July 1st - This Date in Wine History

Image courtesy of the Walter Clore Center

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.

• Dr. Walter Clore, father of Washington State wines was born in 1911. 
• Dan Aykroyd was born in 1952.  As well as being a Ghostbuster he is also owner of Dan Ackroyd Wines.
• France’s Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC was created in 1998.
• Italy’s Lago di Corbara DOC was established in 1998.
• California's High Valley AVA, Minnesota’s Alexandria Lakes AVA,  Red Hill Douglas County, Oregon AVA and Washington's Horse Heaven Hills AVA were designated in 2005.

June 12th - 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.

• Joseph Ray, a wine and brandy merchant from Virley, Essex was declared bankrupt in 1790 according to the Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure.
• Peter Poucin of Minneapolis, MN was issued a patent for a fever reducer that consisted of 4 parts white ginger, 4 parts aloes, 3 parts gum camphor, 1/2 part of beaver gallbladder, 3 parts sassafrass and 3 parts gum myrhh mixed with wine or brandy in 1866.
• Ridley & Co.’s Monthly Wine & Spirit Trade Circular for This date in 1885 reports on the outcome of the court case of Lawrence v. Oronoz  where plaintiff’s claim wrongful dismissal of their contract with 5,000 lbs worth of sherry from Jerez-de-la-Frontera.  The Jury found for the plaintiff’s.
• It is “Dia dos Namorados” in Brazil.  The equivalent of Valentines Day in  many parts of the world, this celebration of St. Anthony of Padua should be celebrated with champagne and roses!  The reason that the Brazilians don’t celebrate love in February is due to it occurring during the Carnival season.

May 22nd - 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 Hashshashin attempt to assassinate Saladin near Aleppo in 1176.  In 1169, Saladin repented wine drinking and frivolity.
• Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac et de Palluau was born in 1622.  He was a French soldier, courtier, Governor of New France and Founder of Fort Frontenac.  The hybrid wine grape Frontenac, developed by the University of Minnesota was named in his honor.
• Nathaniell Sparhawke of Cambridge, MA was issued a license to drawe wine and strong water in Cambridge in 1639.
• English writer, wine-merchant and Master of Wine, Pat Simon died in 2008.
• It is the feast day of St. Rita of Cascia.  Her attributes include a forehead wound (partial stigmata), Roses, bees and grapevines.

May 18th - 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.

• Omar Khayyam, the Persian poet and polymath was born in 1048.  The is responsible for the verse:

“A Book of Verses underneath the Bough, 
A Jug of Wine, a Loaf of Bread—and Thou 
Beside me singing in the Wilderness— 
Oh, Wilderness were Paradise enow! ”

— Omar Khayyám, The Rubaiyat

• The marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England in 1152 brought good cheap Bordeaux wine to the people of England.
• Louis Bignon, French chef and agriculturist, and Legion of Honour recipient died in 1906.  He was known for the high quality of wine in his restaurant as well as investing in research on the phylloxera.
• The Minnesota Dairy and Food Department reports that Ole Olson plead guilty to selling Blackberry Brandy that had been adulterated with coal-tar dye in 1908.  He was fined $40.
• The French have a saying, « Soleil à la Saint-Éric promet du vin plein les barriques. » or, “Sun at St. Eric’s day promises barrels full of wine.”

May 11th - 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.

• Minnesota was admitted to the Union in 1858.  It is home to the Alexandria Lakes and Upper Mississippi River Valley viticultural areas.
• Salvador Dali was born in 1904.  The surrealist artist created a wine book, The Wines of Gala, as well as a cookbook, The Dinners of Gala. (Gala was his wife).
• The Nuragus Di Cagliari DOC was created in 1988.
• Spain's Costers del Segre DO was created in 1988.
• It is the feast day of Odilo of Cluny.  He was the 5th Benedictine Abbot of Cluny. Miracles attributed to him included increases of food and wine.  Empty bottles would miraculously refill.

July 1st - 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.

• Dr. Walter Clore, father of Washington State wines was born in 1911 
• Dan Aykroyd was born in 1952.  As well as being a Ghostbuster he is also owner of Dan Ackroyd Wines.
• France’s Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC was created in 1998
• Italy’s Lago di Corbara DOC was established in 1998
• California's High Valley AVA, Minnesota’s Alexandria Lakes AVA,  Red Hill Douglas County, Oregon AVA and Washington's Horse Heaven Hills AVA were designated in 2005