July 11th - 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.

  • Eugénie de Montijo died in 1920.  She was married to Napoleon III who was both President and Emperor of France (sadly, in that order) and was the last empress of France.  She was the grand-daughter of a Scottish wine merchant.
  • Hans Irvine, Australian politician and vigneron who recommended using American rootstock to combat Phylloxera in Australia died in 1922.
  • It is the feast day of St. Savin of Vienne.  There is a French saying, “Rosée du jour de Saint-Savin, est, dit-on, rosée de vin” which translates (roughly) to “Dew on Saint Savin’s day is said to be the dew of wine”.
  • It is also the feast day of St. Benoît of Nursia, he is the patron of Europe, monks, scouts, architects, equestrians, machine operators, refugees and spelunkers.  Oh, and farmers.  And as we know.. No farmers?  No wine.  At one point in his life, the monks under his charge tried to poison his wine.  When the saint made the sign of the cross over his cup, the cup broke.