June 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.

• The Roman Emperor Julian having brought his fleet of soldiers down the Tigris River to defeat the Persians burned his ships in 363.  This was a very bad idea. 10 days later he was speared in his abdomen which damaged his liver, peritoneum and intestines.  He was treated with stitches and the irrigation of the would with “dark wine” but he died.
• Ignatius Sancho, the first African man to vote in a British Parliamentary election or to be given an obituary in the British Press writes a thank you note to a friend, IS esq. thanking him for the gift of a fine bottle of wine in 1779. 
• John Snow, the father of modern epidemiology, anaesthesia and hygiene who proved that the cholera outbreak in London in 1854 was associated with one water pump died in 1858. During the 1830s he became a vegetarian and teetotaler until his health deteriorated and returned to meat and wine..
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Murray Darling" was registered in 1997.
• The French have a saying, « S’il pleut le jour de Saint-Cyr, le vin diminue jusqu’à la tire. » or, "If it rains the day of Saint-Cyr, the wine decreases. "

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 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 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.

• Omar Khayyam, the Persian poet and polymath was born in 1048.  The is responsible for the verse:

“A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, 
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread—and Thou 
Beside me singing in the Wilderness— 
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow! ”

— Omar Khayyám, The Rubaiyat

• The marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England in 1152 brought good cheap Bordeaux wine to the people of England.
• Louis Bignon, French chef and agriculturist, and Legion of Honour recipient died in 1906.  He was known for the high quality of wine in his restaurant as well as investing in research on the phylloxera.
• The Minnesota Dairy and Food Department reports that Ole Olson plead guilty to selling Blackberry Brandy that had been adulterated with coal-tar dye in 1908.  He was fined $40.
• The French have a saying, « Soleil à la Saint-Éric promet du vin plein les barriques. » or, “Sun at St. Eric’s day promises barrels full of wine.”

May 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.

• Baldwin IX, Count of Flanders was crowned the first Emperor of the Latin Empire in 1204 at the Hagia Sophia.  His reign ended with Tsar Kalyan of Bulgaria killed him in 1205 and turned his skull into a drinking cup.
• New York's The Hamptons, Long Island AVA was designated in 1985.
• Robert Mondavi died in 2008.
• The French have a saying, « À la Saint-Honoré, s'il fait gelée, le vin diminue de moitié. » or, “If it freezes on St. Honoré’s day, wine will be diminished by half.”

May 2nd - 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.

• Leonardo da Vinci died in 1519.  He is said to have employed his lifelong servant Gian Giacomo Caprotti da Oreno, known as Salaì who worked in his vineyards and a model before becoming a student of da Vinci and eventually companion.  Upon da Vinci’s death Salaì received half of the vineyards.
• 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.
• The French have a saying, « C'est à la Saint-Antonin, que vend son vin le malin. » or, “Sell your wine at St. Antoninus day before the Ice Saints come.”

April 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.

• St. John Baptist de La Salle was born in Reims, France in 1651.  He is the patron saint of teachers and the founder of the first Catholic schools.  He was the son of Nicolle de Moet Brouillet of the family that founded  Moët & Chandon.
• Louisiana was admitted to the Union in 1812.  It is home to the Mississippi Delta viticulturel area.
• The French Foreign Legion celebrate the Battle of Camarón (1863) during the French intervention in Mexico with an excess of cheap French red wine and the wooden hand of Jean Danjou
• It is Walpurgis Night in Northern Europe.  It is supposed to be a night that witches meet and is celebrated with bonfires and other festivities, in particular Finland and Sweden which features Champagne or other sparkling wine.
• The French have a saying, « La pluie, le jour de Saint-Robert, de bon vin remplira ton verre. » which translates to (more or less) “If it rains on St. Robert’s day good wine will fill your glass.”

March 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. 

• In 1903, Cornelius Kingsley Garrison Billings, wealthy industrialist, horseman and tycoon hosted an eccentric horsed dinner where all the guests were seated on a horse and ate off of silver trays affixed to the saddles.  Guests also drank 1898 Krug Champagne from rubber tubes to iced bottles in their saddlebags.  The dinner was held at Louis Sherry’s restaurant.
• The Bianco di Pitigliano DOC was created in 1966. 
• Brunello di Montalcino DOCG designation was established in 1968.
• The Southeastern New England AVA was designated in 1984.
• California's Santa Clara Valley AVA was designated in 1989.
• The French have a saying, « À la Saint-Gontran, espoir s'il fait beau, pain et vin se font voir. » or "At Saint-Gontran, hope if the weather is nice, bread and wine are visible. "

March 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. 

• Greece declared its independence from Turkey in 1821 freeing wine production from the onerous taxes of the Ottoman Turks.
• French winemaker, Jean-Michel Cazes was born in 1935.
• New York's Cayuga Lake AVA was designated in 1988.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Clare Valley" was registered in 1999.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Perricoota" was registered in 1999.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Adelaide Plains" was registered in 2002.
• The French have a saying, « S'il gèle le 25 mars, pas de grain ni de vin. » or “If it freezes on March 25th, there will be no grain nor wine”.

March 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. 

• Dr. David Hosack (above), Professor of Botany and Materia Medica in Columbia College wrote a letter to Dr. James Gregory, Professor of the Practice of Physic in the University of Edinburgh on a Case of Tetanus cured by Wine, March 12, 1799.
• Isabella Beeton, author of Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management was born in 1836.  Her book included all elements of household management including, the manufacture or wine, beer, cordials and cocktails.
• Evolutionary Biologist, Francisco J. Ayala was born in 1934. He owns a vineyard in Lodi.
• Luxembourg's Marque Nationale, the appellation for the nation was instituted in 1935. 
• California's Pacheco Pass AVA was designated in 1984
• The French have a saying, « À la Saint-Grégoire, tailler sa vigne, c'est de l'or. » or “At St. Gregory's, to prune his vineyard is for gold.”

February 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. 

• Samuel Pepys drank a pint of wine at the Greyhound Tavern with Mr. Pierce and William Howe in 1660.
• Wine writer, Andre Simon was born in 1877. 
• Mario Andretti was born in 1940.  He is one of the founders of Andretti Winery in Napa Valley.
• California's Rockpile AVA was designated in 2002.
• California's Trinity Lakes AVA was designated in 2005.
• The French have a saying, « Beau ciel à la saint Romain, il y aura des denrées et du bon vin. » or "Beautiful sky at St. Romain, there will be food and good wine. "

February 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. 

• Robert Devereaux, 2nd Earl of Essex was executed in 1601.  Prior to his treasonous rebellion, Essex was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I who gave the royal monopoly of sweet wines to him which provided him revenue from the taxes.
• Pierre-Auguste Renoir, the French impressionist painter was born in 1841.  He is known for Luncheon of the Boating Party and Bar du moulin de la Galette which feature revelers enjoying drinks…
• Rudolf Steiner, father of biodynamic wine making was born in 1861. Biodynamic agriculture is certified by an organization called Demeter.
• The Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA was designated in 2004.
• The French have a saying, « Vent fort à la saint Nestor, bon vin à la saint Marcellin.» or "Strong wind for Saint Nestor, good wine for Saint Marcellin.” (St.Marcellin’s feast is October 24th).

February 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.

• 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 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.
• The silent film, Liebfraumilch was released in 1929.  It starred Livio Pavanelli and Henny Porten.
• The French have a saying, « À sainte Agathe va à ta vigne, si ce n'est pour y travailler, au moins pour y déjeuner. » which translates (loosely to "To St. Agatha go to your vineyard, if not to work there, at least to have lunch there.”

January 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.

• Cavalier poet, Edmund Spenser, died in 1599.  He wrote:

Poure out the wine without restraint or stay,
Poure not by cups, but by the belly full,
Poure out to all that wull,
And sprinkle all the postes and wals with wine,

- Epithalamion

• Jan Brueghel the Elder died in 1625.  He is the Dutch painter of One of, “The Senses of Hearing, Touch and Taste” show a huge feast with an assortment of wine cups. 
• Patent #37,424 was issued to A. Myers of Springfield, OH for Improved Sorghum Wine in 1863.
• The Chablis AOC was designated in 1938
• The French have a saying, « À la Saint-Hilaire, le vin gèle dans le verre. » which translates to, “On Saint Hillary’s Day, the wine freezes in the glass. "

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.

• 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 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.

Phillip II of France was crowned in 1179.  He is known for hosting a wine tasting referred to as the Battle of the Wines.  A poem celebrating this event “La Bataille des Vins” was written in 1224 by Henry d’Andeli.

Edgar Alan Poe's story, A Cask of Amondillado was published in the Godey's Ladies Book in 1846

The French have a saying, « À la Saint Mathurin, tire ton vin et laisse l'eau pour le moulin. »  or "At Saint Mathurin, draw your wine and leave the water for the mill. "

October 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.

• Titus Flavius Domitianus, Roman Emperor known as Domitian, who banned planting of vineyards in order to increase grain production in the Empire was born in 51 CE.
• Cotes-de-Provence AOC was created in 1977.
• California's Alexander Valley AVA was designated in 1984.
• California's Central Coast AVA was designated in 1985.
• The Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC classification was created in 1995.
• The French have a saying, « Quand arrive la Saint-Magloire, vigneron sait ce qu'il peut boire. » or "When the Saint-Magloire arrives, the winemaker knows what he can drink. "

October 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.

• Saint Ivo of Kermartin was born in Tréguier in Brittany in 1253.  Even at the Sorbonne while other students partied, he refused to eat mean or drink wine.  His skull is kept in a reliquary in the cathedral of Tréguier.
• The Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC, Carmignano DOC, San Vito di Luzzi DOC and Scavigna DOC were created in 1994.
• The French have a saying, « Quand Baudouin coupe le raisin, c'est mauvais pour le vin mais bon pour le chou : tout l'hiver, tu en auras goût. » or "When Baudouin cuts the grapes, it is bad for the wine but good for the cabbage: all the winter, you will taste. " 

October 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.

• Marie Antoinette, whose breasts are rumored to be the model of the shape of the champagne coupe was executed in 1793.
• The Australian Geographical Indications "Langhorne Creek" and "Lenswood" were registered in 1998.
• The French have a saying, « Pour la Saint-Gall, le raisin fait du mauvais vin. » or "For St. Gallen, the grapes make bad wine. "