January 15th - This Date in Wine History

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440px-Robert,_1st_Marquess Grosvenor.jpg

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 a letter to the Earl of Grosvenor in 1829, William Cobbett of Cobbett’s Weekly Political Register discusses the cost of living in the United States and how much more reasonable costs for Claret, Port, Madeira, spirits and hard ale ("for nobody will drink small beer in that country").
  • The Western Temperance Journal dated 1841 ran a story about a married couple couple that comes to ruin because the man drank a glass of wine with a friend.
  • The California State Viticultural Commissioners met in San Francisco in 1887.  They discussed legislation relating to sweet wine.
  • Wine maker, Jose Ignacio Domecq dies in 1997.