February 13th - 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.

  • Parentalia, the Roman festival of the ancestors was celebrated by offerings of flower-garlands, wheat, salt, wine-soaked bread and violets.

  • Béla II of Hungary died in 1141.  Known as Béla the blind the Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle indicates that “After King Bela had been established in his rule of the kingdom, he indulged himself much with wine. His courtiers found that whatever they asked of the King in his drunkenness he would grant, and after his drunkenness he could not take it back.”

  • The Challenge of Barletta was fought in Italy of 1503.  The tournament was provoked after Charles de la Motte of France, drunk on the local wine, insulted the Italians.

  • Elizabeth Stuart died in 1662.  After her marriage to Frederick V, Prince of Palatine and the Rhine, they began their journey to Heidelberg, meeting people from his kingdom and sampling local foods and wines.

  • Under a federal law passed in 1862, it was illegal to  “provide spirituous liquor or wine "to any Indian under the charge of any Indian superintendent or Indian agent appointed by the United States”. A fine of $500.00 was charged for each violation.