February 14th - 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.

  • Happy Valentine’s Day.  St. Valentine has no reference to wine history, but sweethearts often toast their love with wine or Champagne!  Cheers!

  • Oregon was admitted to the Union in 1859.  It is home to the Applegate Valley, Chahalem Mountains, Columbia Gorge, Columbia Valley, Dundee Hills, Elkton Oregon, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Red Hills Douglas County Oregon,  Ribbon Ridge, The Rocks of Milton-Freewater, Rogue Valley,  Snake River Valley, Southern Oregon, Umpqua Valley, Walla Walla, Willamette Valley and Yamhill-Carlton

  • Arizona was admitted to the union in 1912.  It is home to the Sonoita and Willcox viticultural areas.

  • Drew Bledsoe was born in 1972.  He is owner of Doubleback Wines in Walla Walla Washington.

  • New Mexico's Mesilla Valley AVA was designated in 1985

  • The Côte Roannaise AOC was named in 1994

  • The Bulgarian’s celebrate Trifon Zarezan (Vineyard Day).  It is an ancient custom that was Christianized but previously offered to Sabazius, Dionysius, Bromius, Bacchus and Lycurgus.  The vines are trimmed, watered with wine and thrown into the River.  Later a meal of chicken (specifically a hen) stuffed with rice or bulgar is served.

  • The French have a saying, « Vigneron à la Saint-Valentin, doit avoir serpette en main. » which translates to "Winemakers on Valentine's Day, must have a serpette in hand.” (a serpette is an agricultural knife) 

January 18th - 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.

  • Jan van Riebeeck, the founder of Cape Town and produced the first known wine in South Africa died in 1677.

  • Messrs. Bouchard, père et fils report to Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular in 1890 about the quality of the new Burgundy which is said to be their best in years.

  • Hermann Müller, a Swiss botanist and oenologist created the Müller-Thurgau varietal in 1882 died in 1927.

  • Oregon's McMinnville AVA was designated in 2005.

Wineducation - McMinnville, Oregon

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Located southwest of the city of the same name, the McMinnville viticultural area was created in 2005 and is found between Sheridan and McMinnville.  The appellation surrounds Gopher, Muddy and Dupee Valleys and is found at elevations between 200 and 800 feet above sea level.  The geology and climate are notably different from the surrounding Willamette Valley. 

McMinnville was formed by the uplift of ancient marine sediments, primarily mudstones, and sandstones.  The uplift was caused by movement of the Juan de Fuca plate as it was subducted under North America which created the Oregon coast range.  These rocks were then subject to volcanic flows of basalt from the Columbia River flows.  The hills of McMinnville largely face south and east and are located at a boundary between the northern and central coast ranges which optimizes the amount of sunshine it receives and protects it from the full effect of the Pacific Ocean.  Rivers have acted on these rocks over millions of years to create the unique terroir.  The soils in McMinneville are among the oldest and most complex in the state.  They are more shallow than the those in the valley floor as well as less fertile and less soil water holding capacity.  As a result, the vines must work harder to establish a foothold in the hills.

McMinnville’s unique terroir has an impact on its climate as well.  The hills are less likely to suffer from damaging frosts and are drier and warmer which prevents molds and mildews.  Lest the grapes ripen too quickly, cool afternoon ocean breezes flow up the Van Duzer corridor along the course of the Salmon River at that coast range border to allow fruit to develop more slowly, improving flavors and structure.

The city of McMinnville has long been an agricultural district.  Prior to the 1970s when viticulture became dominant the area was producing other fruit and dairy cows. Now that wine is king, it is known for fruit-forward wines with good acidity and minerality. The primary varieties produced in the McMinnville AVA include Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir and Riesling. 

January 18th - 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.

  • Jan van Riebeeck, the founder of Cape Town and produced the first known wine in South Africa died in 1677.
  • Messrs. Bouchard, père et fils report to Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular in 1890 about the quality of the new Burgundy which is said to be their best in years.
  • Hermann Müller, a Swiss botanist and oenologist created the Müller-Thurgau varietal in 1882 died in 1927
  • Oregon's McMinnville AVA was designated in 2005.

January 18th - This Date in Wine History

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Hermann Müller

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.

  • Hermann Müller, a Swiss botanist and oenologist created the Müller-Thurgau varietal in 1882 died in 1927.
  • Oregon's McMinnville AVA was designated in 2005.