December 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.

• Sir Francis Walsingham was knighted in 1577.  Personal Secretary and Spymaster to Queen Elizabeth I, he was married to the Lord Mayor of London’s daughter Mary who was the widow of a wine merchant.

• A Report to the Superintendent of the Census for December 1, 1852 includes a history of viticulture from colonial days to the mid-19th century.

• Oregon's Willamette Valley AVA was designated in 1983.

• Spain’s Ribera del Duero DO was established in 1992.

• It is the feast day of St. Airy of Verdun.  As Bishop of Verdun, he received a visit from Childebert II and a feast was held.  The King’s warriors drank so much that they were in danger of running out of wine.  St. Airy had the last barrel brought out and prayed over it and the wine flowed continuously and was of much better quality.

November 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.

• Pope Pius VIII was died in the Rome in 1830.  As Pontiff, Pius removed the laws that forbade selling wine in taverns except when served with meals.

• Winston Churchill, known for enjoying a glass of hock for breakfast was born in 1874.  He is also known to have said,  “Champagne should be cold, dry and free”? 

• Oscar Wilde dies in Paris in 1900. He is famously quoted as saying while sipping champagne, "And now, I am dying beyond my means.”

• California's Wild Horse Valley AVA was designated in 1988.

• Oregon's Dundee Hills AVA was designated 2004.

November 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.

• Amos Bronson Alcott was born in 1799. An American teacher and writer he joined with his family and Charles Lane to create an ideal society, called Fruitlands.  They believed,  "Our wine is water,—flesh, bread;—drugs, fruits.” The problem is that the soil wasn’t arable and no one really knew how to farm.  Alcott is the father of author, Louisa May Alcott.

• Wilhelm Hauff, A German writer was born in 1802.  He is author of the story, The Wine-Ghosts of Bremen.

• The Whitman massacre occurred in 1847.  Marcus and Narcissa Whitman came to Washington state to establish a mission among the Cayuse people.  After a measles outbreak they were attacked for having brought the disease to the Cayuse.  This area is now the Walla Walla AVA.

• The treaty to create an International Wine Office was signed in 1924.  It was signed at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Texas' Hill Country AVA was designated in 1991.

• The Australian Geographical Indication "Padthaway" was registered in 1999.

November 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.

• Ferdinand Magellan passes through what became known as the Strait of 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.

• California Fruit News in 1916 reported that the steamer Sonoma left San Francisco for Australia and the South Pacific carrying wine bound for Australia and Honolulu.

• Maynard A. Joslyn who lead the research to rebirth the California wine industry following the end of Prohibition in 1933 died in 1984. His research included quality issues with wine, including alcoholic content, and content of unfavorable items in alcohol (acidity, sulfur dioxide, and turbidity).

• The Appalachian High Country AVA was created in 2016.

• It is the feast day of St. James of the Marches.  An Italian friar, he is depicted with a wine filled chalice often with a snake trying to escape.  It is thought to refer to his attempted poisoning by King Tvrtko of Bosnia.

November 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.

• Roman poet, soldier and senator, Quintus Horatius Flaccus, known as Horace died in 8 BC.  He is known for odes such as “Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus” or “Now is the time to drink, now the time to dance footloose upon the earth.” FYI, the symbol of the French tire  company, Michelin is named Bibendum.

• Guillaume Du Fay, the Franco- Flemish Renaissance composer died in 1474.  He is noted as the Canon of Cambrai in documentation when he received 36 lots of wine for the feast of St. John the Evangelist.

• Illinois' Shawnee Hills AVA was designated in 2006.

• Oregon's Chehalem Mountains AVA was designated in 2006.

November 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.

• Considerations Upon Christian Truths and Christian Duties  includes an examination of the parable of the Vineyard, Matt. 21:33  The volume was written by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Challenor and published in 1773 in Cork, Ireland.

• Ohio's Loramie Creek AVA was designated in 1982

• The DOC named Lambrusco di Reggiano was revoked. The wine becomes known as Colli di Scandiano e di Canossa. Reggiano becomes known as a description for cheese only.

• It was the feast day of Conrad of Constance.  He is represented as a bishop holding a chalice with a spider over it.  Though all spiders were thought to be poisonous, Conrad drank from the chalice out of faith.

November 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.

Happy Thanksgiving from Qorkz!

• Andreas Hofer was born in 1767.  He was a Tyrolean Innkeeper, and wine and horse tradesman who was a leader of the Tyrolean Rebellion against Napoleon.  He was eventually captured and executed.

• Italy’s Brindisi Rosso DOC was created in 1979. 

• France’s Anjou AOC was revised in 1991. 

• Italy's Piedmont Chardonnay Pinot Spumante DOC was created in 1994. 

• Spain's La Mancha DO was established in 1996.

• Spain's Málaga DO was established in 2001.

November 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.

• North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution and is admitted as the 12th state in 1789.  It is home to Appalachian High Country, Haw River Valley, Swan Creek, Upper Hiwassee Highlands, Yadkin Valley and possibly soon, Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County.

• The Kentucky General Assembly passed a bill to establish a commercial vineyard and winery in 1799

• California's Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA was designated in 1983.

• California's South Coast AVA was designated in 1985.

• New Mexico's Mimbres Valley AVA was designated in 1985.

• Happy National Zinfandel Day.

November 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.

• A truce between John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy and Louis of Valois, Duke of Orleans was agreed to in 1407.  It lasted 3 whole days before Burgundy assassinated Orleans.

• Sir John Harington, writer and courtier who Queen Elizabeth I referred to as her “saucy Godson” died in 1612.  He was unhappy with the amount of drinking at the court of James I and commented on a masque hosted by Robert Cecil where "the entertainment and show went forward, and most of the presenters went backward, or fell down, wine did so occupy their upper chambers”.

• Francesco Saverio Castiglioni, later Pope Pius VIII was born in the Papal State of Marche in 1761.  As Pontiff, Pius removed the laws that forbade selling wine in taverns except when served with meals.

• New Jersey became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.  New Jersey is home to the Cape May Peninsula, Central Delaware Valley, Outer Coastal Plain and Warren Hills AVAs.

• Robert Baddeley died in 1794, bequeathing £3 per annum to provide wine and cake in the green-room of Drury Lane theatre on Twelfth Night. The ceremony of the Baddeley cake has remained a regular institution.

November 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.

• A report from The Present State of Europe, Volume 17 (1706) indicates that the British soldiers are greatly recovered and had received gifts of refreshments from the King of Portugal that included 20 pipes of wine as well as oranges and lemons.

• Vermont established rules regarding wine measures in 1839.

• California's Guenoc Valley AVA was designated in 1981.  British Actress Lilly Langtry and courtesan, once owned a winery in the valley.

• Spain's Vinos de Madrid DO was created in 1990.

• Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney, died in 2013.  She along with her husband, owned Silverado Vineyards.

November 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.

• Ignace Paderewski, Polish pianist, composer and statesman was born in 1860.  In 1913 he moved to Paso Robles, California and later planted Zinfandel.

• The California Fruit News of 1916, indicated that the steamship “Governor” left San Francisco for British Columbia with a shipment of wine, fruits, vegetables and legumes. 

• California's Sierra Foothills AVA was designated in 1987. 

• Belgium's "Heuvellandse wijn,” "Vlaamse landwijn,” (vin de pays flamand) and "Vlaamse mousserende kwaliteitswijn” (vin mousseux de qualité kwaliteitswijn " AOCs were designated in 2005.

November 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.

• Zeno becomes sole Byzantine Emperor in 474 when his son and co-emperor, Leo II dies in 474. Legend holds that he was buried alive after becoming insensible with drink and hist wife Ariadne refused to allow anyone to open his sarcophagus.

• Louis XVIII was born in 1755.  After having spent  decades in exile after the death of his brother, Louis XVI, upon his restoration he promised the people that taxes on tobacco, wine and salt would be abolished.  He did not keep this promise.

• The U.S. Army established Fort Buchanan in 1856.  The fort was created to protect the newly acquired Gadsen Purchase.  Today the land the fort is located on is part of Arizona’s Sonoita viticultural area.

• União Vinícola da Região do Moscatel de Setúbal was created in Portugal in 1933.

November 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.

• Oklahoma was admitted to the Union in 1907.  It is home to the Ozark Mountain viticultural area.  

• The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin was reformed in 1934 in the Caveau Nuiton of Nuits-Saint-Georges.

• Spain's Alella DO andTarragona DO were created in 1976.

• It is the feast day of St. Othmar. He died in exile on the island of Werd in Lake Constance.  His body was moved to St. Gallen in Switzerland.  The men that rowed his body had only one barrel of wine left but it never emptied, no matter how much they drank.  The barrel became one of his attributes.

November 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.

• Blessed Giovanni Liccio died in 1511.  It is also his feast day.  He was known for his long life (111 years) and for being a miracle worker.  He was specifically known for being able to double the amount of bread and wine available.

• James Mayer de Rothschild died in 1868.  He was the founder of the French branch of the Rothschild family.  He is known for banking and for purchasing the Château Lafite Rothschild.

• Earl Stevens, a rapper who uses the name E-40 was born in 1967.  He is also owner of Earl Stevens Selections.

• The Campidano di Terralba DOC was created in 1975.

• California's Mt. Harlan AVA and San Ysidro District AVA were designated in 1990.

• Spain's Valle de la Orotava DO was established in 1995.

• Happy Beaujolais Nouveau Day.

November 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.

• Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel the German philosopher died in 1831.  At one point in his career he because the tutor for a wine merchant’s family in Frankfurt.

• France’s Anjou, Muscadet-Coteaux de la Loire, Muscadet-Sèvre Maine, Saumur, Saumur-Champigny and Pauillac AOCs were created in 1936.

• France’s Bandol and Bellet AOCs were created in 1941.

• Italy’s Moscato d'Asti DOC was created in 1977.

• France’s Anjou Villages AOC was created in 1991.

• Spain’s Cava DO was created in 1991.

• Italy’s Morellino di Scansano DOC designation was established in 2006.

November 13th - 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 VII of France married Adela of Champagne in 1160.

• Wine, a silent film starring Fatty Arbuckle was released in 1913. 

• Casa do Douro was created in 1932.

• Washington and Oregon's Columbia Valley AVA was designated in 1984.

November 12 - 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.

• North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1789.  It is home of the Appalachian High Country, Haw Valley, Swan Creek, Yadkin Valley and Upper Hiwassee Highlands viticultural areas.  

• King George I of Greece returns after his country is freed from the Ottoman Empire in 1912.  The king grew his own grapes for wine, Chateau Décélie.

• The Australian Geographical Indication "Riverina" was registered in 1998.

• AOC Aloxe-Corton et Aloxe-Corton 1er cru were designated an AOC in 2007.

November 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.

• Albrecht III, Elector of Brandenburg was born in 1414.  He established the right to levy taxes on wine after he was crowned.

• The Mayflower see Cape Cod, Massachusetts today in 1620. Previously, the Mayflower shipped wines from France to London.

• Aert van der Neer, a Dutch landscape artist died in 1677.  His work was undervalued that he was forced to open a wine tavern on the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam.  

• An 1889 report in Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular describes the Hungarian wines from Lake Platten were red “not very deep in color, but have a fine body and are capable of developing well”.

• The movie, Wine, Women and Song debuted in 1915.  It starred Gilbert Anderson, otherwise known as Broncho Billy.

November 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.

• In 397 St. Martin of Tours died in Candes-Saint-Martin.  St. Martin is the patrol saint of vintners, wine growers and winemakers.

• Baeda Maryam I, emperor of Ethiopia died in 1478.  After defeating the Dobe’a people, he declared that they should become cultivators as opposed to bandits and planted orange and lemon trees and vineyards as well as distributing bread, beer and honey wine.

• Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern and later Queen of Prussia was born in 1715.  In his will, Frederick II of Prussia left her her normal income, plus 10,000 Thalers annually, wine, fire-wood, game and residence at the royal palace of her choice.

• A report out of Epernay, France dated 1889 in Bonfort’s Wine & Spirit Journal indicates a rush to purchase the new champagnes.

• California's Tracy Hills AVA was designated in 2006.

November 6th - 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.

• Julian was named Caesar of the Western Provinces in 355.  He later tried to conquer the Persians but was injured.  He died as a result of having his wound irrigated with “dark wine”.

• The Synod of Rome was called by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I in 962.  During this Synod, Otto deposes Pope John XII on the grounds that he was depraved and worldly (and incited rebellion against the Emperor).  Witnesses claimed that the Pontiff had toasted the devil with wine.

• The French Bonnezeaux AOC was created in 1951.

• National Nachos Day… What wine would you pair with Nachos?