May 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.

• Omar Khayyam, the Persian poet and polymath was born in 1048.  The is responsible for the verse:

“A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, 
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread—and Thou 
Beside me singing in the Wilderness— 
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow! ”

— Omar Khayyám, The Rubaiyat

• The marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England in 1152 brought good cheap Bordeaux wine to the people of England.
• Louis Bignon, French chef and agriculturist, and Legion of Honour recipient died in 1906.  He was known for the high quality of wine in his restaurant as well as investing in research on the phylloxera.
• The Minnesota Dairy and Food Department reports that Ole Olson plead guilty to selling Blackberry Brandy that had been adulterated with coal-tar dye in 1908.  He was fined $40.
• The French have a saying, « Soleil à la Saint-Éric promet du vin plein les barriques. » or, “Sun at St. Eric’s day promises barrels full of wine.”

May 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.

• Anne of Denmark was coronated as Queen of the Scots in 1590.  Her marriage to James VI of later James I of England was fractious due to his drinking and adultery.
• The Pirate, Bartholomew Roberts was born in Wales in 1682.  Impressed into piracy he was elected as Captain six weeks later, after the previous captain was ambushed on the way to the fort in Príncipe to share a glass of wine with the Governor. He is said to be the model for the Dread Pirate Roberts in the Princess Bride.
• California's Merritt Island AVA was designated in 1983.
• California's Northern Sonoma AVA was designated in 1985.
• Lawrence Welk, purveyor of champagne music, died in 1992.
• Happy National Aperifif day! (established by Maison Lillet)

May 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.

• Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders was crowned the first Emperor of the Latin Empire in 1204 at the Hagia Sophia.  His reign ended with Tsar Kalyan of Bulgaria killed him in 1205 and turned his skull into a drinking cup.
• New York's The Hamptons, Long Island AVA was designated in 1985.
• Robert Mondavi died in 2008.
• The French have a saying, « À la Saint-Honoré, s'il fait gelée, le vin diminue de moitié. » or, “If it freezes on St. Honoré’s day, wine will be diminished by half.”

May 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.

• James Mayer de Rothschild was born in 1792.  He was the founder of the French branch of the Rothschild family.  He is known for banking and for purchasing the Château Lafite Rothschild.
• The Exposition Universelle of 1855 opens in Paris. Emperor Napoleon III ordered the reclassification of Bordeaux wines. This is the basis of the AOC classification system in France.
• The Monbazillac AOC was created in 1936.
• The Cassis AOC was created in 1936.
• California's Santa Lucia Highlands AVA was designated in 1992.
• Texas' Escondido Valley AVA was designated in 1992.
• New York's North Fork of Long Island AVA was designated in 2001.
• It is the feast day of St. Isidore the Farmer. He is patron of agricultural workers, livestock and ranchers.

May 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.

• The Henri IV died in 1610.  He is said to have been baptised with a spoon of wine and garlic.
• Octavianus, son of Albert II of Spoleto, a Patrician and prince of Rome who was later known as Pope John XII died in 964.  As Pope he was accused of depravity and worldliness and even of toasting Satan with wine.
• Mondovino, a film exploring the impact of globalization on the various wine-producing regions, debuts in 2004.
• It is the feast day of St. Matthias.  He is patron saint of alcoholics.

May 11th - 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.

• Minnesota was admitted to the Union in 1858.  It is home to the Alexandria Lakes and Upper Mississippi River Valley viticultural areas.
• Salvador Dali was born in 1904.  The surrealist artist created a wine book, The Wines of Gala, as well as a cookbook, The Dinners of Gala. (Gala was his wife).
• The Nuragus Di Cagliari DOC was created in 1988.
• Spain's Costers del Segre DO was created in 1988.
• It is the feast day of Odilo of Cluny.  He was the 5th Benedictine Abbot of Cluny. Miracles attributed to him included increases of food and wine.  Empty bottles would miraculously refill.

May 10th - 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 XVI and Marie Antoinette become King and Queen of France in 1774.  The champagne coupe is alleged to be designed after Marie Antoinette’s breast.
• Robert Gray, an American sea captain was born in 1755.  While at Nootka Sound his ship, Columbia Rediviva was repaired and reprovisioned with large amounts of salmon, pork, eggs, butter, fresh bread, wine, brandy and cabbage by Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra.  The Columbia River is named for his ship.
• Spain's Condado de Huelva DO was named in 1983.  They produce wines referred to as Wines of the Discovery of America.
• The Columbia Gorge AVA was designated in 2004.

May 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.

• The British seized John Hancock’s sloop the Liberty in 1768 over a dispute on the importation of Madeira. Riots ensued in Boston over the seizure.
• In 1893, Arthur Wadhams of Galveston, TX is awarded a patent for freezing wine. (496,922)
• Cabernet d'Anjou AOC was created in 1936.
• California's River Junction AVA was designated in 2001.
• National Moscato Wine Day!

May 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.

• The Battle of Jinyang ended in 453 BC.  The victorious Zhao Xiangzi executed his opponent Zhi Yao and made his skull a wine cup.
• Bertalan Székely was born in 1838.  A Hungarian painter, he created an image of the Székely Blood Oath where the leaders 7 Hungarian tribes spill some of their blood into a chalice of wine and drink it to establish a bond.
• Washington Post wine columnist and James Beard Award winner, Karen A. Page was born in 1962.
• Actor, Stephen Amell was born in 1981.  He is known for portraying the Green Arrow on the TV show Arrow.  He is co-owner of Nocking Point Wine in Walla Walla, Washington.
• California's Clear Lake AVA was designated in 1984.

May 7th - This Date in Wine History

May 5th - 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.

• 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.

May 4th - 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.

• John Wycliffe and Jan Hus were condemned as heretics because of their rejection of transubstantiation (the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ).
• Jean François Champollion died in 1832.  He was known for deciphering the Rosetta Stone.  It contains records from Ptolemy V including donations of wine to temples and vineyard harvests.
• Singani, a Bolivian liquor, similar to Pisco, distilled from Moscato of Alexandria received a DO in 1992.
• It is the feast day of Saint Monica of Hippo. She was known for bringing offerings of porridge, bread, water, and wine to the oratories of certain saints until she was forbidden by the local bishop. She is the patron saint of difficult marriages and disappointing children. (Her son was St. Augustine)
• Happy International Sauvignon Blanc Day!
• Happy Star Wars Day! What would Yoda drink?

May 3rd - This Date in Wine History

Reliquary of the True Cross at the Louvre by Marie Tran Nguyen

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.

• Margaret of York was born in 1446.  She was the 3rd wife of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.  Her wedding was celebrated with wine spurting from sculpted archers.  Nothing says welcome like a fountain of wine!
• The Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba DOC was created in 1974.
• Spain's El Hierro DO was created in 1995.
• The French have a saying, « Georget, Marquet, Vitalet et Croiset, s'ils sont beaux, font du bon vin. » or, “Good weather on the feasts of St. George, St. Mark, St. Vital and St. Croix makes beautiful wine.”

May 2nd - 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.

• Leonardo da Vinci died in 1519.  He is said to have employed his lifelong servant Gian Giacomo Caprotti da Oreno, known as Salaì who worked in his vineyards and a model before becoming a student of da Vinci and eventually companion.  Upon da Vinci’s death Salaì received half of the vineyards.
• Cardinal Rodolfo Pio da Carpi died in 1564.  After the death of Pope Paul IV, it was thought that he was thought to be the favorite candidate of King Philip II of Spain.  He and Cardinal Ricci started the rumor that Cardinal de’ Medici had Lutheran tendencies and was going to loosen the requirements on celibacy in the clergy and allow the hoi polloi (laity) to receive both the bread and wine during communion.  This knocked Pio da Carpi out of the running.
• The United States passed a law about collecting duties on wine in 1792.
• Michael Broadbent, British wine critic, writer, auctioneer and preeminent authority on wine tasting and old wines was born in 1927. 
• Julio Gallo died in near Tracy California 1993.
• The French have a saying, « C'est à la Saint-Antonin, que vend son vin le malin. » or, “Sell your wine at St. Antoninus day before the Ice Saints come.”

May 1st - 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.

• Arthur Wellsley, 1st Duke of Wellington was born today in 1769.  He was known by his soldiers as a man who could subsist on cold bread and meat but always drank the best wine.  Often the entire bottle with his meal.
• Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular discussed the South Dakota prohibition law that was to go into effect May 1st, 1890 which had been changed to allow liquor to be used in private houses.
• Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro was created in 1971.
• Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce was created in 1971.
• The Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC was created in 1971.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Big Rivers" was registered in 1996.

April 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.

• St. John Baptist de La Salle was born in Reims, France in 1651.  He is the patron saint of teachers and the founder of the first Catholic schools.  He was the son of Nicolle de Moet Brouillet of the family that founded  Moët & Chandon.
• Louisiana was admitted to the Union in 1812.  It is home to the Mississippi Delta viticulturel area.
• The French Foreign Legion celebrate the Battle of Camarón (1863) during the French intervention in Mexico with an excess of cheap French red wine and the wooden hand of Jean Danjou
• It is Walpurgis Night in Northern Europe.  It is supposed to be a night that witches meet and is celebrated with bonfires and other festivities, in particular Finland and Sweden which features Champagne or other sparkling wine.
• The French have a saying, « La pluie, le jour de Saint-Robert, de bon vin remplira ton verre. » which translates to (more or less) “If it rains on St. Robert’s day good wine will fill your glass.”

April 29th - 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.

• Blanche of Burgundy, Countess of la Marche and briefly the uncrowned queen of France and Navarre died in 1326.  She and her sisters were accused of scandalous behavior such as drinking wine with knights and eventually of adultery.  For this crime she was imprisoned in the donjon of Chateau Gaillaird for 8 years until she granted her husband an annulment.
• John Adlum who is often considered the father or American viticulture and promoter and possible developer of the Catawba grape was born in 1759.
• Pierre-François Bouchard was born in 1771..  He was known for discovering the Rosetta Stone.  It contains records from Ptolemy V including donations of wine to temples and vineyard harvests.
• William Pitt proposed taxing wine in a letter to the Duke of Rutland in 1786.

April 28th - 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.

• It is the Roman holiday of Floralia.  It was celebrated with drunkeness, nude dancing and the throwing of legumes and release of hares and goats (like every good festival should).
• Maryland ratified the U.S. Consitution in 1788.  It is home to the Catoctin, Linganore and Cumberland Valley viticultural areas.
• The Palette AOC was created in 1948. 
• The Donnici DOC was named in 1975.
• The Falerio dei Colli Ascolani or Falerio DOC was created in 1975.
• The Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario DOC was established in 1995.

April 27th - 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.

• Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy died in 1404.  He outlawed the cultivation of the Gamay grape in favor of Pinot Noir to improve the quality of Burgundy wines.
• The Battle of Mactan was fought between the warriors of Lapu-Lapu and the forces of Ferdinand Magellan When provisioning his ships he paid more for Sherry than for weapons. This was perhaps the wrong choice as he was killed during the battle by angry Filipinos.
• The Condrieu AOC was recognized in 1940.  
• The Australian Wine Research Institutes was created in 1955.

April 26th - 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.

• Birthday (baptism anniversary?) of William Shakespeare in 1564.. he wrote Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used. in Othello.
• Prince Albert, Duke of York married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923.  It was estimated that the daily alcohol consumption of Elizabeth, The Queen Mother included a gin and Dubonnet at noon, red wine with lunch, port and a martini at 6pm and 2 glasses of champagne at dinner.  She lived to be 101.
• Felix Kir, French Catholic priest, resistance fighter and politician for whom the cocktail Kir was named died in 1968.
• It is the feast day of Paschasius Radbertus who’s most influential work De Corpora et Sanguine Domini is about the transubstantiation of the bread and wine used in the Eucharist.