June 12th - 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.

• Joseph Ray, a wine and brandy merchant from Virley, Essex was declared bankrupt in 1790 according to the Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure.
• Peter Poucin of Minneapolis, MN was issued a patent for a fever reducer that consisted of 4 parts white ginger, 4 parts aloes, 3 parts gum camphor, 1/2 part of beaver gallbladder, 3 parts sassafrass and 3 parts gum myrhh mixed with wine or brandy in 1866.
• Ridley & Co.’s Monthly Wine & Spirit Trade Circular for This date in 1885 reports on the outcome of the court case of Lawrence v. Oronoz  where plaintiff’s claim wrongful dismissal of their contract with 5,000 lbs worth of sherry from Jerez-de-la-Frontera.  The Jury found for the plaintiff’s.
• It is “Dia dos Namorados” in Brazil.  The equivalent of Valentines Day in  many parts of the world, this celebration of St. Anthony of Padua should be celebrated with champagne and roses!  The reason that the Brazilians don’t celebrate love in February is due to it occurring during the Carnival season.

June 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.

• King John III of Portugal died in 1557. When writing to the Manikongo, the King of the Congo: "Now, I say, like you said that there was no capture of slaves in your Kingdom, I just want to provide you with flour and wine for your Eucharistic rites, and for that it would only be needed a caravel each year; if it seems right to you, in exchange for 10,000 slaves and 10,000 armlets and 10,000 ivory tooth, that, it is said, in the Congo there is not much, not even a ship per year; so, this and more shall be as you want."
• Ben Jonson, the English poet was born in 1572.  After the death of Henry IV of France, Jonson decided to re-join the Church of England and showed his renunciation of the Catholic faith by drinking a full chalice of Communion wine which at the time was supposed to only be drunk by the priests.  Also Drink to me only with thy eye and I will drink with mine… Or leave a kiss within the cup and I’ll not ask for wine.  To Celia…
• California's Sonoma Coast AVA was designated in 1987.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Swan Hill" was registered in 1996.

June 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.

• Alexander the Great died in 323 after having drunk wine poisoned with Hellebore after an evening and day of drinking at Palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon (people have conjectured).
• Nicole-Barbe Ponsardin and François Clicquot married in 1798.
• The Locorotondo DOC was created in 1969. 
• The Dolcetto d'Asti DOC was created in 1974.
• Gala Dalí dies in 1982. She was the wife of artist, Salavador Dalí who  created a wine book, The Wines of Gala, as well as a cookbook, The Dinners of Gala in her honor.
• The Delia Nivolelli DOC was established in 1998.

June 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.

• In 968, Liudprand of Cremona in reporting to his King, Berengar II of Lombard, reports that he is sick and can’t understand why no one else at the Emperor’s banquet did not also get sick, “Their drink instead of good wine was brackish water;”
• James Oglethorpe receives a royal charter to establish the colony of Georgia.  One of the justifications for the colony was to be able to produce silk, olive oil and wine.  That didn’t work.
• The Rosso di Montalcino DOC was established in 1983. 
• Spain's Ribera del Júcar DO was created in 2003.
• Alsatian wine producer, Jean Hugel died in 2009.
• The French have a saying, « Pluie à la Sainte-Diane, ni grain au grenier, ni vin au cellier. » or "Rain at Sainte-Diane, no grain in the attic, no wine in the cellar.”
• Happy National Rosé Day!

June 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.

• Louis XVII died in 1795.  The son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, he was removed from his parents in 1793.  He was treated cruelly by members of the Committee for Public Safety and died of what is thought to be tuberculosis.  His heart was removed during autopsy and stored in distilled wine at least until it evaporated.  It can be seen at the Basilica of St. Denis in Paris.
• Nannina de 'Medici married Bernardo Rucellai in 1466. Vernaccia di San Gimignano was served to the wedding guests.
• Thomas Harris's Novel Hannibal is released in 1999. In the Novel Hannibal Lector sends Clarice Starling a old bottle of Chateau d'Yquem for her 33rd birthday. 
• California's San Antonio Valley AVA was designated in 2006.
• It is the feast day of Saint Medardus.  He is the patron saint of vineyards, brewers, prisoners the mentally ill and peasants.  Oh.  And toothaches.
• National Name Your Poison Day! I say Champagne!
• The French have a saying, « Pluie de Saint-Médard, tarit le vin et coupe le lard. » “Rain on the day of St. Medard, makes the wine dry and cuts the bacon.

June 7th - 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.

• In 968, Liudprand of Cremona in reporting to his King, Berengar II of Lombard, has dinner with Nikephoros, the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) complains that the dinner was “foul and disgusting washed down with oil after the fashion of drankards and moistened also with an exceedingly bad fish liquor”  He ends up insulting the Emperor.
• Friedrich Hölderlin, German lyric poet died in 1843. He is known for the poem, “Brod und Wein”.
• The Three Emperor’s Dinner takes place in 1867.  The Banquet hosted at Cafe Anglais in Paris was attended by Wilhelm I of Prussia and  Tsar Alexander II, Tsarevich Alexander (later Tsar Alexander III) of Russia and consisted of 16 courses and 8 wines.  Including an 1846 Chambertin. and Roederer Champagne frappé.
• Carrie Nation began her assault on any place selling liquor in Dobson’s Saloon in Kiowa, Kansas in 1900 (Which I doubt had any wine but still an assault on one is an assault on all).
• Dorothy Parker, who once memorable said, "Three be the things I shall never attain: envy, content and sufficient champagne" died in 1967.

June 6th - 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 Byzantine emperor, Alexander died in 913 after playing tzykanisterion (Byzantine polo). He was viewed as lazy, lecherous, drunk and malignant.
• Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Valazquez was born in 1599.  He was a Spanish painter known for The Triumph of Bacchus or The Drunks.
• The Alex. D. Shaw & Company received a trademark for Sherry-Wine in 1911.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Southern Fleurieu" was registered in 2001.
• The Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane DOCG designation was established in 2003.

June 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.

• Clement V was elected to Pope in 1305 and became the first of the Avignon popes. The Popes promoted the vineyards of the area in order to improve the quality of wine that they produced. The result was Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
• Louis the X of France died in 1316 after playing an exhausting game of “real tennis” (jeu de paume) and then drinking a large quantity of cooled wine which brought on pneumonia. or poison. 
• The June Rebellion of 1832 occurs in Paris as an attempt to over through Louis-Philippe.  The Rebellion was fictionalized by Victor Hugo in his novel, Les Misérables where students and others build barricades near the wine shop they use as a headquarters.  As in the novel, the Rebellion was squashed quickly.
• The Albana Romagna Spumante DOC was created in 1995.

June 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.

• In 968, Liudprand of Cremona in reporting to his King, Berengar II of Lombard, complains about the quality of the wine in Constantinople which is still made in the manner of the Roman Empire.
• The Pollino DOC was created in 1975. 
• The Gravina DOC was created in 1983
• It is the feast day of Saint Saturnina, patron saint of farmers and wine merchants.  Her relics were returned to Saxony to the Stiftskirche in Neuenheerse, now part of Bad Driburg.
• It is National Cognac Day!

June 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.

• Anne Boleyn was crowned as Queen consort in 1533.  In her youth she was described as sweet and cheerful, enjoying wine and French cuisine, flirting, gambling and gossip.  
• José I of Portugal was born in 1714. Under his rule, the Duoro wine region was demarcated. 
• Kentucky was admitted to the Union in 1792.  It is home to the Ohio River Valley viticulturel area.
• Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796.  It is home to the  Appalachian High Country and Mississippi Delta viticultural areas.
• The Rosso Barletta DOC was created in 1977.
• Wine writer and entrepreneur, Alexis Lichine died in 1989.
• California's Diamond Mountain District AVA was designated in 2001. 
• Oregon's Ribbon Ridge AVA was designated in 2005.
• Happy English Wine Week!

May 31st - 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 makes his last diary entry in 1669.  Over the 9+ years that he kept this journal, Pepys writes about his work, his life and what he ate and drank.  In true Pepys fashion, the journal’s last entry describes his day which included a trip to the World’s End, a public house in Knightsbridge for drinks.
• Walt Whitman was born in 1819.  He began his life as a follower of the temperance movement, even writing books about the consequences of drunkenness.  In his later years he enjoyed local wines and champagne.
• Italy’s Melissa DOC was created in 1979.
• California's Sta. Rita Hills AVA was designated in 2001.
• Happy English Wine Week!

May 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.

• Christopher Marlowe died in 1593.  An English writer and poet, he is sometimes said to have been killed in a bar fight. 
• Arkansas' Altus AVA was designated in 1984.
• The Val d'Arbia di Siena DOC was established in 1985.
• Happy English Wine Week!
• It is the feast day of St. Walstan.  He is the patron saint of farmers.  Remember, no farms, no wine!

May 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.

• Rhode Island ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1790.  It is home to the Southeastern New England viticultural area.  
• Humphry Davy died in 1829..  He was a chemist known for isolating potassium, calcium and strontium among others.  He is also known for experiments with nitrous oxide which he mixed with wine and tried as a hangover cure (his notes said it worked).
• Wisconsin was admitted to the Union in 1848.  It is home to the Lake Wisconsin, Upper Mississippi River Valley and Wisconsin Ledge viticultural areas.
• The Italian government named 6 DOCs in 1973: 
  • Cesanese del Piglio; 
  • Cesanese di Affile; 
  • Cesanese di Olevano; 
  • Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà; 
  • Grignolino d'Asti DOC; 
  • Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco DOC; 

• Colli Bolognesi and Colli Bolognesi Classico DOC was created in 1975.
• Spain's Toro DO was established in 1987.
• Happy English Wine Week!
• Happy National Coq Au Vin Day!

May 25th - 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.

• Alfonso VI King of León took Toledo back from the Moors in 1085.  This allowed wine to be produced in this region again. (Not that it wasn’t tolerated in some corners) 
• Oscar Wilde was convicted of “committing acts of gross indecency with other male persons” in 1895.  Five years later as he was drinking Champagne on his death bed he is quoted as saying, “Alas, I am dying beyond my means”.
• The French have a saying, « Quand la saint Urbain est passée, le vigneron est rassuré. » or, "When Saint Urbain’s Day is past, the winemaker is reassured.”
• Happy National Wine Day!

May 24th - 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.

• Alexandrina Victoria, known later as Queen Victoria was born in 1819.  She was known for enjoying a mix of claret and whisky.
• União Vinícola Regional de Bucelas was created in 1934.  The wines of the region were made popular by the Duke of Wellington. 
• The Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC was created in 1968.
• "Judgement of Paris" takes place in 1976.
• The Bivongi DOC was created in 1996.
• The Colli dell'Etruria Centrale DOC was established in 1997.
• Happy International Chardonnay Day!

May 23rd - 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.

• Antony Oliver disguised as a wine merchant with his merchandise (but really arms for soldiers) drove into the Citadel of Antwerp under the nose of Louis of Nassau in 1572.
• South Carolina ratifies the US Constitution in 1788 as the 8th American state.  South Carolina is home to more than 30 wineries.
• Hungarian painter József Rippl-Rónai was born in 1861.  He is known for the work, “My Father and Uncle Piacsek with Red Wine”.
• The John Ellwanger Co. of Dubuque, Iowa received a trademark for its San Felice wines in 1905.
• Racing legend Frank Arciero died in 2010.  He was owner of Arciero Family Vineyards and EOS Estate Winery  in Paso Robles.

May 22nd - 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 Hashshashin attempt to assassinate Saladin near Aleppo in 1176.  In 1169, Saladin repented wine drinking and frivolity.
• Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac et de Palluau was born in 1622.  He was a French soldier, courtier, Governor of New France and Founder of Fort Frontenac.  The hybrid wine grape Frontenac, developed by the University of Minnesota was named in his honor.
• Nathaniell Sparhawke of Cambridge, MA was issued a license to drawe wine and strong water in Cambridge in 1639.
• English writer, wine-merchant and Master of Wine, Pat Simon died in 2008.
• It is the feast day of St. Rita of Cascia.  Her attributes include a forehead wound (partial stigmata), Roses, bees and grapevines.

May 21st - 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 Hancock gave an election dinner at Fanueil Hall in 1791 at which 163 bottles of wine were consumed.
• The Chevalier d’Eon died in 1810.  In 1764, the Count de Guerchy tried to poison the Chevalier d'Eon by poisoning his wine with opium. The Chevalier was a French diplomat, spy, soldier and Freemason who lived the first half of her life as a man and the second half as a woman.
• The Clover Leap Wine Co. received a trademark for their Claret wine in 1907.
• Raymond Burr of Perry Mason and Ironside, fame was born in 1917.  He established Raymond Burr Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley in 1966.
• The French have a saying« Quand la vigne est en fleur à la Saint-Thiébault, il n'y a ni biens ni maux. » or, “When the vines are in bloom on St. Thiebault’s day, it is neither good nor bad.”

May 20th - 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.

• Pope John XXI died today in 1277.  One of the things accomplished during his 9 month papacy was to ensure that the cardinals electing popes were given sufficient food and wine during their deliberations.  Previously, supplies with progressively restricted to ensure a quick election.
• Eduard Buchner was born in 1860.  He was a German chemist  who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on fermentation. He showed that an extract that was free of living yeast cells could still lead to fermentation.
• Albano Carrisi, Italian singer, actor and winemaker was born in 1943. He is the owner of Carrisi Wine Company in Apulia.
• The French have a saying, « S’il gèle à la Saint-Bernardin, adieu le vin. » or, “If it freezes at St. Bernardino of Siena’s day, goodbye to wine.”

May 19th - 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.

• Alcuin scholar, ecclesiastic, poet and teacher from York, Northumbria and first known wine writer died in 804.
• Spain's Almansa DO was created in 1975.
• Spain's Ampurdán-Costa Brava DO was created in 1975.  It is now called Ampurdán or Empordà.
• Spain's Priorato DO was created in 1975.
• The Bianco Capena DOC was created in 1975.
• The Savuto DOC was created in 1975.
• California's Seiad Valley AVA was designated in 1994.
• Thomas Harris' Novel, The Silence of the Lambs was published in 1999. In the novel Hannibal Lector describes eating the census taker's liver with fava beans and a big Amarone... Not the Chianti mentioned in the movie.  Another change is that the movie used the death’s-head Hawkmoth instead of the Black Witch moth.