July 2nd - This Date in Wine History

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Theodoor_Rombouts_-_Figures_eating_and_drinking_around_a_table.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.

  • Flemish painter, Theodoor Rombouts was born in 1637.  He created paintings such as Musical Company with Bacchus shown above.  Many of his paintings show card playing and drinking.
  • Nathaniel de Rothschild, founder of the French wine-making branch of the Rothschild family was born in 1812. 
  • The Chianti Classico DOCG designation was established in 1984.
  • The Ozark Mountain AVA was designated in 1986. 
  • California's Oakville AVA  and Rutherford AVA were designated in 1993.

Napa Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Napa Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1981. Situated on 43,000 acres, Napa Valley is home to sub-appellations Los Carneros, Howell Mountain, Wild Horse Valley, Stags Leap District, Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak, Spring Mountain District, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Chiles Valley, Yountville, Diamond Mountain District, Coombsville, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, and Calistoga. The Napa Valley floor is flanked by the Mayacamas Mountain Range on the western and northern sides the Vaca Mountains on the eastern side. The floor of the main valley gradually rises from sea level at the southern end to 362 feet above sea level at the northern end in Calistoga at the foot of Mount Saint Helena. The Oakville and Rutherford AVAs lie within a geographical area known as the Rutherford Bench in the center of the valley floor. The soil at the southern end of the valley consists mainly of sediments deposited by earlier advances and retreats of San Pablo Bay while the soil at the northern end of the valley contains a large volume of volcanic lava and ash. Several microclimates exist within the area due to various weather and geographical influences in the different sub-appellations. The open southern end of the valley floor is cooler during the growing season due to the proximity of San Pablo Bay while the sheltered, closed northern end is often much warmer. The eastern side of the valley tends to be arid because winter storms tend to drop much more precipitation on the western mountains and hills. Napa Valley is known for its world-class production of Cabernet Sauvignon but also produces Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Rutherford - Wine Region of the Day

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Rutherford gained AVA status in 1993, and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Sitting on 6,650 acres and centered on the town of Rutherford, the region is one of the most famous Cabernet Sauvignon growing regions in California. The well-drained soil of this area is composition of gravel, loam and sand with volcanic deposits. Warm summer days give way to cool evenings. An average day has a diurnal cycle of as much as 12 degrees. This fluctuation allows the fruit to ripen at a steady pace and develop good balance. The vast majority of the grapes grown here are Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are also productions of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.