July 26th - This Date in Wine History

View fullsize

14th Century painting of Krum, the Khan of Bulgaria being served wine in the skull of Nikephoros I.

---

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. 

---

• Nikephoros I of the Byzantine Empire was killed in 811.  His skull was turned into a wine cup for Krum, the Khan of Bulgaria.
• Spain's Navarra DO was created in 1975