December 5th - 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.

• Sir Francis Drake discusses his stop in valperizo (Valparaiso) to re-provision his ship with wine, bread, bacon, etc for a long season in 1578.  

• Prohibition is repealed in 1933.

• In 1985, a bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite Bordeaux that had belonged to Thomas Jefferson sold at Christie’s London for 105,000 British Pounds making it the world’s most expensive wine. (it was probably a fake).

• The Savennières AOC was designated in 1996.

October 6th - 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.

• English Protestant martyr, Rowland Taylor was born in 1510.  He was a supporter of Lady Jane Grey who was overthrown by Mary.   He tried and found guilty of heresy for objecting to the doctrine of transubstantiation where bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.  He was burned at the stake.

• John MacCulloch, Scottish geologist and Doctor who introduced the word Malaria into the English language was born in 1773.  He was the son of a wine merchant who returned to England after the French Revolution.

• The Poissardes, also known as the Dames de la Halle forced the King and Queen to leave Versailles for Paris in 1789. These women who had arrived the previous day were said to be the vilest refuse of their sex and were drunk with wine and fury.

• Thomas Jefferson was sent a bill for Portuguese wines from Tonmo and Bocallos wine and regrets that he did not accept the Oeiras wine.  Also included fruit and almonds as gifts.

• E.R. Budden of London, received English Patent 15,790 in 1890 for an Improved Method of and Apparatus for Maturing Wines and like Beverages.

September 26th - This Date at 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 Gentleman's and London Magazine: Or Monthly Chronologer of 1754 contains a Description of a Modern Club from Mr. Fitz-Adam, where he complains about the useless ways Gentlemen in London wasted their time with disputing wines and drinking to other’s health, etc.

• Thomas Volney Munson, creator of phylloxera-resistant rootstocks was born in 1843 .

• Arkansas' Arkansas Mountain AVA was designated in 1986.

• Paul Newman of Newman's Own, which includes a Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon died in 2008 in Westport, CT.

• Happy California Wine Month!

September 9th - 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 Basel, Switzerland council resolved in 1482 to present to to Duke Phillip of Savoy an honorable reception upon his arrival including a gift of 8 pitchers of wine, six sacks of oats and salmon.
• The London Chronicle date 1763 contains news from the Hague on the quality of wine being produced in Saxony.
• In a letter dated 1842 from Downing Street, London, Henry Goulburn requested the opinion of the wine trade regarding tariffs on Port wine.
• California was admitted to the union in 1850.  It is home of the largest number of wineries in the United States.
• Happy California Wine Month!

September 4th - 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.

• In a report dated 1894, Charles Bundschu of Gundlach Bundschu presents the financial report for the Viticultural Palace at the California Midwinter International Exposition.
• Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular indicates the “Egyptian Monarch” set sail from London in 1887 loaded with wine to be shipped to New York.  A year later the ship would sink (hopefully not with wine aboard).
• Apremont AOC was named in 1973.  Wines from Apremont in Savoie are made using the Jacquére grape.
• Happy California Wine Month!

August 23rd - 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 London Public Record office records receipt of delivery of 12 pipes of Canary wine at Potomac Landing in 1633.
• The Muniments of the Royal Burgh of Irvine for 1681 lists payments for 9 mutchkins of claret between Bayliffe John Mountgomrie and Edward and Robert Wallaces.
• The 1894 records of the Ohio Dairy and Food Commissioner describes the case of the State v. Casper J. Vandrau who was charged with with selling grape wine adulterated by benzoic acid.  Vandrau pled guilty.
• It is the feast day of St. Rose of Lima.  She is a patron of gardeners.  No gardens?  No wine.

July 22nd - 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 History of Lloyd’s of London for 1710 shows that wines from the ship, Francis were advertised in the Tatler and were “To be sold by Tho. Tonkin broker, in Seething Lane between Tower-street and Crutched-Fryars.”
• French forces held Fort Carillion burned down upper and lower town before the British could take control of them.  The fort included an upper and lower town that contained hospitals, wine cellars, ovens and bakeries.
• The Duke of Wellington defeated the French at the Battle of Salamanca in 1812 during the Peninsular Wars. After the defeat Wellington’s men acquired King Joseph-Napoleon Bonaparte’s entire supply of brandy, claret, champagne and burgundy. 
• The Lambrusco Reggiano DOC was created in 1971. The wine comes from the Italian province of Emilia-Romagna.
• The French have a saying, « Sainte-Madeleine fait la noisette pleine le blé épié et le raisin coloré. » or “St. Madeleine is full of nuts, spiked wheat and colored grapes.”

July 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.

• In a wildly rambling sentence written in 1665, Samuel Pepys discusses his day and how he bought a pint of wine for Ann and Miles Mitchell who were leaving London to escape the plague.
• English golfer, Nick Faldo was born in 1957.  He is a partner with Katnook Estate in Nick Faldo Wines in Coonawarra, Australia or at least was at one point…..
• The Sizzano and Boca DOCs were created in 1969. These regions are located in Italy’s Piedmont.
• The San Colombano al Lambro and the Colli Piacentini DOCs were created in 1984. San Colombian is near Milan and the Colli Piacentini are in Emilia-Romagna.
• The Fiano di Avellino and the Greco di Tufo DOCGs were established in 2003.  Avellino and Tufo are communes in the province of Avelino.
• French oenologist, Émile Peynaud died in 2004.

July 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.

• The London Review in 1864 had an ad from James L. Denman who was offering wines of Greece and Hungary.
• The Mission of San Diego de Alcalá was founded in 1769 by Junipero Serra.  The Mission included 55,000 acres, and provided corn, wheat, barley, kidney beans, chick peas and other vegetables and vineyards to provide grapes for wine. 
• The Dolcetto d'Alba DOC was created in 1974.  Alba is a city located in the Piedmont of Italy.

July 5th - 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.

• In 1709, the Earl of Seafield submitted the concerns of wine merchants to the Lord High Treasurer about the amount of Spanish wine flooding the British Market.
• Sylvester Graham was born in 1794.  An itinerant preacher, he believed in vegetarianism and temperance to cure cholera when the accepted belief was eating plenty of meat, few veggies and drinking port.   He also believed that who grain crackers (Graham crackers) would prevent ‘self-pollution (masturbation).
• The Everyday Book of 1838 relays a story about Swan-hopping in the City (London) where a group of gentlemen were scammed out of the cost of lunch for a group of ladies (and their servants) during an expedition up river to watch the ceremony to mark the swans of London.  The gentlemen in question found that they had been left with bill by the ladies who claimed that “their husbands” would cover the costs  of their dinner, dessert, wine,tea etc.  7£ 10 shilling.  By the way, London swans are still marked in London and are considered to be owned by the Queen, the dyers guild and the vintners guild.
• French eonologist, Alfred de Vergnette de Lamotte was born in 1806. He is best know for his work on wine preservation.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Wrattonbully" was registered in 2005.

June 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.

• The London magazine: Or, Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligencer includes a review for a Ridotto Al Fresco at Spring Gardens, Vaux-hall which included a “rural Scene, sacred to the God of Wine,”
• In a letter dated 1740, Thomas Gray wrote his mother about his travels in Naples and the concerns of the people about the weather which was presumed to injure their corn, wine and oil.
• Gregory Blaxland, the first exporter of Australian wine was born in 1778.
• The British government passed a temporary regulation in 1793 about the distillation of spirits made in Scotland and shipped to England and those made in England and shipped to Scotland.  Wine measures become the standard unit.

June 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.

• The Roman Emperor Julian having brought his fleet of soldiers down the Tigris River to defeat the Persians burned his ships in 363.  This was a very bad idea. 10 days later he was speared in his abdomen which damaged his liver, peritoneum and intestines.  He was treated with stitches and the irrigation of the would with “dark wine” but he died.
• Ignatius Sancho, the first African man to vote in a British Parliamentary election or to be given an obituary in the British Press writes a thank you note to a friend, IS esq. thanking him for the gift of a fine bottle of wine in 1779. 
• John Snow, the father of modern epidemiology, anaesthesia and hygiene who proved that the cholera outbreak in London in 1854 was associated with one water pump died in 1858. During the 1830s he became a vegetarian and teetotaler until his health deteriorated and returned to meat and wine..
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Murray Darling" was registered in 1997.
• The French have a saying, « S’il pleut le jour de Saint-Cyr, le vin diminue jusqu’à la tire. » or, "If it rains the day of Saint-Cyr, the wine decreases. "

April 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.

• Sir William Lawrence writes of treating Elizabeth Jarvis for syphilitic iritis of both eyes, with frequent relapses of inflammation.  She was discharged from St. Bart’s Hospital in London in 1828 after a year’s treatment after treatments that included milk and and wine and meat and wine.
• Lucy Maud Montgomery died in 1942.  She is the Canadian author of the Anne of Green Gables.  In the book, Anne Shirley is separated from her bosom friend and kindred spirit, Diana Barry because Anne accidentally got Diana drunk on currant wine.  They were later reconciled.
• The Pacherenc Vic-Bilh AOC was established in 2007.
• It is the feast day of Fidelis of Sigmaringen, the Capuchin Friar and Martyr is known for not drinking wine and wearing a hair shirt while a student.

April 12th - 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. 

• Joanna of Castile died in 1555.  The daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, she was less devout than her parents who were referred to as “The Catholic Monarchs”.  She was accused of being corrupted by Parisian ‘drunkard’ priests and punished in the style of the Spanish Inquisition.  She was later deemed “insane” so that properly devout (and male) relatives could reign in her stead.  
• Christian IV of Denmark was born in 1577.  During a state visit to England a masque of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba  was put on.  It was described as a drunken fiasco.  Most of the players fell over from drinking too much wine.
• Per Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson, Johnson had dinner with Boswell at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in 1776 with Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Langton, Lord Dunsinan and Sir William Forbes where they discussed the nature of wine and wit, JOHNSON. 'No, Sir: before dinner men meet with great inequality of understanding; and those who are conscious of their inferiority, have the modesty not to talk. When they have drunk wine, every man feels himself happy, and loses that modesty, and grows impudent and vociferous: but he is not improved; he is only not sensible of his defects.' 
• The Economist for this date in 1884 contained an article about the wine crop in the Rhine District of Prussia for 1883. (It was fine.)

March 15th - 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 Fijt, a Flemish Baroque painter known for creepy still life of hunting dogs and dead game but also responsible for beautiful flower paintings and food still lifes such as A Lobster in a Porcelain Dish was born in 1611.
• Theodore de Mayerne, a Swiss physician who cared for Henri IV of France, James I, Charles I and Charles II of England died in 1655 from an excess of drinking of bad wine.
• John Snow, the father of modern epidemiology, anesthesia and hygiene who proved that the cholera outbreak in London in 1854 was associated with one water pump was born in 1813. During the 1830s he became a vegetarian and teetotaler until his health deteriorated and returned to meat and wine.
• Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820.  Vineyards in the State often make fruit, or country wine or with those of cold-hardy grapes.
• In the Parliamentary Debates of March 15, 1824, the Marquis of Lansdowne makes a motion to support the independence of South America by remarking that, “The time was, when Spain had the power to root up the vineyards of Mexico, that the inhabitants might rely on the mother country for wine“
• Beware the Ides of March!  Try drinking wines from Lazio, the region surrounding Rome, Greek wines that were said to be Caesar’s favorites and Beaujolais from the village of Juliénas which was named for him.

February 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. 

• Samuel Pepys drank a draft of wormwood wine with Sir William Batten at the Steelyard in 1662.
• Musician Jonathan Cain was born in 1950. He is owner of Finale Wines in Sonoma County.
• California's Fair Play AVA was designated in 2001.
• Oregon and Washington's Walla Walla Valley AVA (shown above) was designated in 2001.

February 22nd - 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. 

• Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, known as Rashi, was born in 1040 in Troyes, France.  The son of a poor winemaker, legend says that his father was visited by the prophet Elijah after throwing a precious jewel into the sea and was told he would have a son “who would illuminate the world with his Torah knowledge”.
• George Washington was born in 1732.  He was a member of the Virginia’s House of Burgesses from 1758-1765.  He plied the voters with 170 gallons of rice punch, beer, wine, hard cider and brandy.
• According to a rule passed in 1792 of the St. Dunstan's Club in London, Any member elected to the position within the club was required to buy a bottle of Port for the other members to share.
• Actor Kyle MacLachlan was born in 1959.  He owns Pursued by Bear Wine in Columbia Valley.
• Drew Barrymore was born in 1975.  She is a partner in the Carmel Road Winery.

January 12th - 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.

In a report of 1749, The Sporting Magazine reports on “The Bottle Conjurer” who performs at the New Theatre in the Haymaket who disappears into a “common wine bottle”.

Virginia’s Rocky Knob AVA was designated in 1983.

• The Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf AOC was established in 2007.

December 31st - 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.

• 32,8551/2 gallons of Madeira winer were imported into Philadelphia from August 1, to December 31, 1790 according to the American Museum or Universal Magazine.
• A banquet was held in 1853 where the attendees ate dinner in an iguanodon in the not yet complete Crystal Palace in London.  The menu included:  Soups: Mock Turtle, Julien, Hare, Fish: Cod and Oyster Sauce, Fillets of Whiting, Turbot à l’Hollandaise; Removes: Roast Turkey, Ham, Raised Pigeon Pie, Boiled Chicken and Celery Sauce; Entrées: Cotolettes de Moutonaux Tomates, Currie de Lapereaux au riz, Salmi de Perdrix, Mayonnaise de filets de Sole; Game: Pheasants, Woodcocks, Snipes; Sweets: Macedoine Jelly, Orange Jelly, Bavaroise, Charlotte Russe, French Pastry, Nougat à la Chantilly, Buisson de Meringue aux Confiture; Dessert: Grapes, Apples, Pears, Almonds and Raisins, French Plums, Pines, Filberts, Walnuts etc., etc.; Wines: Sherry, Madeira, Port, Moselle, Claret 
• Chandon  et Co., of Epernay, France received it’s trademark in the United States in 1907.
• Saumur AOC was created in 1957.
• Happy national Champagne Day!
• Happy New Year to Everyone!

December 5th - 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.

• Prohibition is repealed in 1933.
• A bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite Bordeaux that had belonged to Thomas Jefferson sold at Christie’s London for 105,000 British Pounds making it the world’s most expensive wine.
• The Savennières AOC was designated in 1996.