October 1st - 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.

  • Alexander the Great defeated Darius II in the Battle of Gaugamela in 331.  Within a year he would be dead having drunk wine poisoned with Hellebore after an evening and day of drinking at Palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon (people have conjectured).

  • Shah Abbas I of Persia began his reign in 1588.  There are paintings of the Shah being handed wine to drink despite Islams prohibitions against it.

  • Today is the feast day of St. Nicetius.  He was Bishop of Trier in Germany and replanted vineyards in the Moselle to restore the wine industry.

  • Wine Region of Madeira was created in 1908.