December 13th - This Date in Wine History

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'Replique_de_la_Naissance_d'Henri_IV'_by_Eugène_Devéria.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.

  • The future Henri IV was born in Pau, Navarre in 1533.  He is said to have been baptised with a spoon of Jurançon wine and garlic.

  • Sir Francis Drake begins his round the world voyage in 1577.  During the trip he stopped in Valaparaiso, Chile where he captured a ship of Chilean wine.

  • Giovanni Del-Monico, a Swiss Wine Merchant and his brother Pietro open Delmonico & Brother Café 1827.

  • Pierre Marie Alexis Millardet who saved the vineyards of France from phylloxera was born in 1838.

  • The Cacc'e mmitte di Lucera DOC was created in 1975.

  • The Moscato di Sardegna DOC was created in 1979.

  • Portugal's Alto Douro Wine Region was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.

Qorkz Book Club - Wine & War

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Wine&War.jpg

We have learned so much about WWII and the Nazis over the years but this was an eye-opener for me.  While achieving the goal of conquering an old enemy, the Nazi regime had a separate goal of stripping France of its wealth and treasures.  Much attention has been paid to art looted from conquered lands, but there was more involved.  They wanted France's wine.

This book looks at the stories of how the French worked to rebuild their viticultural heritage after years of war and infestation only to be faced with occupation by the Germans and their rapacious desire for French wine.  Various regions were put under the control of administrators known as Weinführers whose job was to collect the highest quality wines from their charges.  

The experiences of the various wine regions depended on the individual in charge but was also dependant on whether the Germans could claim the a region as part of a traditional German realm.  For instance, Alsace, which speaks a more Germanic dialect and had been part of Prussia in the past had their men conscripted into the German army.  The Alsatians, however, considered themselves French and where constantly at odds with their occupiers in ways that other Frenchmen didn't experience.

I highly recommend this book for people who love wine, history and France.  

 

May 26th - This Date in Wine History

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Vincent Voiture

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.

  • Arnaud de Cervole, French mercenary, died in 1366.  During the 100 Years war King Jean le Bon the good granted him a letter of remission for sealing wheat, wine and linens from the inhabitants of Saint Laurent de Cognac.
  • Vincent Voiture, French poet and author was born in 1648.  He was the son of rich wine merchants.
  • The 1888 vintage of Gros Verdot was treated with electric current in for 15 minutes was the best of the treated wines.  This experiment was performed by the California Agricultural Experiment Station in 1891.

February 26th - 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.

  • Musician Jonathan Cain was born in 1950. He is owner of delaCain Vineyards in Sonoma County.
  • California's Fair Play AVA was designated in 2001.
  • Oregon and Washington's Walla Walla Valley AVA was designated in 2001.

February 22nd - 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.

  • According to a rule passed in 1792 of the St. Dunstan's Club in London (126 Fleet Street), Any member elected to the position within the club was required to buy a bottle of Port for the other members to share.
  • Actor Kyle MacLachlan was born in 1959.  He owns Pursued by Bear Wine in Columbia Valley.
  • Drew Barrymore was born in 1975.  She is a partner in the Carmel Road Winery.

February 20th - 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.

  • 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.

February 19th - This Date in Wine History

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Donner Pass

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 Donner Party was rescued by a search party from Napa Valley in 1847.
  • Nathaniel de Rothschild, founder of the French wine-making branch of the Rothschild family died in 1870.
  • Spain's Cataluña DO was created in 1991.

February 8th - This Date in Wine History

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Petit Gamay by Viala and Vermorel

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 Morgon AOC and the Saint-Amour AOC were created in 1946.
  • The Bianco di Custoza DOC and he Colli Lanuvini DOC were created in 1971.
  • The Salaparuta DOC was established in 2006.

February 6th - This Date in Wine History

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St. Amandus

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.

  • Feast day of St. Amandus, patron saint of vintners.
  • The Malvasia di Cagliari DOC was created in 1979.

February 3rd - 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.

  • In 1468 Johannes Gutenberg died. He invented the method of printing from moveable type. One of the important innovations in his method was a new press, similar to the screw presses used in winemaking.
  • Samuel Pepys reports in his diary that he went out with this cousin Roger to Priors, a Rhenish wine-house and had a “pint or two of wine and a dish of anchovies in1660.
  • The father of Washington State wines, Dr. Walter J. Clore died this day in 2003.

February 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.

  •  "He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored" The Battle Hymn of the Republic is first published in 1862.
  • In 1888, New York City Excise Board Commissioner revoked licenses for individuals with licenses to sell beer, ale and wine for selling “spirituous liquors”.

December 13th - This Date in Wine History

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Landsat image of Sardinia from NASA.

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 Cacc'e mmitte di Lucera DOC was created in 1975.  This region is located in Apulia.
  • The Moscato di Sardegna DOC was created in 1979.
  • Portugal's Alto Douro Wine Region was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.

December 1st - This Date in Wine History

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Flag of the State of Oregon

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.

  • Oregon's Willamette Valley AVA was designated in 1983.  (Willamette Dammit! - Your pronounciation guide)
  • Spain's Ribera del Duero DO was established in 1992.

November 30th - This Date in Wine History

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Portrait of Winston Churchill

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.

  • Winston Churchill, known for enjoying a glass of hock for breakfast was born in 1874
  • Oscar Wilde dies in Paris in 1900. He is famously quoted as saying while sipping champagne, "And now, I am dying beyond my means.”
  • California's Wild Horse Valley AVA was designated in 1988
  • Oregon's Dundee Hills AVA was designated 2004

November 11th - This Date in Wine History

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Christ with the Eucharist by Vincente Juan Masip

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.

  • Today is the feast day of St. Martin of Tours.  St. Martin is the patron saint of vintners, wine growers and winemakers.
  • The Fourth Lateran Council meets today in 1215.  Thedoctrine of transubstantiation by whichbread and one are transformed into the body and blood of Christ was formalized.
  • Spain's Bierzo DO was created in 1989.