June 16th - 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 Roman Emperor Julian having brought his fleet of soldiers down the Tigris River to defeat the Persians burned his ships in 363.  This was a very bad idea. 10 days later he was speared in his abdomen which damaged his liver, peritoneum and intestines.  He was treated with stitches and the irrigation of the would with “dark wine” but he died.
• Ignatius Sancho, the first African man to vote in a British Parliamentary election or to be given an obituary in the British Press writes a thank you note to a friend, IS esq. thanking him for the gift of a fine bottle of wine in 1779. 
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Murray Darling" was registered in 1997.