February 17, 1920: On this day, under the influence of Prohibition laws, a few wineries declared their sole production of sacramental wine for the Catholic church. As early as 1924, government authorities had developed a deep mistrust of sacred wine and revoked many licenses, directly responding to the industry’s explosive rise to over a million gallons in such a short period.

February 17, 1999: Chiles Valley AVA was established in 1999 and is located in the Vaca Mountain range, in the northeastern part of the valley. It is mostly shielded from the effects of the bay and experiences warmer temperatures compared to other AVAs. Chiles Valley AVA is elevated 600 – 1200 ft above sea level. During the winter, the AVA experiences cooler temperatures than other regions. Due to terroir, there are few wineries, and vineyards are larger. The key grapes grown include Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

February 17, 2006: On this day, Vinsobres AOC was certified. This French appellation in the south of Rhône prioritizes red wine mixes.

For more dates in wine history, click here.