April 22

April 22, 1950: Jancis Robinson was born in the United Kingdom. She best known as a wine reviewer, journalist, and writer. In addition to her blog, she is a regular writer for the Financial Times’ wine column. She is a leading wine authority, an advisor to Queen Elizabeth II’s wine cellar, and the editor of The Oxford Companion to Wine. Her contributions to the industry led her to receive a Master of Wine qualification – the first one ever given to someone working outside of the wine industry. For more on Jancis Robinson, see our other posts.

April 22, 1969: The Wine & Spirit Education Trust was established. The Trust provides professionals and enthusiasts with internationally recognized education and qualifications in wines, spirits, and sake. WSET’s education is provided by accredited classroom and online providers all over the world, and all of its exams are held in person. 

April 22, 1850: The law nicknamed the Indian Indenture Act was passed. The Native Americans of California were severely deprived of the majority of their rights via the Act, which was the first piece of legislation the state ever passed. Under the law any white person could label a Native American as idle, vagabond, or drunk, entitling a marshal or sheriff to apprehend and penalize the individual. Since the majority of Native Americans were unable to pay these fees, a week’s worth of their labor was auctioned off to the bidder who offered the greatest price. The Native Americans were unable to oppose their treatment since they were also forbidden by law from testifying in court against white males. Harris Newmark, a Prussian Jew who immigrated to Los Angeles in 1853, claimed as a result that “Much of the work related with the grape business was done by Indians.” They walked nonstop from morning till night while barefoot, wearing scant clothing, pressing the juice that formed the foundations for California’s profitable wine business.

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Header image: James Emmans — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).