December 23rd - This Date in Wine History

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Festivus meatloaf, served on lettuce.

Festivus meatloaf, served on lettuce.

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.

  • Jean François Champollion was born in 1790.  He was known for deciphering the Rosetta Stone.  It contains records from Ptolemy V including donations of wine to temples and vineyard harvests.

  • Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular reports that weather on this date in 1889 had been so bad that there were fewer customers to purchase brandy in Charentes.

  • California's Redwood Valley AVA was designated in 1996.

  • Happy Festivus.  Please watch your imbibing of spirits before the airing of  grievances or feats of strength.

December 23rd - This Date in Wine History

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740px-2007-08-27_Rosetta_Stone_London_0309.JPG

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.

  • Jean François Champollion was born in 1790.  He was known for deciphering the Rosetta Stone.  It contains records from Ptolemy V including donations of wine to temples and vineyard harvests.
  • Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular reports that weather on this date in 1889 had been so bad that there were fewer customers to purchase brandy in Charentes.
  • California's Redwood Valley AVA was designated in 1996.
  • Happy Festivus.  Please watch your imbibing of spirits before the airing of grievances or feats of strength.

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Firebrick Zinfandel - Wine of the Day

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2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Firebrick Zinfandel

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Firebrick Zinfandel

$35

Exhibiting exceptional clarity and brilliance in the glass, this wine is effusive with a seductive nose of strawberries and cinnamon followed by layers of strawberries, raspberries with peppery notes leading to a long finish.

Firebrick Hill Vineyard sits 1000 - 1200’ above sea level in northeastern Mendocino County just north of Lake Mendocino, on the Ricetti bench, an alluvial terrace. Vineyards in the Redwood Valley AVA sit about 200 feet higher in elevation than those along the Russian River, further downstream in Ukiah and Hopland . The climate of this upland valley is slightly cooler than vineyards to the south, furthered by a gap in the coastal ridge which allows cool Pacific air currents to penetrate. These conditions result in a longer growing season and a gradual ripening of fruit that makes Redwood Valley wines refined, with more acidity and deeper color. The notable red soil of the area also provides depth of color and flavor to the wines. The result is layered, nuanced wines with great structure and bright fruit, like the peppery, spicy Zinfandels for which the Redwood Valley is known.

Redwood Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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The Redwood Valley AVA is located in Mendocino County, California. The earliest vineyards in the Redwood Valley were planted by Greek and Italian immigrants in the 1880s. The vines in the Redwood Valley sit on benches above the waters of the Russian River where the soils were well-drained, the climate permitted the grapes to mature, but was still cool enough to allow the grapes to ripen slowly to enhance the deep, rich flavors of the grapes. Given the cooler climate, the fruit must sit on the vines longer to ripen, requiring a later harvest than other AVAs in the area.

Mendocino - Wine Region of the Day

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Mendocino received its designation as an AVA in 1984. Situated on 3,878 square miles, Mendocino contains sub-appellations Anderson Valley, Cole Ranch, Covelo, Dos Rios, Eagle Peak Mendocino County, McDowell Valley, Mendocino Ridge, Potter Valley, Redwood Valley, and the Yorkville Highlands. Given Mendocino's large size, the region features many micro-climates and soil types spread throughout the sub-appellations. Mendocino is committed to growing organic vines and is the nation's leader in producing non-GMO wines.

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Firebrick Zinfandel - Wine of the Day

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2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Firebrick Zinfandel

$35

Exhibiting exceptional clarity and brilliance in the glass, this wine is effusive with a seductive nose of strawberries and cinnamon followed by layers of strawberries, raspberries with peppery notes leading to a long finish.

Firebrick Hill Vineyard sits 1000 - 1200’ above sea level in northeastern Mendocino County just north of Lake Mendocino, on the Ricetti bench, an alluvial terrace. Vineyards in the Redwood Valley AVA sit about 200 feet higher in elevation than those along the Russian River, further downstream in Ukiah and Hopland . The climate of this upland valley is slightly cooler than vineyards to the south, furthered by a gap in the coastal ridge which allows cool Pacific air currents to penetrate. These conditions result in a longer growing season and a gradual ripening of fruit that makes Redwood Valley wines refined, with more acidity and deeper color. The notable red soil of the area also provides depth of color and flavor to the wines. The result is layered, nuanced wines with great structure and bright fruit, like the peppery, spicy Zinfandels for which the Redwood Valley is known.

December 23rd - This Date in Wine History

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Map of Redwood Valley by Gretchen Miller Neuman for Qorkz. 

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.

  • Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular reports that weather on this date in 1889 had been so bad that there were fewer customers to purchase brandy in Charentes.
  • California's Redwood Valley AVA was designated in 1996.
  • Happy Festivus.  Please watch your imbibing of spirits before the airing of grievances or feats of strength.