February 27th - 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.

• Henry IV was crowned King of France in 1594.  He was baptized with a spoon of Jurançon wine and some garlic.

• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in 1807.  An American poet and educator, he is the author of “Ode to Catawba Wine”.

• King George I of Greece survives an assassination attempt.  He built a summer villa called Mon Repos. George developed Tatoi, building roads and planting grapes for making his own wine, Chateau Décélie

• Today in 2006 The Georgian Government offered Jennifer Lopez $500,000 to advertise Georgian wine. The singer/actress declined the offer.

• It is the feast day of St. Gregory of Narek who’s book of Lamentations contains:

Look at me,

I am

unworthy of good, undeserving of favor,

incapable of love, drawn in by the strands of sin,

wounded in the depth of my inner organs,

a broken palm tree,

spilled wine,

damp wheat,

breached mortgage,

ripped up verdict,

counterfeit seal,

deformed image,

singed garment,

lost goblet,

sunken ship,

crushed pearl,

buried gem,

dried up plant,

broken beam,

rotten wood,

mutilated mandrake,

collapsed roof,

dilapidated altar,

uprooted plant,

oily filth on the street,

milk flowing through ash,

a dead man in the battalion of the brave.

August 15th - 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 city of Vardzia was consecrated by Queen Tamar of Georgia in 1237.  The cave city was home to 25 wine cellars with 185 wine jars buried in the floor.
• Gabriel Báthory was born in 1589.  A prince of Transylvania,  he spent his teenaged years under the guardianship of his uncle, Stephen Báthory where he spent his days drinking wine and having affair with his aunt.
• French oenologist, Alfred de Vergnette de Lamotte, best know for his work on wine preservation, is named a Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur in 1869. 
• Barossa Valley and Eden Valley were entered into the Register of Protected Names by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation in 1997.
• The Australian Geographical Indication “Robe" was registered in 2006.
• Fête du Vin à Madiran ends.

June 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 968, Liudprand of Cremona in reporting to his King, Berengar II of Lombard, reports that he is sick and can’t understand why no one else at the Emperor’s banquet did not also get sick, “Their drink instead of good wine was brackish water;”
• James Oglethorpe receives a royal charter to establish the colony of Georgia.  One of the justifications for the colony was to be able to produce silk, olive oil and wine.  That didn’t work.
• The Rosso di Montalcino DOC was established in 1983. 
• Spain's Ribera del Júcar DO was created in 2003.
• Alsatian wine producer, Jean Hugel died in 2009.
• The French have a saying, « Pluie à la Sainte-Diane, ni grain au grenier, ni vin au cellier. » or "Rain at Sainte-Diane, no grain in the attic, no wine in the cellar.”
• Happy National Rosé Day!

January 2nd - 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. 

• Georgia ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788.  It is now home to the Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA.
• Virginia's Eastern Shore AVA was designated in 1994.
• It is the feast day of St. Adalard of Corbie.  He was the cousin of Charlemagne and is patron saint of gardeners.

June 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.

• James Oglethorpe receives a royal charter to establish the colony of Georgia.  One of the justifications for the colony was to be able to produce silk, olive oil and vine.  That didn’t work.
• The Rosso di Montalcino DOC was established in 1983. 
• Spain's Ribera del Júcar DO was created in 2003.
• Alsatian wine producer, Jean Hugel died in 2009.

January 14th - This Date in Wine History

St.  Nino

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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.

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• Saint Nino, Patron Saint of Georgia has her feast day. She arrived in Georgia after fleeing Cappadocia bearing a cross of vinewood and bound with her hair.
• The Council of Troye approves the creation of the Knights Templar in 1129. The Knights grew wealthy by purchasing land and vineyards through out the Christian world (including the entire island of Cyprus) by protecting pilgrims to the Holy Land.
• Wine 'Extremadura' (without a set region) was created as a DOC in 1933.