December 25th - This Date in Wine History

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Charles_Ier_le_Grand_ou_Charlemagne.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.

  • Charlemagne was crowned as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by Pope Leo III.  The Emperor celebrated mass where he presented the wine and his Empress the water for the Eucharist.
  • In 1213, King John of England ordered 3,000 capons, 1,000 salted eels, 400 hogs, 100 pounds of almonds and 24 casks of wine for his Christmas feast.
  • The Eggnog Riot ends at West Point in 1826.  Eggnog was often enriched with sherry, brandy, whiskey and rum at the time.
  • The Macau Wine Museum opens in 1995.
  • Merry Christmas!

December 24th - This Date in Wine History

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800px-Jacques-Louis_David_-_The_Emperor_Napoleon_in_His_Study_at_the_Tuileries_-_Google_Art_Project (1).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.

  • The Plot of the Rue Saint-Nicaise fails in 1800.  This plot was designed to kill Napoleon with a wine cask filled with explosives.
  • The Touraine AOC was created in 1939. 
  • French oenologist, Michel Rolland was born in 1947.
  • The Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence AOC was created in 1985.
  • The Egg Nog Riot begins at West Point in 1826.  Eggnog was often enriched with sherry, brandy, or whiskey and rum at the time.
  • If you celebrate Christmas, be sure to leave out treats for Santa Claus.  We suggest Syrah in lieu of milk.

November 17th - This Date in Wine History

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Ruins of Fort Buchanan 1914

Ruins of Fort Buchanan 1914

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 U.S. Army established Fort Buchanan in 1856.  The fort was created to protect the newly acquired Gadsen Purchase.  Today the land the fort is located on is part of Arizona’s Sonoita viticultural area.
  • União Vinícola da Região do Moscatel de Setúbal was created in Portugal in 1933.