April 8th - 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.

• Famed actress, Helena Modjeska died in 1909.  She and a small group of Polish artists and aristocrats emigrated to Anaheim, California to create a colony based on Brooks Farm.  They grew muscat grapes which no one would buy but instead stole… The colony failed and Modjeska returned to the theater but created her home at Arden in Anaheim until 1906.

• The Salice Salentino DOC was created in 1976.

• The Kanawha River Valley AVA was designated in 1986.

• It is the feast of St. Walter of Pontoise.  He is the patron saint of prisoners, prisoners of war, job-related stress and vintners.

January 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. 

• John James Dufour submitted a business plan to the Kentucky Gazette  for the first commercial vineyard.

• Hungarian sparkling winemaker, József Törley was born in 1858

• The Moscato di Cagliari DOC  and  Sant'Anna di Isola Capo Rizzuto DOC were created in 1979

• France's Loi Évin controlling alcohol and tobacco advertising went into effect in 1991.  It was named after politician, Claude Évin.

November 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.

• North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution and is admitted as the 12th state in 1789.  It is home to Appalachian High Country, Haw River Valley, Swan Creek, Upper Hiwassee Highlands, Yadkin Valley and possibly soon, Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County.

• The Kentucky General Assembly passed a bill to establish a commercial vineyard and winery in 1799

• California's Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA was designated in 1983.

• California's South Coast AVA was designated in 1985.

• New Mexico's Mimbres Valley AVA was designated in 1985.

• Happy National Zinfandel Day.

June 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.

• Anne Boleyn was crowned as Queen consort in 1533.  In her youth she was described as sweet and cheerful, enjoying wine and French cuisine, flirting, gambling and gossip.  
• José I of Portugal was born in 1714. Under his rule, the Duoro wine region was demarcated. 
• Kentucky was admitted to the Union in 1792.  It is home to the Ohio River Valley viticulturel area.
• Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796.  It is home to the  Appalachian High Country and Mississippi Delta viticultural areas.
• The Rosso Barletta DOC was created in 1977.
• Wine writer and entrepreneur, Alexis Lichine died in 1989.
• California's Diamond Mountain District AVA was designated in 2001. 
• Oregon's Ribbon Ridge AVA was designated in 2005.
• Happy English Wine Week!

March 2nd - This Date in Wine History

Photo by USDA-Agricultural Research Service

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. 

• St. Benedict of Nursia was born in 480.  He is the saint invoked against poison.  His monks tried to poison his wine and then his bread but he was saved by miracles.
• Henry Clay charged 14shillings for billiards and wine in 1804 from John Postelthwait in Lexington, KY.
• Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci, the future Pope Leo XIII was born in 1810.  He appeared in ads for Vin Mariani a wine and coca leaf tonic.
• The Texas High Plains AVA was designated in 2003.