January 8, 482: On this day, Severinus of Noricum died. Saint and “Apostle to Noricum” Severinus of Noricum is well-known. He might have been born in the African Roman province or Southern Italy, according to rumors. Before his appearance in Noricum along the Danube following Attila’s death in 453, Severinus himself steadfastly declined to share his background. He did, however, make mention of his encounters with eastern desert monasticism, and his biography establishes Severinus’s relationship to Saint Anthony of Egypt.
January 8, 1883: Don Silvestre Ochagavía Errázuriz, remembered as the father of modern Chilean wine, died. After studying viticulture in France in the mid-19th century, he introduced classic French grape varieties and techniques to Chile’s Central Valley, founding Viña Ochagavía in 1851 and setting the course for the modern Chilean wine industry.
January 8, 1918: On this day, KWV Winery was founded. One of the largest in the world, the KWV cellar complex in Paarl spans over 22 hectares. With its renowned Cathedral Cellar, first-rate wines and brandies, and interesting history, KWV has become one of the most renowned wine companies in the world. This winery will leave you with a lasting remembrance of the people, tales, and goods that made it so. A variety of tasting possibilities, frequent cellar tours in both English and German, sparkling wines, natural wines, fortified wines, liqueurs, and brandies are all available at the KWV Wine Emporium.
January 8, 2009: an agreement was reached between the European Community and the Republic of Chile concerning the alteration of Appendix V to the Contract on Trade in Wines of the Joint Declaration between both the European Community and its EU members, on just one side, and the Republic of Chile, on the other. The aforementioned arrangement was written up as an exchange of letters.
January 8, 2016: Berkeley wine retailer Premier Cru filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on January 8, 2016, listing roughly $70 million in debt against about $7 million in assets.
Header image: Jakub Hałun — via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
