April 9th - This Date in Wine History

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Lord Lovat

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.

  • Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat was executed in 1747 for his participation in the Jacobite uprising and the Battle of Culloden.  “The British Chronologist”, describes his Lordship is having three glasses of watered wine on the morning of his execution but declined a 4th because no warm water could be found to mix with the wine.
  • The Imperial Wine Company of London advertised in the April 9, 1864 issue of “The Spectator”.
  • The Bramaterra DOC was created in 1979
  • The Girò di Cagliari DOC was created in 1979
  • The Australian Geographical Indication "Currency Creek" was established in 2001

April 30 - This Date In Wine History

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GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

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. 

April 30 

The French Foreign Legion celebrate the Battle of Camarón during the French intervention in Mexico with an excess of cheap French red wine and the wooden hand of Jean Danjou. 

April 29 - This Date In Wine History

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GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

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. 

April 29 

William Pitt proposed taxing wine in a letter to the Duke of Rutland in 1786.

April 28 - This Date In Wine History

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GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

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. 

April 28 

The Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario DOC was established in 1995.

The Donnici DOC was named in 1975.

The Falerio dei Colli Ascolani or Falerio DOC was created in 1975.

The Palette AOC was created in 1948. 

April 27 - This Date In Wine History

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GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

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. 

April 27 

The Australian Wine Research Institutes was created in 1955.

The Condrieu AOC was recognized in 1940. 

April 26 - This Date In Wine History

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GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

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. 

April 26 

Felix Kir, French Catholic priest, resistance fighter and politician for whom the cocktail Kir was named died in 1968. 

April 25 - This Date In Wine History

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GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

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. 

April 25 

North Carolina's Swan Creek AVA was designated in 2008. 

April 24 - 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. 

April 24

The Pacherenc Vic-Bilh AOC was established in 2007. This region is located in Gascony in southwestern France.  The wines from the AOC are sweet, semi-sweet and sparkling made primarily of Courbu and Petite Manseng grapes.

April 23 - 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. 

Roman mosaic of grape harvest at Cherchell

Roman mosaic of grape harvest at Cherchell

April 23

The Barbaresco DOCG designation was established in 1966.  These wines are from Italy's Piedmont region and are made of Nebbiolo grapes.

Vinalia Urbana, a Roman festival celebrated the blessing of new wine and asking the gods for a good harvest.  Offerings were made to Jupiter who blessed the sacred wines used for offerings and Venus who blessed the profane or common wine that was for everyday use. 

April 22 - 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. 

From "The Worthies of Cumberland The Howards" by Henry Lonsdale, M.D., George Routledge & Sons, London, 1872

From "The Worthies of Cumberland The Howards" by Henry Lonsdale, M.D., George Routledge & Sons, London, 1872

April 22

British wine writer Jancis Robinson was born in 1950.

Lord William Howard of Naworth Castle purchased Easter wine for the communicants at Wetherall in 1626. 

April 21 - 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. 

Joseph-Benoît Suvée, Festa di Pales, o L'estate, 1782

Joseph-Benoît Suvée, Festa di Pales, o L'estate, 1782

April 21

Parilia, a Roman agricultural festival was celebrated with beverage burranica, a combination of milk and sapa (boiled wine), after drinking this the festival would draw to a close when shepherds ran through a ceremonial fire three times.


Virginia's Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA was designated in 1987.  

April 20 - 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. 

Wine cask, or box wine

Wine cask, or box wine

April 20 

Box wine was invented by Tom Angove in 1965.

The Coteaux-des-Baux-en-Provence AOC was created in 1995. 

April 19 - 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. 

April 19 

The Botticino DOC was created in 1968. These wines are made in the Italian province of Brescia in Lombardy and are produced using Barbera, Marzemino, Sangiovese and Schiava Gentile grapes.  The wines may be reds, whites or rosés.

The Cellatica DOC was also created in 1968. These wines are also from Brescia, Lombardy and are produced using Barbera, Incrocio Terzi 1, Marzemino and Schiava Gentile grapes.  These wines are reds.

April 18 - 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. 

Arnold Genthe's photograph of the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906

Arnold Genthe's photograph of the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906

April 18 

In 2007, the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry published the results of a recent joint study by the University of Reading and University of Cagliari that showed moderate consumptions of Champagne May help the brain cope with the trauma of stroke, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease.

The Bianco dell'Empolese DOC was established in 1989. These are Vin Santo wines made in Tuscan town of Empoli.  This wine is made of Trebbiano grapes that have been dried on straw mats to concentrate the sugars before pressing and vinification.

In 1979 the Monica di Cagliari DOC and the Nasco Cagliari DOC were created.  These wines are from Sardinia.  The Monica di Cagliari is a red wine made from the Monica grape which is grown almost no where else.  The Nasco di Cagliari wines are white wines made with the ancient Nasco grape.

Today is the anniversary of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. As a result of the quake 30 million gallons of wine were destroyed. 

April 17 - 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. 

April 17

North Dakota's first bonded winery since prohibition was bonded in 2002. The winery was Pointe of View Winery. North Dakota was the last state to bond a winery. 

April 16 - 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. 

April 16 

Spain's Ribera del Guadiana DO was created in 1999. The region is found in south western Spain along the Guadiana River.  The majority of vines are Tempranillo but up to 29 other varietals (both red and white) are allowed.

April 15 - 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. 

April 15 

It was a busy day at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (now the Tax and Trade Bureau) in 1983 when four American Viticultural Areas were designated on the same day.  They included:

California's Arroyo Seco AVA in Monterey County;

California's Cole Ranch AVA in Mendocino County ;

California's Santa Ynez Valley AVA in Santa Barbara County; and

Virginia's North Fork of Roanoke AVA in Roanoke and Montgomery Counties. 

April 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. 

The official portrait of Thomas Jefferson

The official portrait of Thomas Jefferson

"Red Red Wine" written and performed by Neil Diamond and later UB40 was released in 1968

Baron Philippe de Rothschild was born in Paris in 1902.  He ran the Château Mouton Rothschild Estate from 1922 until his death.

Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father and wine lover was born in Shadwell, Virginia in 1743.  Jefferson's personal wine cellar served as the wine cellar for the White House (then called the Presidential Mansion).

April 11 - This Date In Wine History

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GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

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. 

April 11

George Canning, British statesman and son of a failed Irish wine merchant was born in 1770.

Birthday of Thomas Harris, creator of the character Hannibal Lecter best for know for eating a census taker’s liver with a big Amarone.

Ivor Spencer-Thomas inventor of “FizzIt” which turned still wine into sparkling was born in 1907.

April 10 - This Date In Wine History

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GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

GRAPE CULTIVATION, WINEMAKING, AND COMMERCE IN ANCIENT EGYPT C. 1500 BC

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. 

April 10

Port Wine Institute was created in 1933.

Washington's Red Mountain AVA was designated in 2001.