July 4th - 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.

  • In 1660, Samuel Pepys met with Mr. Butler and William Bowyer at Westminster Hall and took them to the Sun Tavern where he gave them lobster and wine.
  • Founding father's toast the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a glass (or more) or Madeira.
  • Thomas Jefferson, Founding Father and wine lover died in 1826. John Adams did as well but he didn't supply the government with wine from his own collection.
  • It is the feast day of Blessed Catherine Jarrige.  She helped priests escape the French Revolution providing vestments, wine and wafers for mass.  She also disguised a priest as a peasant and poured wine on him to make it look like he was drunk.  When encountering a soldier, she began to berate her “husband” the soldier said, “Citizen if I had a wife like that I’d drown her in the nearest river” to which the priest responded, “Citizen so would I!”
  • Happy 4th of July from Qorkz!