January 26th - 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.

  • Michigan was admitted to the Union in 1837.  It is home to the Fennville, Lake Michigan Shore, Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula and Tip of the Mitt viticultural areas.
  • Paul Newman, founder of Newman's Own which included a Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon was born in 1925.
  • It is the feast day of St. Alberic of Cîteaux who founded the Cistercian Order of Monks.  Cistercians are known to support their abbeys through making products for sale.  St. Alberic arranged a donation of a vineyard to support his abbey.  That vineyard is known today as Meursault.
  • It is the feast day of Saint Timothy.  He was an evangelist in Turkey and Greece.  He was also known to be sickly and is the patron of gastrointestinal disorders.   In letters, St. Paul urges Timothy to  "use a little wine for your stomach's sake".

October 13th - 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.

  • Roman celebration of Fontinalia. Offerings were made to the god, Fontus (sources) (fountains and springs) as well as the gods of wine and other libations.
  • The Moscadello di Montalcino DOC was established 1983.
  • California's El Dorado and Potter Valley AVAand Michigan's Lake Michigan Shore AVA and Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia's Catoctin AVA were designated in 1983.

October 13th - This Date in Wine History

Pompeiian Fountain by Wilhelm von Plüschow


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.


  • Roman celebration of Fontinalia. Offerings were made to the god, Fontus (sources) (fountains and springs) as well as the gods of wine and other libations.
  • The Moscadello di Montalcino DOC was established 1983.
  • California's El Dorado and Potter Valley AVAand Michigan's Lake Michigan Shore AVA and Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia's Catoctin AVA were designated in 1983.