November 8th - This Date in Wine History

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Canyon16_Tigray_Ethiopia.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.

  • In 397 St. Martin of Tours died in Candes-Saint-Martin.  St. Martin is the patrol saint of vintners, wine growers and winemakers.

  • Baeda Maryam I, emperor of Ethiopia died in 1478.  After defeating the Dobe’a people, he declared that they should become cultivators as opposed to bandits and planted orange and lemon trees and vineyards as well as distributing bread, beer and honey wine.

  • Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern and later Queen of Prussia was born in 1715.  In his will, Frederick II of Prussia left her her normal income, plus 10,000 Thalers annually, wine, fire-wood, game and residence at the royal palace of her choice.

  • A report out of Epernay, France dated 1889 in Bonfort’s Wine & Spirit Journal indicates a rush to purchase the new champagnes.

  • California's Tracy Hills AVA was designated in 2006.

November 8th - This Date in Wine History

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Head_reliquary_Martin_Louvre_OA6459 (2).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.

  • In 397 St. Martin of Tours died in Candes-Saint-Martin.  St. Martin is the patrol saint of vintners, wine growers and winemakers.
  • Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern and later Queen of Prussia was born in 1715.  In his will, Frederick II of Prussia left her her normal income, plus 10,000 Thalers annually, wine, fire-wood, game and residence at the royal palace of her choice.
  • California's Tracy Hills AVA was designated in 2006.

Tracy Hills - Wine Region of the Day

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Tracy Hills

Tracy Hills received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Situated on 39,200 acres, Tracy Hills is located in both San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties between Tracy, Patterson and Vernalis, California. In the petition for its creation, the unique soils, microclimate, and slope were listed as distinguishing features. Initially, the proposed name for the region was Mt. Oso for the nearby Diablo Mountains peak, however, TTB felt that the petitioners didn’t meet the standard for name recognition.  The name, Tracy Hills was more readily substantiated.

The appellation is located between 100 and 500 feet in elevation and slope to the valley floor to the east. Hospital, Lone Tree, and Ingram Creeks drain out of the foothills to form an alluvial fan that creates the free-draining alluvial and colluvial soils. The Tracy Hills is located in the rain shadow of Mt. Oso which is located to the southwest of the region.  This means that they receive less rain, fog, hail or even dew.  Instead, the region is known for constant winds, sunny days, and sparse morning fog, with occasional early morning frost.

The Tracy Hills has several new wineries and a few old vineyards.  They are producing Cabernet Sauvignon,  Chardonnay, Merlot, Montepulciano, Nero d’Avola, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, and Syrah.

November 8th - This Date in Wine History

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Reliquary head of the St. Martin of Tours from the Louvre.

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 397 St. Martin of Tours died in Candes-Saint-Martin.  St. Martin is the patrol saint of vintners, wine growers and winemakers.
  • California's Tracy Hills AVA was designated in 2006.

Tracy Hills - Wine Region of the Day

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TRACY  HILLS

Tracy Hills photo by David Toomey for Qork.

Tracy Hills received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Situated on 39,200 acres, Tracy Hills is located between both San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties. The terrain in the region consists of rolling hills featuring free-draining alluvial and colluvial soils. Tracy Hills climate consists of constant winds, sunny days, and sparse morning fog, with occasional early morning frost. The region features Syrah, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tracy Hills - Wine Region Of The Day

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Tracy Hills

Tracy Hills received its designation as an AVA in 2006. Situated on 39,200 acres, Tracy Hills is located between both San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties. The terrain in the region consists of rolling hills featuring free-draining alluvial and colluvial soils. Tracy Hills climate consists of constant winds, sunny days, and sparse morning fog, with occasional early morning frost. The region features Syrah, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon.