July 14, 1633: On this day, Dolcetto wine was discovered. It is a grape variety that may be found growing in Piedmont alongside Barbera and Nebbiolo, with minor plantings in other regions. The Dolcetto grape has an early ripening time and yields wines that are very dark in color yet have a mild acidity.

July 14, 1931: On this day, The French Government created the Institut National des Appellation d’Origines (INAO), a department inside the Ministry of Agriculture that regulates the production of wine and how it is processed.

July 14, 2005: On this day in 2005, Robert Parker was named an “Officer” in France’s Legion of Honor, an exceptionally unusual honor acknowledging his extraordinary contribution to the quality of wine writing and the education of consumers across the world about French wines.

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