June 3rd - 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.

• Jean-Antoine Chaptal, a French statesman and chemist who discovered that adding sugar to unfermented grape juice changed the alcohol content of wine was born this day in 1756
• It is the feast day of Saint Morand who was the patron saint of wine and vines during the middle ages.  He is said to have survived during lent eating grapes and is thought to have introduced viticulture to Alsace.
• Happy English Wine Week!