June 18th - 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.

  • The Battle of Civitate took place in 1053.  A battle between the Normans and a Papal Coalition, the Pope Leo himself was taken prisoner.  He was treated as an honored (albeit a prisoner) and was continually provided bread, wine, protection and other necessities.
  • Frederick I Barbarossa crowned as Holy Roman Emperor in 1155.  He died during the third Crusade and his soldiers tried to preserve his body in a cask of vinegar.  It didn’t work.
  • The Ship La Bourgogne left Le Havre in 1887 with a shipment of wine bound for NYC.
  • Robert Mondavi was born in 1913. 
  • The Greco di Bianco DOC was created in 1980.