July 31st - 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.

  • Daniel Defoe was pillories for the crime of seditious libel in 1703, but was pelted with flowers.  He often supported himself by working as a merchant of wine, hosiery and woolen goods.
  • The Bourgueil AOC was created in 1937.  The area is located in the Loire and uses the Cabernet Franc grape.
  • The Aversa DOC was created in 1993.  The wine is made in Campania about 3 miles north of Naples an is made from Asprinio grape.
  • The Rosso Orvietano DOC was established in 1998.  This red wine can be made from many red grape varietals so long as they contain at least 70% of Aleatico, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Sangiovese.
  • Spain's Rueda DO was created in 2002.  These wines come from 72 communities in Castile and Leon and made of Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, Verdejo and Viura.
  • It is the feast of St. Germain d’Auxerre. There is a French saying, “S’il pleut à la Saint-Germain, c’est comme s’il pleuvait du vin”or (more or less) “Rain on Saint Germain’s day is like it’s raining wine”.