June 1st - This Date in Wine History

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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.

  • Anne Boleyn was crowned as Queen consort in 1533.  In her youth she was described as sweet and cheerful, enjoying wine and French cuisine, flirting, gambling and gossip.  
  • José I of Portugal was born in 1714. Under his rule, the Duoro wine region was demarcated. 
  • Kentucky was admitted to the Union in 1792.  It is home to the Ohio River Valley viticulturel area.
  • Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796.  It is home to the  Appalachian High Country and Mississippi Delta viticultural areas.
  • The Rosso Barletta DOC was created in 1977.
  • Wine writer and entrepreneur, Alexis Lichine died in 1989.
  • California's Diamond Mountain District AVA was designated in 2001. 
  • Oregon's Ribbon Ridge AVA was designated in 2005.
  • Happy English Wine Week!

Napa Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Napa Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1981. Situated on 43,000 acres, Napa Valley is home to sub-appellations Los Carneros, Howell Mountain, Wild Horse Valley, Stags Leap District, Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak, Spring Mountain District, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Chiles Valley, Yountville, Diamond Mountain District, Coombsville, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, and Calistoga. The Napa Valley floor is flanked by the Mayacamas Mountain Range on the western and northern sides the Vaca Mountains on the eastern side. The floor of the main valley gradually rises from sea level at the southern end to 362 feet above sea level at the northern end in Calistoga at the foot of Mount Saint Helena. The Oakville and Rutherford AVAs lie within a geographical area known as the Rutherford Bench in the center of the valley floor. The soil at the southern end of the valley consists mainly of sediments deposited by earlier advances and retreats of San Pablo Bay while the soil at the northern end of the valley contains a large volume of volcanic lava and ash. Several microclimates exist within the area due to various weather and geographical influences in the different sub-appellations. The open southern end of the valley floor is cooler during the growing season due to the proximity of San Pablo Bay while the sheltered, closed northern end is often much warmer. The eastern side of the valley tends to be arid because winter storms tend to drop much more precipitation on the western mountains and hills. Napa Valley is known for its world-class production of Cabernet Sauvignon but also produces Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Diamond Mountain District - Wine Region of the Day

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DIAMOND MOUNTAIN DISTRICT 

Photo of the Diamond Mountain District by David Toomey for Qorkz. 

The Diamond Mountain District received its AVA designation in 2001. The region sits on 5,000 acres and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Located in the Mayacamas Mountains, Diamond Mountain's unique feature is its higher elevation than most of the growing regions in Napa Valley. The higher elevation allows the vines to sit above the fog line and receive a few extended hours of direct sunlight daily. The soil is volcanic, porous, and well draining which forces the vines to struggle and put all of their efforts into the fruit. Given the warm sunny days and cool nightly breezes, the area has a significant diurnal temperature variation. The region is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Diamond Mountain District - Wine Region Of The Day

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Diamond Mountain District 

The Diamond Mountain District received its AVA designation in 2001. The region sits on 5,000 acres and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Located in the Mayacamas Mountains, Diamond Mountain's unique feature is its higher elevation than most of the growing regions in Napa Valley. The higher elevation allows the vines to sit above the fog line and receive a few extended hours of direct sunlight daily. The soil is volcanic, porous, and well draining which forces the vines to struggle and put all of their efforts into the fruit. Given the warm sunny days and cool nightly breezes, the area has a significant diurnal temperature variation. The region is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc.