December 29, 1961: On this day, Jeremy Oliver was born in Australia. Oliver is a wine expert and writer best known for publishing The Australian Wine Annual on his own. He has written several books, including Thirst for Knowledge, which was published in 1984. In 2005, Oliver was named the first Wine Writer of the Year by the Australian Wine Selector magazine

December 29, 1982: County of Solano Green Valley AVA was established. Southeast of the Napa Valley AVA in Solano County is where you’ll find the AVA. It boasts 800 acres of planted vineyards, and its key grapes are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah.

December 29, 2021: On this day, Ridge Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains 2011 was recognized as one of the Favorite Wines of the Year by acclaimed wine critic Eric Azimov. One of the most highly decorated wineries from the Judgement of Paris, Ridge Vineyards is particularly known for its Cabernet Sauvignon. According to their website, “Ridge is among the top 5 wineries to earn the most Top 100 awards [in Wine & Spirits] since the buying guide began in 1988.” For more on the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting, see our other posts.

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