March 23rd - 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.

• Charles II issued a warrant to the Farmers of Customs for unlading 120 pipes of Canary wine for the Spanish ambassadors in 1667.

• Ludwig Minkus  and Austrian-Jewish composer was born in 1826.  His father was a wholesale wine merchant in Moravia, Austria and Hungary.

• Hubert de Castella arrived in Melbourne, from Switzerland in 1854 and began a winery in the Yarra Valley.

• The Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry listed that W.P. Thompson received a patent for a method and apparatus for manufacturing beer, ale, wine, cider or the like in 1892.

February 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.

• Andreas Hofer of St. Leonhard in Passeier died in 1810.  He was a Tyrolean Innkeeper, and wine and horse tradesman who was a leader of the Tyrolean Rebellion against Napoleon.  He was eventually captured and executed.

• Paul Kane, Irish-Canadian painter died in 1871.  His family emigrated to Upper Canada where his father operated a wine shop in York (later Toronto).

• Pope Leo the XIII was born in 1878. He appeared in advertisements for Vin Mariani, a wine made with Coca leaves.

• California's Mt. Veeder AVA was designated in 1990.

September 10th - 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.

Richard Grenville, English Lord, soldier, merchant fleet owner, privateer, colonizer and explorer died in 1591 in the Azores.  The Spanish captains described him as drinking  several glasses of wine, “take the glasses between his teeth and crash them in pieces and swallow them down, so that often the blood ran out of his mouth without any harm at all unto him…”

• Richard Grenville, English Lord, soldier, merchant fleet owner, privateer, colonizer and explorer died in 1591 in the Azores.  The Spanish captains described him as drinking  several glasses of wine, “take the glasses between his teeth and crash them in pieces and swallow them down, so that often the blood ran out of his mouth without any harm at all unto him…”

• The Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro or General Company of Viticulture of the Upper Douro founded to guarantee the quality of the product and fair pricing of Port Wine was established in 1756 by the Marquis of Pombal.

• In 1881, The Eighth District Agricultural Association awarded premiums on wine and liquors in Placerville, California.  Mrs. R. Chalmers won the awards for grape brandy, white wine, sweet wine and sherry, whereas the Kramp Brothers wine best red wine, dry wine and Port.

• Empress Elisabeth of Austria was assassinated in 1898. Prior to her death by an Italian anarchist, Elizabeth was obsessed with her weight and was thought to indulge in binge eating.  She is known to have to have visited restaurants incognito and would indulge in champagne, broiled chicken, salad and a considerable quantity of cake.

• Happy California Wine Month!

August 29th - 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 the Baptist is thought to have been beheaded in 28/9AD.  A drunk King Herod promised the head of his stepdaughter Salome after she danced for him. John publicly reproved both Herod and Herodius for divorcing their spouses and then marrying each other. 
• William Cobbett in a letter to his Political Register dated 1818 indicates that claret wine costs only ten pence per quart while a similar amount would cost six to eight shillings.
• Stricter wine purity laws were passed in 1985 by the Austrian government in the wake of the scandal surrounding diethylene glycol contaminated wines.
• Coteaux de Saumur AOC was revised in 2002.  These wines semi-sweet and made of Chenin Blanc.

August 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.

• Cesare Borgia resigns the cardinalate in 1498, later that day he is named Duke of Valentinous.  He is best thought of as someone who poisoned the wine of his enemies.
• Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh set sail for an expedition to the Azores in 1597.  The Earl of Essex was given royal monopoly on sweet wines by Queen Elizabeth.
• Joseph II Holy Roman Emperor allowed residents to sell home made wine, juice and food products Heurigen or Austrian wine inns were created by Imperial decree in 1784. Fir trees hung above the door alerted customers to the arrival of the new season's wine.
• Marcus Garvey was born in 1887 in Jamaica.  He was a founder of Pan-Africanism, the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the Black Star Line.  The Black Star Line owned vineyards in Ethiopia to produce fine wines for their voyages.
• Len Evans, Australia’s leading ambassador of wine, died in 2006.

July 9th - 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.

• Stephen Báncsa, a Hungarian cardinal died in 1270.  As Archbishop of Esztergom, he donated a tithe of wine to the canons of St. Adelbert Cathedral.
• The SS Gellert left Le Havre in 1887 bound for NYC with a shipment of wine.
• The Carema and Sangiovese di Romagna DOC were created in 1967.
• The Austrian government issued a health warning regarding diethylene glycol contaminated wines in 1985.
• The Belgian AOC Hagelandse wijn was designated in 1997.

June 27th - 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.

• Charles II of Navarre, known as Charles the Bad was crowned in 1350.  At the end of his life he was so decrepit that his doctor order him wrapped like a mummy in linen soaked in brandy (aqua vitae).  A maid dropped a candle and WHOOSH! This was seen as a sign of God’s justice.
• Maximilian, Prince of Dietrichstein was born in 1596.  In 1643 he placed 2,000 barrels of wine at Nikolsburg Castle.
• The American brig, Friendship  that was laden with wine and salt from Cadiz to Charlestown was taken by Captain Hope of the Kent in 1800.
• Diethylene glycol was discovered in a bottle of 1983 Rüster Auslese from a Stuttgart supermarket in 1985.
• Ycoden-Daute-Isora DO was created in 1994.

June 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.

• West Virginia was admitted to the Union in 1863.  It is home to the Kanawha River Valley, Ohio River Valley and Shenandoah Valley.
• Spain's Pla de Bages DO was created in 1997.  The name of the region comes from the Roman town of Bacassis, though the monastery of Sant Benet de Bages claimed that the town was named for Bacchus.
• It is the feast day of Pope Saint Silverius.  The French have a saying, “Pluie d'orage à la Saint-Silvère, c'est beaucoup de vin dans le verre,” which means, “Rain storms on St. Silverius Day means plenty of of wine in the glass”.
• It is the Summer Solstice today.  Austria celebrates with fireworks and lit boats traveling down the Danube through the wine growing region.  There German’s celebrate with bonfire’s and drinking of wine and the Portuguese celebrate with a meal of Caldo verde, grilled sardines, bread and red wine.

March 23rd - 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. 

• Charles II issued a warrant to the Farmers of Customs for unlading 120 pipes of Canary wine for the Spanish ambassadors in 1667.
• Ludwig Minkus  and Austrian-Jewish composer was born in 1826.  His father was a wholesale wine merchant in Moravia, Austria and Hungary.
• Hubert de Castella arrived in Melbourne, from Switzerland in 1854 and began a winery in the Yarra Valley.
• The Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry listed that W.P. Thompson received a patent for a method and apparatus for manufacturing beer, ale, wine, cider or the like in 1892.
• Happy National Ag Week.

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 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. 

• Andreas Hofer of St. Leonhard in Passeier died in 1810.  He was a Tyrolean Innkeeper, and wine and horse tradesman who was a leader of the Tyrolean Rebellion against Napoleon.  He was eventually captured and executed.
• Pope Leo the XIII was born in 1878. He appeared in advertisements for Vin Mariani, a wine made with Coca leaves.
• California's Mt. Veeder AVA was designated in 1990.

September 10th - 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.

• General Company of Viticulture of the Upper Douro founded to guarantee the quality of the product and fair pricing of Port Wine was established in 1756.
• Empress Elisabeth of Austria was assassinated in 1898. Prior to her death by an Italian anarchist, Elizabeth was obsessed with her weight and was thought to indulge in binge eating.  She is known to have to have visited restaurants incognito and would indulge in champagne, broiled chicken, salad and a considerable quantity of cake.
• Happy California Wine Month!

August 29th - 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 the Baptist is thought to have been beheaded in 28/9AD.  A drunk King Herod promised the head of his stepdaughter, Salome, after she danced for him. John publicly reproved both Herod and Herodius for divorcing their spouses and then marrying each other. 
• Stricter wine purity laws were passed in 1985 by the Austrian government in the wake of the scandal surrounding diethylene glycol contaminated wines.
• Coteaux de Saumur AOC was revised in 2002.  These wines semi-sweet and made of Chenin Blanc.

August 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.

• Cesare Borgia resigns the cardinalate in 1498, later that day he is named Duke of Valentinous.  He is best thought of as someone who poisoned the wine of his enemies.
• Joseph II Holy Roman Emperor allowed residents to sell home made wine, juice and food products Heurigen or Austrian wine inns were created by Imperial decree in 1784. Fir trees hung above the door alerted customers to the arrival of the new season's wine.
• Len Evans, Australia’s leading ambassador of wine, died in 2006.

July 9th - 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 Carema and Sangiovese di Romagna DOC were created in 1967.
• The Austrian government issued a health warning regarding diethylene glycol contaminated wines in 1985.
• The Belgian AOC Hagelandse .wijn was designated in 1997.

June 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.

• Spain's Pla de Bages DO was created in 1997.  The name of the region comes from the Roman town of Bacassis, though the monastery of Sant Benet de Bages claimed that the town was named for Bacchus.
• It is the feast day of Pope Saint Silverius.  The French have a saying, “Pluie d'orage à la Saint-Silvère, c'est beaucoup de vin dans le verre,” which means, “Rain storms on St. Silverius Day means plenty of of wine in the glass”.
• It is the Summer Solstice today.  Austria celebrates with fireworks and lit boats traveling down the Danube through the wine growing region. They also light up the vineyards!  There German’s celebrate with bonfire’s and drinking of wine and the Portuguese celebrate with a meal of Caldo verde, grilled sardines, bread and red wine (we are skipping the sardines).