December 3rd - 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.

  • In 1894, while straining to open a bottle of wine, Robert Louis Stevenson collapsed.  He died a few hours later.
  • The Faro DOC was established in 1976.
  • The Lessona DOC was created in 1976.

November 7th - 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.

  • Elizabeth Stuart was crowned Queen of Bohemia in 1619.  After her marriage to Frederick V, Prince of Palatine and the Rhine, they began their journey to Heidelberg, meeting people from his kingdom and sampling local foods and wines.
  • Canadian sommelier, consultant and Director of Programs for Toronto's Good Food Revolution, Jamie Drummond was born in 1971.
  • Today is the feast day of Willebrord, the patron saint of Luxembourg.  Enjoy a glass of Crémant de Luxembourg.
  • It is International Merlot Day.

July 28th - This Date in Wine History

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Colonial Times

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.

  • Giovanni della Casa, a Florentine poet and writer on etiquette was born in 1503.  His book, Galateo, includes the advice to Never should one sniff someone else’s wine, for instance, as something might fall out of one’s nose; even though this is unlikely, Della Casa notes, one should not take such risks.
  • The Colonial Times and Tasmanian Advertiser of Hobart Town in 1826 W.A. Bethune lists for sales, English soap, French sugar, Tenerife wine in pipes and hogsheads, Liverpool salt and Blue Claith Brandy, Gin and Bronte Madeira.
  • The oldest bottle of Veuve Cliquot was found at Torosay Castle on the Isle of Mull. The bottle was from 1893 and was locked in a sideboard for 150 years.

May 17th - 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.

  • 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 Welsh 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.

February 5th - 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.

  • In 1206 King John orders Ralph the Miller to let Richard de Redvers have two tuns of wine that the king had bought.
  • In 1680, the Town of Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland payed 8 Pounds 3 shilling 8d for “8 pints of claret wine two ounces of tobacco and eight pypes” to honor Granaries sons burial day.
  • "Wine in the Word: An inquiry concerning the wine Christ made, the wine of the supper, etc." was an address given by Abraham Coles before the Woman's Christian temperance union of Plainfield, N.J.