April 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.

• Isabella I of Jerusalem died in 1205.  Isabella’s first marriage was celebrated despite the castle of Kerak being under siege.  Her mother-in-law sent Saladin bread, wine sheep and cattle to join in the celebration and Saladin ordered that the tower the new couple were celebrating their wedding night in should not be attacked.

• Thomas Cavendish found 300 tuns of Spanish wine buried in the sand in a bay near Valparaiso, Chilean in 1587.  Given that he was a privateer, might be an exaggeration.

• Barbizon School painter, Jules Dupré was born in 1811.  He is known mostly for landscapes, but also for Still Life with a Grey Jug.

• Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular dated 1887 states a ship named Fortuna left Oporto bound for NYC with a cargo of wine.

• Andre Tchelistcheff , the dean of American Winemakers died in 1994.

• Louis Latour, 10th generation president of Maison Louis Latour died in 2016 at the age of 83.

January 30th - 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.

• A Parisian Ordonnance of 1330, forbade the mixing of two wines together; no wine-seller was to give a false name to a wine, or to give a wrong description of its age ; the penalty was confiscation of the wine and a fine.

• Georg Friedrich Margrave von Baden-Durlach was born in 1573.  He founded an exchange bank in Upper Baden which was supposed to organize the wine and grain trade.

• Peter II of Russia died in 1730.  One of his early governesses was the wife of a Dutch vintner.

• Salvador Dalí married Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, better known as Gala in 1934. He later created a wine book, The Wines of Gala, as well as a cookbook, The Dinners of Gala in her honor.

January 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.

• Pope Paschal II died in 1118.  During his reign he appointed a Bishop to oversee the territories of Greenland and Vinland (Newfoundland)

• Jefferson Davis resigned from the United States Senate.  A step before becoming the President of the Confederacy.  He was a participant in the  West Point Eggnog riot.  He escaped punishment.

• Esther Lachmann, known as La Païva died in 1884. A courtesan, she had a bathroom at her Hôtel de la Païva, that had three taps, one for water, milk and champagne for bathing.

• Thomas Munson, the American horticulturist who's work with grape rootstock led to phylloxera-resistant stocks died in 1913

• It is the feast day of St. Agnes of Rome.  She is the patron saint of crops and gardeners as well as Girl Scouts.

• Happy Babinden!  This Russian, Bulgarian and Serbian holiday celebrates midwifery and includes Young Mother’s Feast which includes grilled chicken and wine.

June 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.

• Frances Burney, novelist, diarist and playwright was born in 1752.  After the death of her mother, her father married the widow of wine merchant.
• The first burial in St. James’ Cemetery, Liverpool was in 1829 when a Mr. Haram, a wine merchant was laid to rest. (Imperial Magazine)
• Dorothy L. Sayers was born in 1893.  She was a English crime writer known for her wine loving character, Lord Peter Wimsey and  wine salesman, Montague Egg both of whom are amateur detectives.
• Valeri Bure, a Russian born professional hockey player and owner of Bure Family Wines in St. Helena, California was born in 1974.
• California's Malibu-Newton Canyon AVA was designated in 1996.

June 7th - 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 968, Liudprand of Cremona in reporting to his King, Berengar II of Lombard, has dinner with Nikephoros, the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) complains that the dinner was “foul and disgusting washed down with oil after the fashion of drankards and moistened also with an exceedingly bad fish liquor”  He ends up insulting the Emperor.
• Friedrich Hölderlin, German lyric poet died in 1843. He is known for the poem, “Brod und Wein”.
• The Three Emperor’s Dinner takes place in 1867.  The Banquet hosted at Cafe Anglais in Paris was attended by Wilhelm I of Prussia and  Tsar Alexander II, Tsarevich Alexander (later Tsar Alexander III) of Russia and consisted of 16 courses and 8 wines.  Including an 1846 Chambertin. and Roederer Champagne frappé.
• Carrie Nation began her assault on any place selling liquor in Dobson’s Saloon in Kiowa, Kansas in 1900 (Which I doubt had any wine but still an assault on one is an assault on all).
• Dorothy Parker, who once memorable said, "Three be the things I shall never attain: envy, content and sufficient champagne" died in 1967.

June 1st - 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.

• Anne Boleyn was crowned as Queen consort in 1533.  In her youth she was described as sweet and cheerful, enjoying wine and French cuisine, flirting, gambling and gossip.  
• José I of Portugal was born in 1714. Under his rule, the Duoro wine region was demarcated. 
• Kentucky was admitted to the Union in 1792.  It is home to the Ohio River Valley viticulturel area.
• Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796.  It is home to the  Appalachian High Country and Mississippi Delta viticultural areas.
• The Rosso Barletta DOC was created in 1977.
• Wine writer and entrepreneur, Alexis Lichine died in 1989.
• California's Diamond Mountain District AVA was designated in 2001. 
• Oregon's Ribbon Ridge AVA was designated in 2005.
• Happy English Wine Week!

April 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. 

• Thomas Cavendish found 300 tuns of Spanish wine buried in the sand in a bay near Valparaiso, Chilean in 1587.  Given that he was a privateer, might be an exaggeration.
• Barbizon School painter, Jules Dupré was born in 1811.  He is known mostly for landscapes, but also for Still Life with a Grey Jug.
• Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular dated 1887 states a ship named Fortuna left Oporto bound for NYC with a cargo of wine.
• Andre Tchelistcheff , the dean of American Winemakers died in 1994.
• Louis Latour, 10th generation president of Maison Louis Latour died in 2016 at the age of 83.

January 30th - 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.

• A Parisian Ordonnance of 1330, forbade the mixing of two wines together; no wine-seller was to give a false name to a wine, or to give a wrong description of its age ; the penalty was confiscation of the wine and a fine.
• Georg Friedrich Margrave von Baden-Durlach was born in 1573.  He founded an exchange bank in Upper Baden which was supposed to organize the wine and grain trade.
• Peter II of Russia died in 1730.  One of his early governesses was the wife of a Dutch vintner.
• Salvador Dalí married Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, better known as Gala in 1934. He later created a wine book, The Wines of Gala, as well as a cookbook, The Dinners of Gala in her honor.

January 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.

• Pope Paschal II died in 1118.  During his reign he appointed a Bishop to oversee the territories of Greenland and Vinland (Newfoundland)
• Jefferson Davis resigned from the United States Senate.  A step before becoming the President of the Confederacy.  He was a participant in the  West Point Eggnog riot.  He escaped punishment.
• Thomas Munson, the American horticulturist who's work with grape rootstock led to phylloxera-resistant stocks died in 1913
• It is the feast day of St. Agnes of Rome.  She is the patron saint of crops and gardeners as well as Girl Scouts.
• Happy Babinden!  This Russian, Bulgarian and Serbian holiday celebrates midwifery and includes Young Mother’s Feast which includes grilled chicken and wine.

January 8th - 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. 

• Russell de St. Maxentin of Hampshire, England was ordered to procure 40 tuns of good wine for the King’s use in 1225.
• Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Dutch-British artist was born in 1836.  Mythological elements were often depicted in his work, especially Bacchus.  Additionally, he is described as being a lover of wine, women, and parties.
• Prince Leo Galitzine founder of wine-making in Crimea died in 1916.
• The South African wine-making cooperative,Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika Bpkt was founded in 1918.

Jan 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.

• The Battle of Sluys takes place off the coast of Flanders in 1340.  The French had disrupted English shipping of wool and wine which lead to this sea battle.  The English, under Edward III won decisively with most of the French ships being destroyed or taken.
• John Cabot 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.
• Prince Leo (Lev) Galitzine founder of wine-making in Crimea was born in 1845.

June 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 Gentlemen’s Magazine of 1803 describes the Duke of Bedford’s wedding to Lady Georgiana Gordon including a description of the wedding favors (white and silver) and wine and cake at the reception.
• In a letter dated June 23, 1808, Martha Jefferson Randolph complaining about amount of wine available in the wine cellar and that Monticello had exhausted its supply of Madeira
• Russian poet Anna Akhmatova was born in 1889.  She wrote:

A land not mine, still
forever memorable,
the waters of its ocean
chill and fresh.

Sand on the bottom whiter than chalk,
and the air drunk, like wine,
late sun lays bare
the rosy limbs of the pinetrees.

Sunset in the ethereal waves:
I cannot tell if the day
is ending, or the world, or if
the secret of secrets is inside me again.

“”
A land not mine, 1964

April 5th - 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.

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• Thomas Cavendish found 300 tuns of Spanish wine buried in the sand in a bay near Valparaiso, Chilean in 1587.  Given that he was a privateer, might be an exaggeration.
• Andre Tchelistcheff , the dean of American Winemakers died in 1994.
• Louis Latour, 10th generation president of Maison Louis Latour died in 2016.

January 30th - This Date in Wine History

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The Palais du Louvre

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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.

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• A Parisian Ordonnance of 1330, forbade the mixing of two wines together; no wine-seller was to give a false name to a wine, or to give a wrong description of its age ; the penalty was confiscation of the wine and a fine.
• Peter II of Russia died in 1730.  One of his early governesses was the wife of a Dutch vintner.

January 21st - This Date in Wine History

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Bulgarian Women celebrating Babinden

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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.

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• Pope Paschal II died in 1118.  During his reign he appointed a Bishop to oversee the territories of Greenland and Vinland (Newfoundland).
• Thomas Munson, the American horticulturist who's work with grape rootstock led to phylloxera-resistant stocks died in 1913.
• Happy Babinden!  This Russian, Bulgarian and Serbian holiday celebrates midwifery and includes Young Mother’s Feast which includes grilled chicken and wine.

December 7th - This Date in Wine History

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Raise a glass to the heroes who died at Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941

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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.

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• André Tchelistcheff, the "dean of American winemakers was born in 1901.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Lower Murray" was registered in 1996. 
• California's Ramona Valley AVA was designated in 2005.
• The Texoma AVA was designated in 2005.
• Washington's Wahluke Slope AVA was designated in 2005.

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Editor's Note:  We at Qorkz honor the sacrifices of the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor.  Our CEO is a Navy vet, while my grandfather missed dying on the USS Utah by missing the ferry out to his ship. At some point today, please raise a glass and toast those who died and those who survived.  God bless America.