March 15th - 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.

• Jan Fijt, a Flemish Baroque painter known for creepy still life of hunting dogs and dead game but also responsible for beautiful flower paintings and food still lifes  such as A Lobster in a Porcelain Dish was born in 1611.

• Theodore de Mayerne, a Swiss physician who cared for Henri IV of France, James I, Charles I and Charles II of England died in 1655 from an excess of drinking of bad wine.

• John Snow, the father of modern epidemiology, anaesthesia and hygiene who proved that the cholera outbreak in London in 1854 was associated with one water pump was born in 1813. During the 1830s he became a vegetarian and teetotaler until his health deteriorated and returned to meat and wine..

• Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820.  Vineyards in the State often make fruit, or country wine or with those of cold hard grapes.

• In the Parliamentary Debates of March 15, 1824, the Marquis of Lansdowne makes a motion to support the independence of south America by remarking that, “The time was, when Spain had the power to root up the vineyards of Mexico, that the inhabitants might rely on the mother country for wine“

• Beware the Ides of March!  Try drinking wines from Lazio, the region surrounding Rome, Greek wines that were said to be Caesar’s favorites and Beaujolais from the village of Juliénas which was named for him.

January 31st - 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 Boston Gazette in 1737 advertised that James Bowdoin had the richest good Canary wines for sale at 8 Shillings per gallon.

• Celebrating the conclusion of the American Revolution in 1778, William Ross, an Innkeeper in Lancaster, PA, hosted a party for 100, including General Mifflin, which included a cold collation, wine, punch and sweet cakes. The party lasted until 4 am on February 1st.

• The Economist reported that the UK imported 1,338,535 gallons of wine in the month ending January 31, 1875.

• Theodor Heuss, the first President of West Germany was born in Brackenheim in 1884.  Brackenheim is a the largest wine growing community in Baden-Württemberg.

• St. John Bosco died in 1888.  During his youth he worked at the vineyard of Louis Moglia to earn month for his education.

January 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.

• Francis I of France was crowned in 1515.  He undertook many construction projections, including the Chateau at Fontainebleau which included a fountain that  sprayed watered wine.

• The State of Maine in 1871 revised their weights and measures to include a bushel, half bushel, peck, half peck, ale quart, wine gallon, wine half gallon, wine quart, wine pint, wine half pint, and wine gill.

• Maria Louise Ramé died in 1908.  The grand-daughter or a wine merchant, she was an English novelist better known as Ouida.

• French Football star, David Ginola was born in 1967.  He is in partnership with the Coste Brulade co-op at Puget-Ville in the Côtes de Provence in the Coste Brulade winery.

• “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” by Marvin Gaye was the number one song in 1969.

April 22nd - 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 1670, Lord Buckhurst wrote to George Williamson asking that George Crenit be appointed as one of the Commissioners for the Wine Act.
• In 1811 Captain Russell (of the 4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment) promises the Mess on bottle of wine if Lt. Col. Durrant shall state in his letter to Capt. Junck that the Regiment is likely to remain at Ramsgate during the summer.
• Lieut. H. Neve promised the Mess two bottles of wine if the Regiment remains at Ramsgate during this summer.  These wagers are marked as paid.
• British wine writer Jancis Robinson was born in 1950.
• Lord William Howard of Naworth Castle purchased Easter wine for the communicants at Wetherall in 1626.

March 15th - 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. 

• Jan Fijt, a Flemish Baroque painter known for creepy still life of hunting dogs and dead game but also responsible for beautiful flower paintings and food still lifes such as A Lobster in a Porcelain Dish was born in 1611.
• Theodore de Mayerne, a Swiss physician who cared for Henri IV of France, James I, Charles I and Charles II of England died in 1655 from an excess of drinking of bad wine.
• John Snow, the father of modern epidemiology, anesthesia and hygiene who proved that the cholera outbreak in London in 1854 was associated with one water pump was born in 1813. During the 1830s he became a vegetarian and teetotaler until his health deteriorated and returned to meat and wine.
• Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820.  Vineyards in the State often make fruit, or country wine or with those of cold-hardy grapes.
• In the Parliamentary Debates of March 15, 1824, the Marquis of Lansdowne makes a motion to support the independence of South America by remarking that, “The time was, when Spain had the power to root up the vineyards of Mexico, that the inhabitants might rely on the mother country for wine“
• Beware the Ides of March!  Try drinking wines from Lazio, the region surrounding Rome, Greek wines that were said to be Caesar’s favorites and Beaujolais from the village of Juliénas which was named for him.

July 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.

• The Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry in the United Kingdom reports that E.R. Sudden received a patent for a method and apparatus for maturing wine and live beverages in 1890.
• The US Patent office issued a trademark for Donnelly Brothers Wines in 1913
• The Bianco Pisano di San Torpè DOC was established in 1980.  This wine comes from Pisa and have 75% Trebbiano grapes, must be 16% alcohol and be aged 4 years.

May 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.

• Samuel Pepys and Vice-Admiral John Lawson toasted to the health of King Charles II in 1660.
• The Gentleman’s Magazine in 1787 contains a description of the debate in Parliament about duties on wine.  Involved in the debate were Mr. Pitt (younger), the Chancellor of the Exchequer; Lord Mulgrave (shown above), Mr. GIlbert and Mr. Martin.
• The EST! EST!! EST! di Montefiascone DOC was created in 1966.  Legend has it that a german bishop traveling to see the pope sent his valet ahead to find the best place for wine.  When entering the town of montefiascone the bishop found the words est eat eat written on the door of San Flavianos. The bishop never left the town and is buried at that same church.

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".
• 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.

May 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.

• Arthur Wellsley, 1st Duke of Wellington was born today in 1769.  He was known by his soldiers as a man who could subsist on cold bread and meat but always drank the best wine.  Often the entire bottle with his meal.
• Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro was created in 1971.
• Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce was created in 1971.
• The Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC was created in 1971.
• The Australian Geographical Indication "Big Rivers" was registered in 1996.

April 29th - 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.

• Blanche of Burgundy, Countess of la Marche and briefly the uncrowned queen of France and Navarre died in 1326.  She and her sisters were accused of scandalous behavior such as drinking wine with knights and eventually of adultery.  For this crime she was imprisoned in the donjon of Chateau Gaillaird for 8 years until she granted her husband an annulment.
• John Adlum who is often considered the father or American viticulture and promoter and possible developer of the Catawba grape was born in 1759.
• William Pitt proposed taxing wine in a letter to the Duke of Rutland in 1786