June 25th - This Date in Wine History

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Bodegas Guëll

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 lawsuit was filed against New Haven's first publican, Henry Tomlinson in 1656 for charging more for strong water, wine and beer than was allowed and for keeping a disorderly house. He allowed young men and maids to attend his house, dance and play at shuffle board. (The horror!)
  • Antoni Gaudí was born in 1852.  He was an architect known for the style known as Catalan Modernism.  He is famous for the Sagrada Familia and the Güell wine cellars (seen above).
  • The Bonfort's Wine and Spirits Circular for this date in 1887 contained an advertisement for Roederer Dry Champagne as a new product in the United States.
  • Robert Lawrence Balzer, America's first serious wine journalist was born in 1912. 

June 17th - This Date in Wine History

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Naples

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 a letter dated 1740, Thomas Gray wrote his mother about his travels in Naples (shown above) and the concerns of the people about the weather which was presumed to injury their corn, wine and oil.
  • Gregory Blaxland, the first exporter of Australian wine was born in 1778.
  • F.T. Martens received a patent for wine in 1913.

May 15th - 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.

  • 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.

May 2nd - 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.

  • 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.

February 13th - 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.

  • Parentalia, the Roman festival of the ancestors was celebrated by offerings of flower-garlands, wheat, salt, wine-soaked bread and violets.
  • The Challenge of Barletta was fought in Italy of 1503.  The tournament was provoked after Charles de la Motte of France, drunk on the local wine, insulted the Italians.
  • Under a federal law passed in 1862, it was illegal to provide to any alcohol to an Indian under the authority of the Indian Bureau. A fine of $500.00 was charged for each violation.

January 16th - This Date in Wine History

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St. Fursey

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.

  • French authorities in 1914 abolished wine license taxes for saloon owners. It was seen to encourage the drinking of hard spirits in lieu of the more 'wholesome' wine, beer and ciders.
  • Prohibition began in the United States in 1920.
  • It is the feast day of St. Fursey.  After performing several miracles in France he was offered any site in the King’s dominion for a monastery.  He selected a location along the Marne covered with woods and vineyards.