September 24th - This Date in Wine History

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Portrait of Pierre Viala

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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.

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• In 1716 Grand Duke Cosimo III de 'Medici issued the first definition of what wines could be called Chianti.
• French oenologist, Pierre Viala, was born in 1859. He was an expert in adapting American rootstock for French vineyards. 
• Spain's Cariñena DO was designated in 2002.  These wines are produced in the Aragón province.