February 20th - 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.

• Andreas Hofer of St. Leonhard in Passeier died in 1810.  He was a Tyrolean Innkeeper, and wine and horse tradesman who was a leader of the Tyrolean Rebellion against Napoleon.  He was eventually captured and executed.

• Paul Kane, Irish-Canadian painter died in 1871.  His family emigrated to Upper Canada where his father operated a wine shop in York (later Toronto).

• Pope Leo the XIII was born in 1878. He appeared in advertisements for Vin Mariani, a wine made with Coca leaves.

• California's Mt. Veeder AVA was designated in 1990.

July 1st - This Date in Wine History

Image courtesy of the Walter Clore Center

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.

• Dr. Walter Clore, father of Washington State wines was born in 1911. 
• Dan Aykroyd was born in 1952.  As well as being a Ghostbuster he is also owner of Dan Ackroyd Wines.
• France’s Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC was created in 1998.
• Italy’s Lago di Corbara DOC was established in 1998.
• California's High Valley AVA, Minnesota’s Alexandria Lakes AVA,  Red Hill Douglas County, Oregon AVA and Washington's Horse Heaven Hills AVA were designated in 2005.

May 22nd - 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.

• The Hashshashin attempt to assassinate Saladin near Aleppo in 1176.  In 1169, Saladin repented wine drinking and frivolity.
• Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac et de Palluau was born in 1622.  He was a French soldier, courtier, Governor of New France and Founder of Fort Frontenac.  The hybrid wine grape Frontenac, developed by the University of Minnesota was named in his honor.
• Nathaniell Sparhawke of Cambridge, MA was issued a license to drawe wine and strong water in Cambridge in 1639.
• English writer, wine-merchant and Master of Wine, Pat Simon died in 2008.
• It is the feast day of St. Rita of Cascia.  Her attributes include a forehead wound (partial stigmata), Roses, bees and grapevines.

May 10th - 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.

• Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette become King and Queen of France in 1774.  The champagne coupe is alleged to be designed after Marie Antoinette’s breast.
• Robert Gray, an American sea captain was born in 1755.  While at Nootka Sound his ship, Columbia Rediviva was repaired and reprovisioned with large amounts of salmon, pork, eggs, butter, fresh bread, wine, brandy and cabbage by Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra.  The Columbia River is named for his ship.
• Spain's Condado de Huelva DO was named in 1983.  They produce wines referred to as Wines of the Discovery of America.
• The Columbia Gorge AVA was designated in 2004.

April 24th - 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.

• Sir William Lawrence writes of treating Elizabeth Jarvis for syphilitic iritis of both eyes, with frequent relapses of inflammation.  She was discharged from St. Bart’s Hospital in London in 1828 after a year’s treatment after treatments that included milk and and wine and meat and wine.
• Lucy Maud Montgomery died in 1942.  She is the Canadian author of the Anne of Green Gables.  In the book, Anne Shirley is separated from her bosom friend and kindred spirit, Diana Barry because Anne accidentally got Diana drunk on currant wine.  They were later reconciled.
• The Pacherenc Vic-Bilh AOC was established in 2007.
• It is the feast day of Fidelis of Sigmaringen, the Capuchin Friar and Martyr is known for not drinking wine and wearing a hair shirt while a student.

January 21st - 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.

• Pope Paschal II died in 1118.  During his reign he appointed a Bishop to oversee the territories of Greenland and Vinland (Newfoundland)
• Jefferson Davis resigned from the United States Senate.  A step before becoming the President of the Confederacy.  He was a participant in the  West Point Eggnog riot.  He escaped punishment.
• Thomas Munson, the American horticulturist who's work with grape rootstock led to phylloxera-resistant stocks died in 1913
• It is the feast day of St. Agnes of Rome.  She is the patron saint of crops and gardeners as well as Girl Scouts.
• Happy Babinden!  This Russian, Bulgarian and Serbian holiday celebrates midwifery and includes Young Mother’s Feast which includes grilled chicken and wine.

November 7th - 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.

• Elizabeth Stuart was crowned Queen of Bohemia in 1619.  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.
• Canadian sommelier, consultant and Director of Programs for Toronto's Good Food Revolution, Jamie Drummond was born in 1971.
• Today is the feast day of Willebrord, the patron saint of Luxembourg.  Enjoy a glass of Crémant de Luxembourg.
• It is International Merlot Day.

November 5th - 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.

• John James Dufour of Vevey, Switzerland creates the first vineyard in Kentucky in 1798.  He names it First Vineyard.
• Ruins of the Viking settlement in Vinland was discovered in 1963.
• The Colline Novaresi DOC was created in 1994.
• It is National Nachos Day… What wine would you pair with Nachos? (I'm going with Syrah).

October 9th - 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.

• In a letter dated 1515, Leonardo di Vinci complains to his steward, Zanobi Boni about the quality of the wines being produced on his estate and includes specific instructions regarding the fertilization of the grapes and the production of the wine.
• David Lett founder of Eyerie Vineyards died in 2008.
• Today is Leif Erikson Day.  Erikson is thought to have discovered America in 1000.  During his travels he discovered a place called Vinland which had grapes which made delicious wine.
• The French have a saying, « Entre Saint-Michel (29 septembre) et Saint-François, prends ta vendange telle qu'elle est, à Saint-Denis, prends-la si elle y est encore. » or "Between Saint-Michel ( September 29 ) and Saint-François, take your vintage as it is, in Saint-Denis, take it if it is still there. "

July 1st - 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.

• Dr. Walter Clore, father of Washington State wines was born in 1911 
• Dan Aykroyd was born in 1952.  As well as being a Ghostbuster he is also owner of Dan Ackroyd Wines.
• France’s Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC was created in 1998
• Italy’s Lago di Corbara DOC was established in 1998
• California's High Valley AVA, Minnesota’s Alexandria Lakes AVA,  Red Hill Douglas County, Oregon AVA and Washington's Horse Heaven Hills AVA were designated in 2005

Champlain Valley of New York - Wine Region of the Day

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Most regions seeking to be designated an American Viticultural Area submit long applications indicating their unique history, soils and climate.  In the case of the Champlain Valley of New York, the only significant factor is climate.  It is cold.  How cold you may ask?  Canada cold.  Winter Olympic cold.  

The Champlain Valley was formed by the retreat of the glaciers during the last ice age and were once part of what was called the Champlain Sea and then later Glacial Lake Vermont.  Eventually the ice retreated and the majority of the water drained from the region forming Lake Champlain as we know it today.

Abutting the Canadian border and found along Lake Champlain which forms the northern boundary between the States of New York and Vermont, this new appellation is 500 square miles in size and has 15.47 acres under vine (talk about growth potential). The most unique part of the region is that it has a growing season on average two weeks shorter than the surround areas.  Even at the same latitude on the Vermont side of the lake it is warmer.  Why?  Well the prevailing winds blow from west to east crossing over the lake.  Water has a moderating effect on temperature by keeping the ambient temperature warmer.  What is the effect of the shorter growing season? Well, traditional wine grapes (vitis vinifera) can't be reliably cultivated.  Instead the appellations wineries grow North American cold-hardy hybrids such as Frontenac, La Crescent and Marquette.  Not familiar with these grapes?  Give them a try!  You might like them.

Oh, and as an added bonus?  Visitors to the region have an opportunity to looks for the area's most famous resident.  Champy, is the cryptozoological equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster or Okanagan's Ogopogo.  

April 24th - 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.

• Lucy Maud Montgomery died in 1942.  She is the Canadian author of the Anne of Green Gables.  In the book, Anne Shirley is separated from her bosom friend and kindred spirit, Diana Barry because Anne accidentally got Diana drunk on currant wine.  They were later reconciled.
• The Pacherenc Vic-Bilh AOC was established in 2007.
• It is the feast day of Fidelis of Sigmaringen, the Swiss, Capuchin Friar and Martyr was known for not drinking wine and wearing a hair shirt while a student.