March 28th - 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.

Hannah Glasse, author of The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy was born in 1708.  Her cookbook included instructions for country wines and raisin wines

• In 1903, Cornelius Kingsley Garrison Billings, wealthy industrialist, horseman and tycoon hosted an eccentric horsed dinner where all the guests were seated on a horse and ate off of silver trays affixed to the saddles.  Guests also drank 1898 Krug Champagne from rubber tubes to iced bottles in their saddlebags.  The dinner was held at Louis Sherry’s restaurant.

• The Bianco di Pitigliano DOC was created in 1966. 

• Brunello di Montalcino DOCG designation was established in 1968.

• The Southeastern New England AVA was designated in 1984.

• California's Santa Clara Valley AVA was designated in 1989.

• The French have a saying, « À la Saint-Gontran, espoir s'il fait beau, pain et vin se font voir. » or "At Saint-Gontran, hope if the weather is nice, bread and wine are visible. "

May 29th - 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.

• Rhode Island ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1790.  It is home to the Southeastern New England viticultural area.  
• Humphry Davy died in 1829..  He was a chemist known for isolating potassium, calcium and strontium among others.  He is also known for experiments with nitrous oxide which he mixed with wine and tried as a hangover cure (his notes said it worked).
• Wisconsin was admitted to the Union in 1848.  It is home to the Lake Wisconsin, Upper Mississippi River Valley and Wisconsin Ledge viticultural areas.
• The Italian government named 6 DOCs in 1973: 
  • Cesanese del Piglio; 
  • Cesanese di Affile; 
  • Cesanese di Olevano; 
  • Cinque Terre Sciacchetrà; 
  • Grignolino d'Asti DOC; 
  • Malvasia di Castelnuovo Don Bosco DOC; 

• Colli Bolognesi and Colli Bolognesi Classico DOC was created in 1975.
• Spain's Toro DO was established in 1987.
• Happy English Wine Week!
• Happy National Coq Au Vin Day!

March 28th - 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 1903, Cornelius Kingsley Garrison Billings, wealthy industrialist, horseman and tycoon hosted an eccentric horsed dinner where all the guests were seated on a horse and ate off of silver trays affixed to the saddles.  Guests also drank 1898 Krug Champagne from rubber tubes to iced bottles in their saddlebags.  The dinner was held at Louis Sherry’s restaurant.
• The Bianco di Pitigliano DOC was created in 1966. 
• Brunello di Montalcino DOCG designation was established in 1968.
• The Southeastern New England AVA was designated in 1984.
• California's Santa Clara Valley AVA was designated in 1989.
• The French have a saying, « À la Saint-Gontran, espoir s'il fait beau, pain et vin se font voir. » or "At Saint-Gontran, hope if the weather is nice, bread and wine are visible. "

June 2nd - 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.

• Shane O’Neill, Irish King died in 1567.  In the aftermath of the Battle of the Red Sagums, the Earl of Sussex tried to assassinate The O’Neill using poisoned wine.  He survived this attack only to be beheaded by the MacDonnells at Antrim.
• The first recorded import tax in Providence, Rhode Island was issued in 1656 for wine and liquor.
• It is the feast day of Saint Marcellin. In France it is said, “Beau temps à la saint Marcellin, assure le pain et le vin” or “Good weather at Saint Marcellin’s Day, assures bread and wine.”
• Happy English Wine Week!