June 13, 839: On this day, Emperor Charles III was born who is an important figure in the history of German’s Pinot Noir. Often referred to as Charles the Fat, he ruled the Carolingian Empire from 881 to 888. Charles, a member of the Carolingian dynasty and the great-grandson of Charlemagne, was the youngest son of Louis the German and Hemma. He was the final legitimately born Carolingian emperor and the last to head a single Frankish country. In the King’s vineyard in Bodman on Lake Constance, Charles the Fat is credited with planting the first Pinot Noir vines in 884.

June 13, 1897: On this day, Maurice O’Shea was born in North Sydney, Australia. After studying at Montpellier University, and then subsequently in France, he began working at his family’s vineyard (which he named Mount Pleasant) and making small-batch vintages of wine that ended up greatly impacting the Australian wine industry. His mastery of his craft led to the inauguration of the Maurice O’Shea Award in 1990, 34 years after his death.

June 13, 1938: On this day, Laurence Graff was born. A jeweler by trade, he founded Graff Diamonds and is now a billionaire due to its success. He also is the owner of the prestigious Delaire Graff Estate, which has often been recognized in recent years as one of the highest-quality wine estates in the world.

June 13, 1974: On this day, Valeri Vladimirovich Bure was born in Moscow. He is a former professional ice hockey player who retired in 2005. He owns Bure Family Wines with his wife, actress Candace Cameron of Full House fame.

June 13, 1996: Malibu-Newton Canyon AVA was established. Malibu-Newton Canyon appellation is located at the limits of the famous malibu town, northwest of Los Angeles County. The AVA’s first vineyards after Prohibition were planted by George Rosenthal. Today, the AVA is identified by the Character-setting Rosenthal Estate winery. Besides, the AVA’s terroir identifies with Newton Canyon, which binds its microclimates. The AVA plants several Bordeaux-style blends, and its key varietals are Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay.

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