July 15th - This Date in Wine History

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Mona Lisa

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.

  • Lisa del Giocondo died in 1542. She was the daughter of a Chianti vineyard owner and later married Florentine silk merchant.  She was the model for Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous painting, The Mona Lisa.
  • James Busby, father of Australian wine industry died in 1871.  He brought the first grape root stock to Australia from France and Spain.
  • The Gabiano DOC was created in 1983.  These wines are made primarily (90-95%) of Barbera.
  • American wine critic, Jon Broneer died in 2006.