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, anaesthesia 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 hard 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.

March 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.

• The Roman Emperor Julian began the military campaign that led to his death when he moved his army from Antioch to the Sasanian Empire This was a very bad idea. 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.

• Lisa Gherardini married Francesco del Gioconda in 1495. She was the daughter of a Chianti vineyard owner and later married Florentine silk merchant.  She was the model for Leonardo da Vinci’s most famous painting, The Mona Lisa.

• Henry VI of England issued letters of patent to John Cabot for exploration.  The following year he landed in what is now known as Newfoundland in 1497.  He was the first European to to explore the region since the Vikings landed there and called it Vinland.

• Frederick S. Cozzens publisher of Cozzens' Wine Press was born in 1818.

• It is the feast day of Saint Ciarán of Saigir the first saint born in Ireland. Legend has it that he blessed a well that the tasted of wine and honey.

• It is also the feast day of St. Thietmar of Minden (Bavaria).  He requested water from a servant who brought him wine.  After being brought wine several times by the same servant, he eventually followed the servant and watched as the water gathered by the servant transform into wine.

February 13th - 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.

• Parentalia, the Roman festival of the ancestors was celebrated by offerings of flower-garlands, wheat, salt, wine-soaked bread and violets.

• Béla II of Hungary died in 1141.  Known as Béla the blind the Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle indicates that “After King Bela had been established in his rule of the kingdom, he indulged himself much with wine. His courtiers found that whatever they asked of the King in his drunkenness he would grant, and after his drunkenness he could not take it back.”

• The Challenge of Barletta was fought in Italy of 1503.  The tournament was provoked after Charles de la Motte of France, drunk on the local wine, insulted the Italians.

• Elizabeth Stuart died in 1662.  After her marriage to Frederick V, Prince of Palatine and the Rhine, they began their journey to Heidelberg, meeting people from his kingdom and sampling local foods and wines.

• Under a federal law passed in 1862, it was illegal to  “provide spirituous liquor or wine "to any Indian under the charge of any Indian superintendent or Indian agent appointed by the United States”. A fine of $500.00 was charged for each violation.

February 11th - 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.

• Emperor Claudius’ heir Britannicus is thought to have been poisoned by Nero in AD 55 by poisoning the water used to cool Britannicus’ wine.  The water had been previously tasted and found safe.

• Carl Michael Bellman, a Swedish composer, musician, poet, and songwriter died in 1795.  He is best known for Fredman’s songs and Fredman’s epistles which included themes of pleasure, drunkenness and sex.

• Lydia Maria Child was born in 1802.  She was an abolitionist, novelist, and activist for women’s and native American rights.  She is famous for writing “Over the River and Through the Wood” and the American Frugal Housewife which included recipes for food and cures that include wine as well as for wines themselves.

• The term Eiswin was coined on this day in 1830 to describe the wines of the 1829 harvest in Bingen-Dromersheim. 

• William Thomas Brande died in 1866.  A chemist, he was the first to be able to calculate the alcohol content of  wine, cider and ale.  He also believed that distilled spirits were toxic, while wine and beer, wholesome.

• Seyssel AOC was named in 1942.

December 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.

• Emperor Nero who rose to power by poisoning Emperor Claudius’ heir Britannicus  through the water used to cool Britannicus’ wine was born in 37AD. 

• David Teniers the Younger, the Flemish painter was born in 1610.  He is know for the paintings, Festival of the Monkeys, and Smoking and Drinking Monkeys.  In each of these paintings, the  monkeys represent fools in high places.

• Johannes Vermeer, painter of "The Wine Glass, A Lady Drinking and a Gentleman" and "The Girl with the Wineglass" was died in 1675.

• In 1803 Lieutenant De Coetlagon was fined one bottle of wine for annoying Lieutenant Dowlin at mess according to the records of the infantry militia battalions of the County of Southampton.

• Pierre Marie Alexis Millardet who saved the vineyards of France from phylloxera died in 1902.

November 27th - 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.

• Roman poet, soldier and senator, Quintus Horatius Flaccus, known as Horace died in 8 BC.  He is known for odes such as “Nunc est bibendum, nunc pede libero pulsanda tellus” or “Now is the time to drink, now the time to dance footloose upon the earth.” FYI, the symbol of the French tire  company, Michelin is named Bibendum.

• Guillaume Du Fay, the Franco- Flemish Renaissance composer died in 1474.  He is noted as the Canon of Cambrai in documentation when he received 36 lots of wine for the feast of St. John the Evangelist.

• Illinois' Shawnee Hills AVA was designated in 2006.

• Oregon's Chehalem Mountains AVA was designated in 2006.

November 6th - This Date in Wine History

Take your place in history - VOTE!

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.

• Julian was named Caesar of the Western Provinces in 355.  He later tried to conquer the Persians but was injured.  He died as a result of having his wound irrigated with “dark wine”.

• The Synod of Rome was called by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I in 962.  During this Synod, Otto deposes Pope John XII on the grounds that he was depraved and worldly (and incited rebellion against the Emperor).  Witnesses claimed that the Pontiff had toasted the devil with wine.

• The French Bonnezeaux AOC was created in 1951.

• National Nachos Day… What wine would you pair with Nachos?

October 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.

• Titus Flavius Domitianus, Roman Emperor known as Domitian, who banned planting of vineyards in order to increase grain production in the Empire was born in 51 CE.

• Pierre-Cécile Puvis de Chavannes the French painter died in 1898.  He is known for his work, The Wine Press.

• Cotes-de-Provence AOC was created in 1977.

• California's Alexander Valley AVA was designated in 1984.

• California's Central Coast AVA was designated in 1985.

• The Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC classification was created in 1995.

• The French have a saying, « Quand arrive la Saint-Magloire, vigneron sait ce qu'il peut boire. » or "When the Saint-Magloire arrives, the winemaker knows what he can drink. "

September 21st - 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.

• Virgil who died in 19 BCE wrote the Georgics, whose second volume deals with viticulture matters and includes a description of early ice wines.

• Edward II of England died in 1327  His wedding feast with Isabella of France was celebrated with a fountain filled with spiced wine.

• Winston Cup winner, Richard Childress was born in 1945.  He owns Childress Vineyards in Yadkin Valley, North Carolina.

• Happy California Wine Month!

• The French have a saying, “ À la Saint-Matthieu, cueille le raisin si tu veux.” or At St. Matthew, pick the grapes if you like

• Happy International Grenache Day

September 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.

• Titus Flavius Domitianus, Roman Emperor known as Domitian, who banned planting of vineyards in order to increase grain production in the Empire was executed in 96 CE.

• Philip II sometimes known as Philip Augustus was crowned in 1180.  He was known  holding the Battle of the Wines.

• Vinho do Dão becomes a protected DOC in Portugal in 1908.

• Vinho Verde becomes a protected DO in Portugal in 1908.

• Happy California Wine Month!

June 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.

• Roman Emperor Julian was wounded in 363 during the Battle of Sammara.  He was treated by his physician who treated the wound with dark wine.  He died 3 days later.
• Louis Bignon, French chef and agriculturist and Legion of Honour recipient was born in 1816.  He was known for the high quality of wine in his restaurant as well as investing in research on the phylloxera.
• The Moscato di Siracusa DOC was created in 1973. 
• The Dolcetto di Dogliani DOC, the Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese DOC and the Rosso di Cerignola DOC were established in 1974.
• The Tokay Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape and the Upper Middle Rhine Valley were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.

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 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.

• Geoffrey Chaucer was granted a galloon of wine per day for the rest of his life in 1374 by Edward III.  Chaucer lived until 1400.
• “Good wine is a good familiar creature if it be well used.” from Othello by William Shakespeare who died in 1616.
• The Barbaresco DOCG designation was established in 1966.  These wines are from Italy's Piedmont region and are made of Nebbiolo grapes.
• Vinalia Urbana, a Roman festival celebrated the blessing of new wine and asking the gods for a good harvest.  Offerings were made to Jupiter who blessed the sacred wines used for offerings and Venus who blessed the profane or common wine that was for everyday use. 
• The French have a saying, « Georget, Marquet, Vitalet et Croiset, s'ils sont beaux, font du bon vin. » or “If it is nice on the days of St. Georget, Marquet, Vitalet and Croiset good wine will be made.”

April 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. 

• Vitellius becomes Emperor of Rome after defeating Otho in the Battle of Bedriacum in 69 AD.  His 9 month reign was marked by feasting and sending the navy to procure rare delicacies until he was deposed by Vespasian.
• Joseph Black, the Scottish chemist who discovered magnesium and carbon dioxide was born in Bordeaux in 1728.  Both his mother and his father’s family were in the wine trade.
• Spain's Ribera del Guadiana DO was created in 1999.
• The French have a saying, « Gelée à la Saint-Fructueux rend le vigneron malheureux. » or “Ice on Saint Fructeuex’s day make winemakers unhappy.”

March 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. 

• Cagnina di Romagna was made a DOC in 1988.
• Pagadebit di Romagna DOC was created in 1988.
• Traditional date for Bacchanalia, celebrating Bacchus, God of Wine.
• Date for the Liber Pater, which replaced the Bacchanalia, celebrated god of Italian fertility, wine and services.
• Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!  While not a holiday traditionally associated with wine, if you want a wine with green highlights may we suggest a cold climate Sauvignon Blanc or Vinho Verde (which really translates as Green Wine).
• Happy Ag Appreciation Week  Remember, without ag, there is  no wine!
• It is the feast day of St. Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron saint of gardeners and travelers.

February 13th - 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. 

• Parentalia, the Roman festival of the ancestors was celebrated by offerings of flower-garlands, wheat, salt, wine-soaked bread and violets.
• Béla II of Hungary died in 1141.  Known as Béla the blind the Hungarian Illuminated Chronicle indicates that “After King Bela had been established in his rule of the kingdom, he indulged himself much with wine. His courtiers found that whatever they asked of the King in his drunkenness he would grant, and after his drunkenness he could not take it back.”
• The Challenge of Barletta was fought in Italy of 1503.  The tournament was provoked after Charles de la Motte of France, drunk on the local wine, insulted the Italians.
• Under a federal law passed in 1862, it was illegal to  “provide spirituous liquor or wine "to any Indian under the charge of any Indian superintendent or Indian agent appointed by the United States”. A fine of $500.00 was charged for each violation.
• It is Mardi Gras 2018.  Laissez Les Bontemps Roullez!

February 11th - 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. 

• Emperor Claudius’ heir Britannicus is thought to have been poisoned by Nero in AD 55 by poisoning the water used to cool Britannicus’ wine.  The water had been previously tasted and found safe.
• Carl Michael Bellman, a Swedish composer, musician, poet, and songwriter died in 1795.  He is best known for Fredman’s songs and Fredman’s epistles which included themes of pleasure, drunkenness, and sex.
• Lydia Maria Child was born in 1802 in Massachusetts.  She was an abolitionist, novelist, and activist for women’s and native American rights.  She is famous for writing “Over the River and Through the Wood” and the American Frugal Housewife which included recipes for food and cures that include wine as well as for wines themselves.
• The term Eiswin was coined on this day in 1830 to describe the wines of the 1829 harvest in Bingen-Dromersheim. 
• William Thomas Brande died in 1866.  A chemist, he was the first to be able to calculate the alcohol content of  wine, cider and ale.  He also believed that distilled spirits were toxic, while wine and beer, wholesome.
• Seyssel AOC was named in 1942.

December 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 first Saturnalia festival was celebrated in 497 BC.
• Jamal ad-Din Rumi, Muslim poet, jurist, scholar, theologian and Sufi mystic died in 1273.  He wrote:

On the seeker’s path, wise men and fools are one.

In His love, brothers and strangers are one.

Go on! Drink the wine of the Beloved!

In that faith, Muslims and pagans are one.

       -Quatrain 305

• Humphry Davy was born in 1778.  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).
• 50 Alsatian Grand Crus were established in 1992.
• This day in 1794 would have been the 27th day of the month Frimaire under the French Revolutionary Calendar. The day of the month was represented by the Cork Oak Tree (Liège) and the month by Frost (Frimaire).

Happy Saturnalia!

Saturnalia by Antoine Callet

Io, Saturnalia!

Saturnalia is the Roman winter solstice festival that began in 427 BCE and continued... well, at least until 448 AD.  Many Christmas traditions are thought to have begun during Saturnalia festivities.  A celebration of the Roman god, Saturn, the festival began as a  three day event and was later expanded to a full week.  During this time gifts were given, special foods eaten, hijinks broke out and assorted merriment was enjoyed by slave and citizens alike.

But how was it celebrated?

Well, from Qorkz's extensive research (cough, cough) indicate the following:

• The colors green and gold were favored. 
• Celestial symbols were used inside houses as well as outside.
• A special concoction called mulsum was drunk.  It was a mixture of honey and white wine that was chilled.
• Gifts with little poems attached were given to guests and friends and family.  
• Games were played.  Dice throwing, in particular, was part of the fun.
• The Lord of Misrule was the emcee of festivities and he was chosen by lots... and you were to do whatever he said.  Extra note:  Nero was once chosen to this honor.
• Slaves were given temporary freedom and might wear a conical hat called a pileus to indicate their free status.
• Slaves were often served by their masters in a kind of backwards day manner.

So, how should YOU celebrate?  

How about, wine and pizza and night of boardgames and charades?  Happy Saturnalia!

December 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.

• Emperor Nero who rose to power by poisoning Emperor Claudius’ heir Britannicus  through the water used to cool Britannicus’ wine was born in 37AD. 
• Johannes Vermeer, painter of "The Wine Glass, A Lady Drinking and a Gentleman" and "The Girl with the Wineglass" was died in 1675.
• In 1803 Lieutenant De Coetlagon was fined one bottle of wine for annoying Lieutenant Dowlin at mess according to the records of the infantry militia battalions of the County of Southampton.
• Pierre Marie Alexis Millardet who saved the vineyards of France from phylloxera died in 1902.