy helpers.