February 12th - This Date in Wine History

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Bandera_de_Santa_Eulàlia.jpg

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 1502 Vasco de Gama set sail for his second voyage to India.  His ships stopped in Madeira to pick up water (a likely story).

  • In 1664, Dominie Blom, of New Amsterdam, petitioned the magistrates of Wildwyck: "that the public, sinful and scandalous Bacchanalian days of Bastenseen (Shrove Tuesday), coming down from the heathens from their idol Bacchus, the god of wine and drunkenness, being also a leaven of Popery, inherited from the pagans, which the Apostle, in I Cor. 5, admonishes true Christians to expurge, May , while near at hand, be prescribed in this place by your Honors.”

  • British Actress and courtesan, Lilly Langtry died in 1929.  She once owned a winery in California’s Guenoc Valley.

  • In 2010, the last ransom note is sent to Domaine Romanée-Conti by Jacques Soltys.  He claimed to have poisoned the vines in the vineyard to ruin its reputation.

  • It is the feast day of St. Julian the Hospitaller, the patron saint of innkeepers.

  • The French have a saying, « Soleil qui rit pour sainte Eulalie fait des pommes et des prunes mais pas de vin. » or "A laughing sun for Saint Eulalia makes apples and plums but no wine.”

November 19th - This Date in Wine History

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Lillie_Langtry_by_Millais.jpg

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.

  • A report from The Present State of Europe, Volume 17 (1706) indicates that the British soldiers are greatly recovered and had received gifts of refreshments from the King of Portugal that included 20 pipes of wine as well as oranges and lemons.

  • Vermont established rules regarding wine measures in 1839.

  • California's Guenoc Valley AVA was designated in 1981.  British Actress Lilly Langtry and courtesan, once owned a winery in the valley.

  • Spain's Vinos de Madrid DO was created in 1990.

  • Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt Disney, died in 2013.  She along with her husband, owned Silverado Vineyards.

November 19th - This Date in Wine History

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Lillie_Langtry_by_Millais.jpg

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.

  • California's Guenoc Valley AVA was designated in 1981.  British Actress Lilly Langtry and courtesan, once owned a winery in the valley.
  • Spain's VINOS DE MADRID DO was created in 1990.

Guenoc Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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The Guenoc Valley AVA is in Lake County, California, north of the town of Calistoga. The AVA sits on 23,000 acres, and its grapes are grown at an elevation of 400 ft. It is name for the Mexican Land Grant, Rancho Guenoc that was given to George Rock in 1845.  Viticulture began in the valley in 1887 when Lily Langtry, mistress of the future Edward VII purchased part of the original Rancho to raise racehorses and make wine.

The Guenoc Valley is small and comprised of a mix of Arroyo Seco and Conejo Loam soils deposited by former rivers to make the region one large alluvial fan. The Guenoc Valley is isolated from surrounding areas by rocky ridges, creating a small valley. Compared to surrounding areas, the Guenoc Valley receives less rainfall per year, but greater temperature variance throughout the year. The region is known for its Syrah production, but also produces Petit Verdot, Malbec, Semillon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

November 19th - This Date in Wine History

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Portrait of Lily Langtry by Millais

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.

  • California's Guenoc Valley AVA was designated in 1981.  British Actress Lilly Langtry and courtesan, once owned a winery in the valley.
  • Spain's VINOS DE MADRID DO was created in 1990.

Guenoc Valley - Wine Region Of The Day

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Guenoc Valley 

The Guenoc Valley AVA is in Lake County, California, north of the town of Calistoga. The AVA sits on 23,000 acres, and its grapes are grown at an elevation of 400 ft. The Guenoc Valley is small and comprised of a mix of Arroyo Seco and Conejo Loam soils deposited by former rivers to make the region one large alluvial fan. The Guenoc Valley is isolated from surrounding areas by rocky ridges, creating a small valley. Compared to surrounding areas, the Guenoc Valley receives less rainfall per year, but greater temperature variance throughout the year. The region is known for its Syrah production, but also produces Petit Verdot, Malbec, Semillon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.