July 28th - 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.

• Giovanni della Casa, a Florentine poet and writer on etiquette was born in 1503.  His book, Galateo, includes the advice to Never should one sniff someone else’s wine, for instance, as something might fall out of one’s nose; even though this is unlikely, Della Casa notes, one should not take such risks.
• The Colonial Times and Tasmanian Advertiser of Hobart Town in 1826 W.A. Bethune lists for sales, English soap, French sugar, Tenerife wine in pipes and hogsheads, Liverpool salt and Blue Claith Brandy, Gin and Bronte Madeira.
• Devo member, Jerry Casale was born in 1948.  He has taught wine tasting and is currently owner of The 50 by 50 winery in Napa, California.
• The oldest bottle of Veuve Cliquot was found at Torosay Castle on the Isle of Mull. The bottle was from 1893 and was locked in a sideboard for 150 years.
• The French have a saying. « Si le jour de Saint-Samson, le pinson boit au buisson, tu peux, bon vigneron, défoncer ton poinçon (ou l’amour peut chanter sa chanson, le vin sera bon). » or, “If on the day of St. Samson, a finch drinks in the bush, you can, good winemaker, smash you punch (if the love can sing his song, the wine will be good)”.