June 29, 1710: The Batalla de Vino also known as the Wine Battle event got underway on this day. Spain’s La Rioja, home to some of the most well-known wines in the country hosts the annual celebration. With over 40% of the region’s vineyards located there, the town of Haro is one of the most significant wine producers in the area. This makes fermented grape juice significant in this situation. So it should come as no surprise that a festival here is held every summer that includes the renowned wine fight as well as wine-drinking events and tournaments.

June 29, 1912: On in this day in 1912 Émile Peynaud was born in Madiran in the Occitan region of France near the Pyrenees. Peynaud would go on to enjoy one of the most esteemed careers in modern viticulture and oenology. He began his career at a young age working for Maison Calvet in Bordeaux, where he learned the ropes of the trade. Having completed his PhD at the University of Bordeaux in the aftermath of the Second World War he taught there for over forty years. During this time he published many acclaimed works such as Knowing and Making Wine and The Taste of Wine. He also revolutionised many aspects of viticulture and oenology, pioneering methods in areas such as malolactic fermentation and the benefits of shorter maceration of the grape and moderate pressing of the skin. Today he is acclaimed as ‘the forefather of modern oenology’, the science of winemaking. For more information, see the entry on Peynaud in Jancis Robinson’s The Oxford Companion to Wine (Third Edition, Oxford, 2006). See also Per-Henrik Mansson’s article ‘Émile Peynaud, who influenced winemaking around the world, dies at 92’, in Wine Spectator, 21 July 2004, as well as C. Parnell’s piece ‘Émile Peynaud: Man of the Year’, in Decanter (March, 1990), pp. 36–40.

June 29, 1959: Louise Rossi Endowed Chair and professor in Viticulture and Enology Dr. Andrew Walker was born on this day. Without a question, one of the geneticists in the country who is held in the highest regard is Dr. Andrew Walker. He has had a huge influence on the business by creating new grape types that are resistant to Pierce disease, which costs California grape producers $100 million each year, and by mentoring many people who work in the industry as well as in academic institutions.

June 29, 1984: On this day, The Altus AVA was founded in the state of Arkansas on this day. The region is on a plateau bordering the Arkansas river.

June 29, 1989: John Thull was born in Minneapolis on this day. John contributes his knowledge and experience in vineyard management and the cultivation of grapevines throughout the entirety of the breeding program’s lifecycle. This includes the execution of cross-pollinations, the stratification of seeds, the planting of greenhouse plants, the establishment of nurseries, and the care and maintenance of long-term vines. John is considered an authority in viticulture and has presented seminars on topics like pruning, pest control, and winter damage to audiences throughout the country. In 2005, John started his employment at the HRC.

June 29, 2004: Salado Creek AVA was established. Salado Creek is an AVA that consists of small vignerons, and their wine is made at contact wineries. It is located to the north of Stanislaus County. The 2490-acre AVA boasts clay and Sandy loam soils with an alluvial fan. These soils are well-drained, forcing vines to go deeper into the soils leading to concentrate flavors in wines. The Diablo Mountains protect the appellation from marine influences. Besides, its warmer climate is suitable for Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier, its key grapes.

June 29, 2004: San Bernabe AVA was established. It is one of the largest single-vineyard appellations in the United States. The 5000-acre vineyard is one of the largest in the world; it experiences cooling breezes and fog from the Pacific Ocean and boasts diverse soils. In addition, the appellation experiences diurnal temperatures leading to an extended growing season. The appellation’s key grapes are Zinfandel and Riesling. Other grapes include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lagrein, Barbera, and Malvasia.

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