March 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.

• James VI of Scotland became James I of England and Ireland after the death of Elizabeth I in 1603.  Later in his reign James suffered from arthritis, gout and kidney stones and was described as having urine, “dark red color of Alicante wine”. (That ain’t right)

• Pieter de Hooch, a Dutch painter died in 1684.  He is known for “A Woman Drinking with Two Men” and “A Woman and Two Men in an Arbor”.

• Henry Wadsworth Longfellow died in 1882.  An American poet and educator, he is the author of “Ode to Catawba Wine”.

• The Coteaux-Varois AOC was created in 1993.  The primary grapes are Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsaut, Mourvédre, Syrah and Carignan.

• The Cour-Cheverny AOC was created in 1993. The only grape allowed for this wine is Romorantin.

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.

December 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.

• The King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce provided two casks of wine to Sir Patrick de Dunbar, Earl of March in 1310.

• Christina, Queen of Sweden was born in 1626. The celebration of her coronation included fountains filled with wine for three days in the market place.

• New Jersey ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1787.  It is home to the Central Delaware Valley, Outer Coastal Plains and Warren Hills viticultural areas.

• E.W. Hilgard of Mission San Jose found his Cinsault turbid, with a markedly aromatic bouquet, medium body, low astringency, and medium acid: slightly suspicious in quality.  He then racked and pasteurized the wine for safety.

• Diane Disney Miller, daughter of Walt and founder of Silverado Vineyards was born in 1933.

• It is the feast day of Saint Sebastian who’s skull is used as a wine cup on his feast day. The skull cap relic is located in Germany.

• James Beard award winning author of "What to Drink With What You Eat", Andrew Dornenburg was born in 1958.

• The movie, May  Wine debuted in 1991.

• Zhen Wang Huang, aka Rudy Kurniawan was convicted in 2013.  He is a wine collector who was convicted of wine fraud by buying Burgundy wine from negociants and relabelling them are more valuable wines, such as those the Domaine Romanée-Conti.

October 6th - 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.

• English Protestant martyr, Rowland Taylor was born in 1510.  He was a supporter of Lady Jane Grey who was overthrown by Mary.   He tried and found guilty of heresy for objecting to the doctrine of transubstantiation where bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.  He was burned at the stake.

• John MacCulloch, Scottish geologist and Doctor who introduced the word Malaria into the English language was born in 1773.  He was the son of a wine merchant who returned to England after the French Revolution.

• The Poissardes, also known as the Dames de la Halle forced the King and Queen to leave Versailles for Paris in 1789. These women who had arrived the previous day were said to be the vilest refuse of their sex and were drunk with wine and fury.

• Thomas Jefferson was sent a bill for Portuguese wines from Tonmo and Bocallos wine and regrets that he did not accept the Oeiras wine.  Also included fruit and almonds as gifts.

• E.R. Budden of London, received English Patent 15,790 in 1890 for an Improved Method of and Apparatus for Maturing Wines and like Beverages.

August 25th - 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.

• Pliny the Elder 1st century AD naturalist and author of the Roman encyclopedia Naturalis Historia (Natural History) that discusses viticulture methods, died in A.D. 79.
• James Douglas, Lord Douglas died in 1330.  He is known for the Douglas Larder.  Douglas troops were hidden until the local garrison left for mass on Palm Sunday.  The troops burst into the church dragged the garrison out beheaded them and burned them on the wood from destroyed wine casks.
• Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular reports that the ship Powhatan left the Port of Geneo for New York City in 1887 loaded with wine.
• It is the feast day of St. Louis IX.  He is a patron saint of distillers.

August 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 London Public Record office records receipt of delivery of 12 pipes of Canary wine at Potomac Landing in 1633.
• The Muniments of the Royal Burgh of Irvine for 1681 lists payments for 9 mutchkins of claret between Bayliffe John Mountgomrie and Edward and Robert Wallaces.
• The 1894 records of the Ohio Dairy and Food Commissioner describes the case of the State v. Casper J. Vandrau who was charged with with selling grape wine adulterated by benzoic acid.  Vandrau pled guilty.
• It is the feast day of St. Rose of Lima.  She is a patron of gardeners.  No gardens?  No wine.

August 19th - 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 Festival of Vinalia Rustica, celebrating the grape harvest was celebrated.
• Marcus Aurelius Probus who lifted the ban on vineyard planting in the Roman Empire was born in 232.
• Elizabeth Stuart was born in 1596.  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.
• Edmond James de Rothschild, father of the modern Israeli wine industry was born in 1845.
• Junta Nacional do Vinho was created in 1937.
• Southern Flinders Ranges was entered into the Register of Protected Names by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corp. in 2003.

August 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.

• Eleanor of Aquitaine became Queen of France in 1137.  Her dowry included Aquitaine including the vineyards or Bordeaux, which remained hers through the marriage and afterwards.
• Queen Anne of England, Scotland and Ireland died in 1714.  A political opponent once wrote of a statue of her, “it was fitting she was depicted with her rump to the church, gazing longingly into a wineshop”.
• Colorado was admitted to the union in 1876.  It is home to  the Grand Valley and West Elks viticultural areas.
• Germany's Qualitätswein mit Prädikat (QmP) is renamed Prädikatswein in 2007.
• There is an old French saying “S’il pleut le jour de la Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens, la vinée réduit du tiers,” or approximately “If it rains on the Festival of the Liberation of Saint Peter, the wine will be reduced by a third”.

July 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.

• Eugénie de Montijo died in 1920.  She was married to Napoleon III who was both President and Emperor of France (sadly, in that order) and was the last empress of France.  She was the grand-daughter of a Scottish wine merchant.
• Hans Irvine, Australian politician and vigneron who recommended using American rootstock to combat Phylloxera in Australia died in 1922.
• It is the feast day of St. Savin of Vienne.  There is a French saying, “Rosée du jour de Saint-Savin, est, dit-on, rosée de vin” which translates (roughly) to “Dew on Saint Savin’s day is said to be the dew of wine”.
• It is also the feast day of St. Benoît of Nursia, he is the patron of Europe, monks, scouts, architects, equestrians, machine operators, refugees and spelunkers.  Oh, and farmers.  And as we know.. No farmers?  No wine.  At one point in his life, the monks under his charge tried to poison his wine.  When the saint made the sign of the cross over his cup, the cup broke.

June 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 London magazine: Or, Gentleman’s Monthly Intelligencer includes a review for a Ridotto Al Fresco at Spring Gardens, Vaux-hall which included a “rural Scene, sacred to the God of Wine,”
• In a letter dated 1740, Thomas Gray wrote his mother about his travels in Naples and the concerns of the people about the weather which was presumed to injure their corn, wine and oil.
• Gregory Blaxland, the first exporter of Australian wine was born in 1778.
• The British government passed a temporary regulation in 1793 about the distillation of spirits made in Scotland and shipped to England and those made in England and shipped to Scotland.  Wine measures become the standard unit.

May 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.

• Anne of Denmark was coronated as Queen of the Scots in 1590.  Her marriage to James VI of later James I of England was fractious due to his drinking and adultery.
• The Pirate, Bartholomew Roberts was born in Wales in 1682.  Impressed into piracy he was elected as Captain six weeks later, after the previous captain was ambushed on the way to the fort in Príncipe to share a glass of wine with the Governor. He is said to be the model for the Dread Pirate Roberts in the Princess Bride.
• California's Merritt Island AVA was designated in 1983.
• California's Northern Sonoma AVA was designated in 1985.
• Lawrence Welk, purveyor of champagne music, died in 1992.
• Happy National Aperifif day! (established by Maison Lillet)

May 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.

• Samuel Pepys won a quart of sack (sherry) from John Creed for being able to jump over a fountain well.
• Napoleon died in 1821 in Saint Helena.  he is known for saying "Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it."
• Eugénie de Montijo was born in 1826.  She was married to Napoleon III who was both President and Emperor of France (sadly, in that order) and was the last empress of France.  She was the grand-daughter of a Scottish wine merchant.
• French Kiss a movie starring Meg Ryan and Kevin Klein about a thief who steals a diamond necklace to start his own vineyard is released in 1995.
• Happy Cinco de Derby! (It is Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby Day.

April 20th - 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.

• James Boswell reports in “The Life of Samuel Johnson, L.L. D.” that Dr. Johnson laments during his Meditations that “Good Friday, April 20, 1764.  I have made no reformation; I have lived totally useless, more sensual in thought, and more addicted to win and meat.” due to royal munificence.
• Napoleon III was born in 1808.  He was both President and Emperor of France (sadly, in that order) who was married to  Eugénie de Montijo, grand-daughter of a Scottish wine merchant.
• The Mechanics Magazine, Volume 32 indicates that William Stone of Winsley, County of Wiltshire, gentleman was granted a patent for improvements in the manufacture of wine in 1840.
• Box wine was invented by Tom Angove in 1965.
• The Coteaux-des-Baux-en-Provence AOC was created in 1995.

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.”

April 9th - 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. 

• Eleanor, became Duchess of Aquitaine in 1137. Aquitaine contained the vineyards of Bordeaux.  She would later become Queen of France and England.
• Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat was executed in 1747 for his participation in the Jacobite uprising and the Battle of Culloden.  “The British Chronologist”, describes his Lordship is having three glasses of watered wine on the morning of his execution but declined a 4th because no warm water could be found to mix with the wine.
• The Imperial Wine Company of London advertised in the April 9, 1864 issue of “The Spectator”..
• The Bramaterra DOC was created in 1979.
• The Girò di Cagliari DOC was created in 1979.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Currency Creek" was established in 2001.

March 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. 

• James VI of Scotland became James I of England and Ireland after the death of Elizabeth I in 1603.  Later in his reign James suffered from arthritis, gout and kidney stones and was described as having urine, “dark red color of Alicante wine”. (That ain’t right)
• Pieter de Hooch, a Dutch painter died in 1684.  He is known for “A Woman Drinking with Two Men” and “A Woman and Two Men in an Arbor”.
• The Coteaux-Varois AOC was created in 1993.  The primary grapes are Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsaut, Mourvédre, Syrah and Carignan.
• The Cour-Cheverny AOC was created in 1993. The only grape allowed for this wine is Romorantin.
• It is National Ag Week and Agriculture Appreciation Week.

March 12th - 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. 

• Dr. David Hosack (above), Professor of Botany and Materia Medica in Columbia College wrote a letter to Dr. James Gregory, Professor of the Practice of Physic in the University of Edinburgh on a Case of Tetanus cured by Wine, March 12, 1799.
• Isabella Beeton, author of Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management was born in 1836.  Her book included all elements of household management including, the manufacture or wine, beer, cordials and cocktails.
• Evolutionary Biologist, Francisco J. Ayala was born in 1934. He owns a vineyard in Lodi.
• Luxembourg's Marque Nationale, the appellation for the nation was instituted in 1935. 
• California's Pacheco Pass AVA was designated in 1984
• The French have a saying, « À la Saint-Grégoire, tailler sa vigne, c'est de l'or. » or “At St. Gregory's, to prune his vineyard is for gold.”

February 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.

• In 1206 King John orders Ralph the Miller to let Richard de Redvers have two tuns of wine that the king had bought.
• In 1680, the Town of Irvine payed 8 Pounds 3 shilling 8d for “8 pints of claret wine two ounces of tobacco and eight pypes” to honor Granaries sons burial day.
• Wine in the Word: An inquiry concerning the wine Christ made, the wine of the supper,etc. was an address given by Abraham Coles before the Woman's Christian temperance union of Plainfield, N. J.
• The silent film, Liebfraumilch was released in 1929.  It starred Livio Pavanelli and Henny Porten.
• The French have a saying, « À sainte Agathe va à ta vigne, si ce n'est pour y travailler, au moins pour y déjeuner. » which translates (loosely to "To St. Agatha go to your vineyard, if not to work there, at least to have lunch there.”

January 14th - 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.

• Saint Nino, Patron Saint of Georgia has her feast day. She arrived in Georgia after fleeing Cappadocia bearing a cross of vinewood and bound with her hair.
• The Council of Troye approves the creation of the Knights Templar in 1129. The Knights grew wealthy by purchasing land and vineyards through out the Christian world (including the entire island of Cyprus) by protecting pilgrims to the Holy Land.
• Napoleon III died in 1873.  He was both President and Emperor of France (sadly, in that order) who was married to  Eugénie de Montijo, grand-daughter of a Scottish wine merchant.
• California Grape Grower printed a letter dated 1922 from W.H. Harrison rebutted the assertion that Black Hamburg grapes were the most common variety grown in British hothouses.

December 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.

• The King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce provided two casks of wine to Sir Patrick de Dunbar, Earl of March in 1310.
• Christina, Queen of Sweden was born in 1626. The celebration of her coronation included fountains filled with wine for three days in the marketplace.
• E.W. Hilgard of Mission San Jose found his Cinsaut turbid, with a markedly aromatic bouquet, medium body, low astringency, and medium acid: slightly suspicious in quality.  He then racked and pasteurized the wine for safety.
• James Beard award-winning author of "What to Drink With What You Eat", Andrew Dornenburg was born in 1958.
• The movie, May Wine debuted in 1991.
• It is the feast day of Saint Sebastian who’s skull is used as a wine cup on his feast day. The skull cap relic is located in Germany.