March 3rd - 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 XI of Legnica died in 1588.  He spent several years at the court of Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand the 1st acting as the Grand Cup-Bearer.

• Florida joined the union in 1845.  It has been producing wine since the 1500s when the French settled Fort Caroline in what is now Jacksonville, Florida.

• The Frascati DOC was created in 1966.

• The Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG designation was established in 1966.

• Spain's Somontano DO was created in 1984.

• It is National Mulled Wine day.

February 16th - 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.

• Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor issued an edict in 1358 that vineyards be planted “On all the hills that face the noon in three miles around Prague. Everyone who owns such a hill is to commence such undertaking within fourteen days from the date of the issue of this edict. Anyone who would not or could not so undertake, let it be undertaken on their land by the man the vinemaster shall lend to them. Anyone who will establish a vineyard shall from the date of commencement to do so and for twelve years thereafter be exempted from all taxes and levies...”

• Philipp Melanchthon was born in 1497.  He was a collaborator of Martin Luther and helped create the early theology of the Lutheran Church, such as  the rejection of the idea of transubstantiation.

• Joseph Victor von Scheffel, a German poet and novelist was born in 1826.  He wrote  Gaudeamus, Lieder aus dem Engeren und Weiteren, a collection of humorous songs that are about student life and wine.

• California's Covelo AVA and  Washington's Rattlesnake Hills AVA was designated in 2006.

February 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.

• Empress Matilda of the Holy Roman Empire was born in 1102.  She became a claimant for the English throne when her brother, William Adelin died when the vessel he was on, the White Ship foundered due to excessive drinking by the crew.  Eventually, The Empress’s son, Henry became Henry II of England.

• James Busby, father of Australian wine industry born in 1801.

• The 1863 The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science and Art includes an ad from James L. Denman, Wine Merchant who sells  Greek, Hungarian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian wines.

• In 1890 Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular reports that the Senate Finance Committee is “bent upon having the administrative customs bill become a law as soon as possible,” despite objections from New York importers.

November 6th - 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.

• Julian was named Caesar of the Western Provinces in 355.  He later tried to conquer the Persians but was injured.  He died as a result of having his wound irrigated with “dark wine”.

• The Synod of Rome was called by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I in 962.  During this Synod, Otto deposes Pope John XII on the grounds that he was depraved and worldly (and incited rebellion against the Emperor).  Witnesses claimed that the Pontiff had toasted the devil with wine.

• The French Bonnezeaux AOC was created in 1951.

• National Nachos Day… What wine would you pair with Nachos?

August 17th - 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.

• Cesare Borgia resigns the cardinalate in 1498, later that day he is named Duke of Valentinous.  He is best thought of as someone who poisoned the wine of his enemies.
• Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh set sail for an expedition to the Azores in 1597.  The Earl of Essex was given royal monopoly on sweet wines by Queen Elizabeth.
• Joseph II Holy Roman Emperor allowed residents to sell home made wine, juice and food products Heurigen or Austrian wine inns were created by Imperial decree in 1784. Fir trees hung above the door alerted customers to the arrival of the new season's wine.
• Marcus Garvey was born in 1887 in Jamaica.  He was a founder of Pan-Africanism, the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the Black Star Line.  The Black Star Line owned vineyards in Ethiopia to produce fine wines for their voyages.
• Len Evans, Australia’s leading ambassador of wine, died in 2006.

July 29th - 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.

• Peter Agricola, a German humanist was born in 1525.  Despite wishing to become a clergy, he went on to have a secular career and went to the imperial court to advise Duke Henry XI who was the wine waiter of Ferdinand I.
• French oenologist, Émile Peynaud was born in 1912. 
• California's San Bernabe AVA was designated in 2004.
• The Lavaux, Switzerland Vineyard Terraces was named a United Nations World Heritage Site in 2007. 
• The Batalla de vino takes place in Haro, Spain.  It is part of the festivities for Feast of San Pedro.

June 18th - 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 Battle of Civitate took place in 1053.  A battle between the Normans and a Papal Coalition, the Pope Leo himself was taken prisoner.  He was treated as an honored (albeit a prisoner) and was continually provided bread, wine, protection and other necessities.
• Frederick I Barbarossa crowned as Holy Roman Emperor in 1155.  He died during the third Crusade and his soldiers tried to preserve his body in a cask of vinegar.  It didn’t work.
• The Ship La Bourgogne left Le Havre in 1887 with a shipment of wine bound for NYC.
• Robert Mondavi was born in 1913. 
• The Greco di Bianco DOC was created in 1980.

February 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. 

• Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor was born in 1500. He was known for his preference for beer over wine.
• Spain's Valdeorras DO was created in 1977
• The Rosso Canosa DOC was established in 1979
• National Open That Bottle night 2018!  Treat Yo Self!
• It is the feast day of Saint Matthias, the patron of alcoholics, carpenters, smallpox, tailors, hope, perseverance, Gary, Indiana and Great Falls-Billings, Montana.

February 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.

Empress Matilda of the Holy Roman Empire was born in 1102.  She became a claimant for the English throne when her brother, William Adelin died when the vessel he was on, the White Ship foundered due to excessive drinking by the crew.  Eventually, The Empress’s son, Henry became Henry II of England.

James Busby, father of Australian wine industry born in 1801.

An 1863 The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science, and Art includes an ad from James L. Denman, Wine Merchant who sells  Greek, Hungarian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian wines.

In 1890 Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular reports that the Senate Finance Committee is “bent upon having the administrative customs bill become a law as soon as possible,” despite objections from New York importers.

January 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.

Jan 24

• Pope Stephen IV died in 817.  Under Stephen, the Frankish clergy was reformed requiring men and women be housed in separated convents, which were to hold community property jointly.  He also regulated how much food and wine they could consume.
• Peter IV of Aragon was crowned King of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca and County of Barcelona in 1336. He once had a friendly dispute with his Jewish physician about why Jewish people were not allowed to drink kosher wine touched by a Christian.  The Doctor had water brought to wash the king’s feet which he then drank to prove that impurity was not the reason for the prohibition.
• Spain's Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO was created in 2008.
• It is the feast day of St. Cadoc.  At his baptism a holy well that flowed milk and wine appeared.  He is the patron saint of Glamorgan; Llancarfan; famine victims; deafness; and glandular disorders.

December 25th - 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.

• Charlemagne was crowned as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo III.  The Emperor celebrated mass where he presented the wine and his Empress the water for the Eucharist.
• In 1213, King John of England ordered 3,000 capons, 1,000 salted eels, 400 hogs, 100 pounds of almonds and 24 casks of wine for his Christmas feast.
• The Eggnog Riot ends at West Point in 1826.  Eggnog was often enriched with sherry, brandy, whiskey and rum at the time.
• The Macau Wine Museum opens in 1995.
• Merry Christmas!

October 26th - 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.

• Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V was crowned as King of Germany in 1520.  Charles was known for disliking wine, preferring to drink beer instead.
• Arizona's Sonoita AVA was designated in 1984.
• Deen De Bortoli of De Bortoli wines of Australia died in 2003.

August 17th - 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.

• Cesare Borgia resigns the cardinalate in 1498, later that day he is named Duke of Valentinous.  He is best thought of as someone who poisoned the wine of his enemies.
• Joseph II Holy Roman Emperor allowed residents to sell home made wine, juice and food products Heurigen or Austrian wine inns were created by Imperial decree in 1784. Fir trees hung above the door alerted customers to the arrival of the new season's wine.
• Len Evans, Australia’s leading ambassador of wine, died in 2006.

May 28th - 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.

• Lazarus von Schwende died in 1583.  He was a commander with the Holy Roman Empire who is thought to have brought the Pinot Gris grape back from war against the Turks.  The grape was known as Tokay, later Tokay Pinot Gris and finally Pinot Gris.
• André de Gironde, Comte de Buro was appointed the last Grand Bouteiller of France (master of the royal wine cellar) was appointed in 1731. The position was abolished with the Revolution.
• French eonologist, Alfred de Vergnette de Lamotte died in 1886. He is best know for his work on wine preservation
• The Bardolino DOC designation was established in 1968
• Happy English Wine Week!

February 24th - 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.

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• Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor was born in 1500. He was known for his preference for beer over wine.
• Spain's Valdeorras DO was created in 1977.
• The Rosso Canosa DOC was established in 1979.

February 7th - This Date in Wine History

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The Sinking of the White Ship

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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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• Empress Matilda of the Holy Roman Empire was born in 1102.  She became a claimant for the English throne when her brother, William Adelin died when the vessel he was on, the White Ship foundered and sank due to excessive drinking by the crew.  Eventually, The Empress’s son, Henry became Henry II of England.
• James Busby, father of Australian wine industry born in 1801.