January 8th - 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. 

  • Russell de St. Maxentin of Hampshire, England was ordered to procure 40 tuns of good wine for the King’s use in 1225.
  • Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Dutch-British artist was born in 1836.  Mythological elements were often depicted in his work, especially Bacchus.  Additionally, he is described as being a lover of wine, women, and parties.
  • Prince Leo Galitzine founder of wine-making in Crimea died in 1916.
  • The South African wine-making cooperative,Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika Bpkt was founded in 1918.

December 30th - 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 Gadsden Purchase was complete in 1853.  The land is southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona was purchased to help railroads expansion in the the United States.  It is also home to the Sonoita Viticultural Area.
  • California's Howell Mountain AVA was designated in 1983.
  • The Valdichiana DOC was established in 1989.
  • Eddie Barlow, South African cricketer died in 1940.  In his retirement he bought a vineyard named Windfall.

December 28th - 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 Cape of Good Hope passed laws respecting the sale of wines in 1762.
  • Iowa was admitted as a state in 1846.  It is home to the Loess Hills District and Upper Mississippi River Valley viticultural areas.
  • Woodrow Wilson was born in 1856.  He was President at the beginning of Prohibition, which restricted the SALE of alcohol but not the consumption.  At the end of his term as president, Wilson had his wine collection moved to his new residence.
  • California's Shenandoah Valley AVA was designated in 1982.
  • Virginia's Shenandoah Valley AVA was designated in 1982.

December 11th - This Date in Wine History

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Portrait of George Mason (1725-1792) by John Hesselius (1728–1778)

Portrait of George Mason (1725-1792) by John Hesselius (1728–1778)

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 Mongols begin to retreat in 1241 because Ogodei, son of Ghengis Khan died of alcohol poisoning.
  • George Mason, Virginia planter and delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 was born in 1725.  He was a pioneer in the Virginia wine industry and was a patron of Maurice Pound who experimentented on his behalf.
  • South African chemist and viticulturist, Abraham Izak Perold died in 1941.
  • It is Indiana day to celebrate the Hoosier State’s admission into the United States.  Indiana is home to two viticultural areas.  The Ohio River Valley and Indiana Uplands.
  • It is the feast day of St. Gentian.  He is the patron saint of innkeepers.

December 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.

  • The Jurisdication of Saint-Emilion, France was named a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1999.
  • The South African wine-making co-operative,Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika Bpkt, became KWV Ltd. in 2002.
  • It is the feast day of St. Bibiana.  She is the patron saint of hangovers.

October 20th - 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.

  • South African chemist and viticulturist, Abraham Izak Perold was born in 1880.
  • Italy’s Rosso Conero DOC was created in 1990.
  • Italy’s Verduno Pelaverga DOC was created in 1995.
  • Spain's Rioja DOCa was created in 2004.
  • Celebrate Champagne Day!

October 14th- 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.

  • James II of England was born in 1633.  During the reign of his brother, Charles II, James held the office of Lord High Admiral which along with revenue from the post office and wine tariffs allowed him to keep a sizable household at his brother’s court.
  • The founder of the Constantia Winery, Simon van der Stel was born in 1639. The City of Stellenbosch is named for him.
  • California's Dos Rios AVA was designated in 2005.

August 12th - This Date in Wine History

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Giambattista_Tiepolo_-_The_Banquet_of_Cleopatra_-_Google_Art_Project

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.

  • Cleopatra died in 30 BC.  She is said to have owned the largest pearls in the world and she bet Marc Antony that she could spend a small fortune on a singlemeal.  She won the bet by taking one of the pearls and dissolving it in wine vinegar and drinking the mix.
  • The City of Jerez Spain in 1483 issued rules regarding The Raisin and Grape Harvesting Guild, protecting the designation of “Sherry".
  • Eddie Barlow, South African cricketer was born in 1940.  In his retirement he bought a vineyard named Windfall.

April 7th - This Date in Wine History

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Jan van Riebeeck

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.

  • Jan van Riebeeck, who planted in the first grapes in Cape Town was born in 1619.
  • California's Yorkville Highlands AVA was designated in 1998.
  • Spain's Penedés DO was created in 2002.

April 6th - This Date in Wine History

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Getariako Txakolina

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.

  • Jan van Riebeeck established a supply camp near the Cape of Good Hope in 1652.  This would become Cape Town and van Riebeeck would plant the first vineyard there.
  • The British Medical Journal for December 13, 1862 reports on the care Margaret McCaffrey by the physicians at Liverpool Northern Hospital as she suffered from double bronchopneumonia.  She was treated from January 1st 1862 until April 6th by several glasses of port wine with other medicines.  She recovered.
  • Spain's Chacolí de Getaria-Getariako Txakolina DO was created in 1990.

February 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.

  • "Wein, Weib und Gesang" ("Wine, Women and Song"), Op.333 by Johann Strauss II was performed for the first time in 1869.
  • In 1659, Jan van Riebeeck, the founder of Cape Town, produced the first known wine in South Africa.
  • Spain's Méntrida DO and Ribeiro DO was created in 1976.
  • New Mexico's Middle Rio Grande Valley AVA was designated in 1988.

January 27th - This Date in Wine History

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Shah Abbas I of Persia with wine boy by Muhammad Qasim

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.

  • Shah Abbas I of Persia was born in 1571.  There are paintings of the Shah being handed wine to drink despite Islam's prohibitions against it.
  • In 1659, Jan van Riebeeck, the founder of Cape Town, produced the first known wine in South Africa.
  • California's Stags Leap District AVA was designated in 1989.

January 8th - This Date in Wine History

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Prince Leo Galitzine

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.

  • Prince Leo Galitzine founder of sparkling wine-making in Crimea died in 1916; 
  • The South African wine-making cooperative,Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika Bpkt was founded in 1918.

December 11th - This Date in Wine History

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Ogodei Khan

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.

  • South African chemist and viticulturist, Abraham Izak Perold died in 1941.
  • The Mongols begin to retreat in 1241 because Ogodei, son of Ghengis Khan died of alcohol poisoning.