December 30

December 30, 1983: Howell Mountain AVA was established, making it one of the earliest appellations in Napa Valley. At 600–2600 feet above sea level, the AVA is situated. It is therefore above the fog line and free from fog. Instead, the region gets plenty of sunlight, which is seen in the characteristics of its primary grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zinfandel. The AVA was well-known for producing Zinfandel wine before Prohibition. The 600 acres of grapes grown in the appellation have volcanic soils. Due to its altitude, the appellation receives cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean compared to high temperatures at the valley’s base.

December 30, 1984: LeBron James was born. He is a professional basketball player whose name is frequently seen in discussions regarding the greatest players of all time. James is also reportedly a wine connoisseur and drinks a glass of wine a day.

December 30, 1999: India’s Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act received presidential assent, creating the legal framework under which Indian wine and other regional products could later be registered and protected as geographical indications.For more dates in wine history, click here.

 

Hero image: Lyn Gateley / CC BY 2.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.