March 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.

Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar was burned at the stake.  The Knights at one point owned the entire Island of Cyprus and were purported to have created the wine, Commandaria.

Robert Walpole, The Earl of Orford and Prime Minister of Great Britain died in 1745.  He proposed that the tariff on wine and tobacco be replaced by an excise tax.  Revenues had fallen due to smuggling. #March18th #wine #history #winehistory🍷.

Ernest Gallo was born in 1909. #March18th #wine #history #winehistory🍷📗.

George I, King of the Hellenes was assassinated in Thessaloniki in 1913.  The king grew his own grapes for wine, Chateau Décélie. #March18th #wine #history #winehistory🍷.

The Australian Geographical Indication "Mount Benson" was registered in 1997 #March18th #wine #history #winehistory🍷📗.

Fess Parker, film and tv actor and winemaker died in 2010. #March18th #wine #history #winehistory🍷📗.

February 5th -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.

• In 1206 King John orders Ralph the Miller to let Richard de Redvers have two tuns of wine that the king had bought.

• In 1680, the Town of Irvine payed 8 Pounds 3 shilling 8d for “8 pints of claret wine two ounces of tobacco and eight pypes” to honor Granaries sons burial day.

• Wine in the Word: An inquiry concerning the wine Christ made, the wine of the supper,etc. was an address given by Abraham Coles before the Woman's Christian temperance union of Plainfield, N. J., 

• The silent film, Liebfraumilch was released in 1929.  It starred Livio Pavanelli and Henny Porten.

• The French have a saying, « À sainte Agathe va à ta vigne, si ce n'est pour y travailler, au moins pour y déjeuner. » which translates (loosely to "To St. Agatha go to your vineyard, if not to work there, at least to have lunch there.”

December 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.

• Guillaume Du Fay, the Franco- Flemish Renaissance composer first identified as the Canon of Cambrai in documentation when he received 36 lots of wine for the feast of St. John the Evangelist in 1440.

• The Methuen Treaty, that established the wine trade between Portugal and England was signed in 1703. This gave Britons access to Portuguese wine during war with France.

• Louis Pasteur, French chemist and microbiologist who demonstrated that microorganisms contaminated fermenting beverages thus allowing him to invent the process of "pasteurization" was born in 1822.

• French actor, Gérard Depardieu was born in 1948.  He also owns Chateau de Tigne in Anjou, Loire Valley, France but also owns vineyards in Bordeaux, Languedoc, Algeria, Argentina, Morocco, Spain, Sicily and the United States.

• The Valpolicella DOC designation was established in 1990.  It is made in the Italian region of Verona.

• The Australian Geographical Indications "The Peninsulas” "Far North” "Fleurieu" "Limestone Coast” and"Mount Lofty Ranges" were registered in 1996.

• National Fruitcake Day (Fruitcake is preserved with brandy or fortified wines).

December 26th - 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.

• Lord George Gordon, head of the Protestant Association and and the focal point of the Anti-Catholic Gordon Riots was born in 1751.  In 1787 he converted to Judaism while undergoing a trial for defaming Marie Antoinette. While imprisoned in Newgate prison, he was supplied with kosher meat and wine.

• Days of Wine and Roses starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick was released in 1962.

• It is the feast day of St. James the Just who was known for drinking no wine nor the eating of meat and wore only fine linen.

• The French have a saying, « À la saint Étienne, pas de vent, pour le vin c'est excellent. » or "To St Stephen, no wind, for wine is excellent. “

• « Dans la nuit qui amène saint Étienne, s'il fait du vent, le vin sera très abondant » or "In the night that brings St. Stephen, if it makes the wind, the wine will be very abundant “.

• Happy Boxing Day!

December 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.

• Pieter de Hooch, a Dutch painter was born in 1629.  He is known for “A Woman Drinking with Two Men” and “A Woman and Two Men in an Arbor”.

• The California Agricultural Experiment Station reports that in 1887, the Mataro (Carignan) grapes from Margherita Vineyard in Fresno had produced wine that was  “decidedly acutefied”.  The wine was racked and pasteurized the next day.

• Wine of Youth, a silent comedy-drama directed by King Vidor and released by MGM was released in 1924 

• The Régnié AOC was created in 1988

• California's Capay Valley AVA was designated in 2002

• Happy Sangria Day!

November 13th - 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.

• Louis VII of France married Adela of Champagne in 1160.

• Wine, a silent film starring Fatty Arbuckle was released in 1913. 

• Casa do Douro was created in 1932.

• Washington and Oregon's Columbia Valley AVA was designated in 1984.

October 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.

• In 1884, the California Agricultural Experiment Station crushed Trousseau grapes grown by William Pfeffer of Gubserville.

• The U.S. Department of Treasury determines that Vermouth which previously had be taxed as a cordial will now be taxed as a wine under the act of 1914.

• The Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato DOC was created in 1987.

• Sideways, starring Thomas Haden Church and Paul Giametti opened in 2004.

September 26th - This Date at 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 Gentleman's and London Magazine: Or Monthly Chronologer of 1754 contains a Description of a Modern Club from Mr. Fitz-Adam, where he complains about the useless ways Gentlemen in London wasted their time with disputing wines and drinking to other’s health, etc.

• Thomas Volney Munson, creator of phylloxera-resistant rootstocks was born in 1843 .

• Arkansas' Arkansas Mountain AVA was designated in 1986.

• Paul Newman of Newman's Own, which includes a Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon died in 2008 in Westport, CT.

• Happy California Wine Month!

September 15th - 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.

• One of the first known serial killers, Gilles de Rain was taken into custody in 1440.  Young victims were dressed in expensive clothing, given an extravagant meal and hippocras, a sweetened, spiced wine before being tortured, murdered and dismembered.

• The movie, Wine of Youth was released in 1924.

• Sherry, by The Four Seasons hits number one in the US.

• Happy California Wine Month!

• The French have a saying, “La rosée de Saint-Albin est, dit-on, rosée de vin.” or The dew of St. Albin is, it is said dewy with wine.

August 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.

• Wine, a silent film starring Clara Bow opened in 1924.
• German winemaker, Egon Müller was born in 1959.
• The Controguerra DOC was created in 1996.
• Spain's Arabako Txakolina-Txakolí de Álava DO was created in 2002.
• The French have a saying, « S'il pleut à la Saint-Bernard, tu peux dire adieu à ton vin.» or "If it's raining in the Saint-Bernard, you can say goodbye to your wine. "

August 11 - 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 Etna DOC in Sicily, the Rosso Piceno DOC in Marche, the Valtellina DOC in Lombardy and the Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC  in Marche were created in 1968.
• The Vernaccia di Oristano DOC in Sardinia was established in 1971.  The grape Vernaccia di Oristano is different from the Vernaccia grape found on the Italian mainland.
• "A Walk In The Clouds" the 1995 movie set in 1940s Napa Valley opened.
• It is the feast day of St. Fiacre in Roman Martyrology. He is the patron saint of gardeners.  

May 14th - 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 Henri IV died in 1610.  He is said to have been baptised with a spoon of wine and garlic.
• Octavianus, son of Albert II of Spoleto, a Patrician and prince of Rome who was later known as Pope John XII died in 964.  As Pope he was accused of depravity and worldliness and even of toasting Satan with wine.
• Mondovino, a film exploring the impact of globalization on the various wine-producing regions, debuts in 2004.
• It is the feast day of St. Matthias.  He is patron saint of alcoholics.

March 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. 

• Robert Walpole, The Earl of Orford and Prime Minister of Great Britain died in 1745.  He proposed that the tariff on wine and tobacco be replaced by an excise tax.  Revenues had fallen due to smuggling.
• Ernest Gallo was born in 1909.
• George I, King of the Hellenes was assassinated in Thessaloniki in 1913.  The king grew his own grapes for wine, Chateau Décélie.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Mount Benson" was registered in 1997.
• Fess Parker, film and tv actor and winemaker died in 2010.
• Happy Ag Appreciation Week  Remember, without ag, there is no wine!

February 8th - 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 Ruskin, writer, critic, artist and social thinker was born in 1819.  He was the son of a sherry and wine importer.  His father was the founding partner of Ruskin, Telford and Domecq.
• Jack Lemmon was born in 1925.  He starred in the movie, Days of Wine and Roses.
• The Morgon AOC and the Saint-Amour AOC were created in 1946. 
• Vince Neil of Motley Crue was born in 1961.  He owns Vince Neil Vineyards in Sonoma.
• The Bianco di Custoza DOC and the Colli Lanuvini DOC were created in 1971.
• The Salaparuta DOC was established in 2006.

February 5th - 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.

• In 1206 King John orders Ralph the Miller to let Richard de Redvers have two tuns of wine that the king had bought.
• In 1680, the Town of Irvine payed 8 Pounds 3 shilling 8d for “8 pints of claret wine two ounces of tobacco and eight pypes” to honor Granaries sons burial day.
• Wine in the Word: An inquiry concerning the wine Christ made, the wine of the supper,etc. was an address given by Abraham Coles before the Woman's Christian temperance union of Plainfield, N. J.
• The silent film, Liebfraumilch was released in 1929.  It starred Livio Pavanelli and Henny Porten.
• The French have a saying, « À sainte Agathe va à ta vigne, si ce n'est pour y travailler, au moins pour y déjeuner. » which translates (loosely to "To St. Agatha go to your vineyard, if not to work there, at least to have lunch there.”

December 26th - 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.

• Lord George Gordon, head of the Protestant Association and the focal point of the Anti-Catholic Gordon Riots was born in 1751.  In 1787 he converted to Judaism while undergoing a trial for defaming Marie Antoinette. While imprisoned in Newgate prison, he was supplied with kosher meat and wine.
• Days of Wine and Roses starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick was released in 1962.
• It is the feast day of St. James the Just who was known for drinking no wine nor the eating of meat and wore only fine linen.
• The French have a saying, « À la saint Étienne, pas de vent, pour le vin c'est excellent. » or "To St Stephen, no wind, for wine is excellent. “
• « Dans la nuit qui amène saint Étienne, s'il fait du vent, le vin sera très abondant » or "In the night that brings St. Stephen, if it makes the wind, the wine will be very abundant “
• Happy Boxing Day!

December 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.

• Pieter de Hooch, a Dutch painter was born in 1629.  He is known for “A Woman Drinking with Two Men” and “A Woman and Two Men in an Arbor”.
• The California Agricultural Experiment Station reports that in 1887, the Mataro (Carignan) grapes from Margherita Vineyard in Fresno had produced wine that was  “decidedly acutefied”.  The wine was racked and pasteurized the next day.
• Wine of Youth, a silent comedy-drama directed by King Vidor and released by MGM was released in 1924.
• The Régnié AOC was created in 1988.
• California's Capay Valley AVA was designated in 2002.
• Happy Sangria Day!

December 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.

• The King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce provided two casks of wine to Sir Patrick de Dunbar, Earl of March in 1310.
• Christina, Queen of Sweden was born in 1626. The celebration of her coronation included fountains filled with wine for three days in the marketplace.
• E.W. Hilgard of Mission San Jose found his Cinsaut turbid, with a markedly aromatic bouquet, medium body, low astringency, and medium acid: slightly suspicious in quality.  He then racked and pasteurized the wine for safety.
• James Beard award-winning author of "What to Drink With What You Eat", Andrew Dornenburg was born in 1958.
• The movie, May Wine debuted in 1991.
• It is the feast day of Saint Sebastian who’s skull is used as a wine cup on his feast day. The skull cap relic is located in Germany.

November 13th - 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.

• Louis VII of France married Adela of Champagne in 1160.
• Wine, a silent film starring Fatty Arbuckle was released in 1913. 
• Casa do Douro was created in 1932.
• Washington and Oregon's Columbia Valley AVA was designated in 1984.

November 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.

• The play “Light Wines and Beer” opened on Broadway at the Waldorf Theater in 1930.  It ran for 40 shows.
• The Sancerre AOC was named in 1936. 
• Spain's Jumilla DO was established in 1995.
• A Good Year, a film by Ridley Scott and starring Russel Crowe opens in 2006.
• It is the feast day of St. Tryphon of Lampsaque.  He is the patron saint of gardeners and winegrowers and is invoked against rodents and locusts.