May 19 - This Date In Wine History

GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

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. 

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May 19 

Alcuin scholar, ecclesiastic, poet and teacher from York, Northumbria and first known wine writer died in 804.

California's Seiad Valley AVA was designated in 1994.

Spain's Almansa DO was created in 1975.

Spain's Ampurdán-Costa Brava DO was created in 1975.

Spain's Priorato DO was created in 1975.

The Bianco Capena DOC was created in 1975.

The Savuto DOC was created in 1975.

Thomas Harris' novel, The Silence of the Lambs was published in 1988. In the novel Hannibal Lector describes eating the census taker's liver with fava beans and a big Amarone... Not the Chianti mentioned in the movie. Buffalo Bill also used the larvae of the Black Witch moth in the book and not the Death's-head Hawkmoth used in the film.