April 20th - This Date in Wine History

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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.

  • James Boswell reports in “The Life of Samuel Johnson, L.L. D.” that Dr. Johnson laments during his Meditations that “Good Friday, April 20, 1764.  I have made no reformation; I have lived totally useless, more sensual in thought, and more addicted to win and meat.” due to royal munificence.
  • Napoleon III was born in 1808.  He was both President and Emperor of France (sadly, in that order) who was married to  Eugénie de Montijo, grand-daughter of a Scottish wine merchant.
  • The Mechanics Magazine, Volume 32 indicates that William Stone of Winsley, County of Wiltshire, gentleman was granted a patent for improvements in the manufacture of wine in 1840.
  • Box wine was invented by Tom Angove in 1965.
  • The Coteaux-des-Baux-en-Provence AOC was created in 1995.