March 6, 1475: On this day, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born. Commonly referred to as Michelangelo, he is one of the most influential artists in Western history, having painted, sculpted, and designed several pieces that are among the most venerated artworks in the world. One such sculpture is of the god Bacchus (or Dionysus to the Romans), patron deity of wine, vegetation, and festivity.

March 6, 1858: On this day, the Marqués de Riscal vineyard was established in Spain. The Marqués de Riscal city of Wine is situated in Elciego in the region of Alava. It currently operates as a hotel, providing visitors with the opportunity to learn about the history of the bodega.

March 6, 1914: During this period, French vineyard owners started to blame absinthe’s popularity for the poor prices they got for their grapes. They did this because they believed absinthe drove up demand for the spirit. As a direct result of this, a movement against absinthe emerged. In 1903, the Academie de Médecine issued an order for a ban on the practice due to concerns over potential health risks. This includes what were thought to be hallucinations. Temperance organizations supported the cause. The selling of absinthe was made illegal in France in 1914 after the country gave in to pressure brought on mainly by those who owned vineyards.

March 6, 1936: On this day, the “Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia” (National Harvest Festival) occurs annually in Mendoza, Argentina. It is a massive  festival in celebration of the country’s wines and grapes, with an extraordinary event lineup including parades.

March 6, 2007: On this day, Ernest J. Gallo died. A businessman and philanthropist from America, Ernest J. Gallo, and his partners co-founded the E & J Gallo Winery. The grandparents of Gallo moved to America from Italy. Giuseppe Gallo, also known as Joseph Edward Gallo Sr., was Gallo’s father. His mother was Assunta Bianco Gallo, also known as Susie Bianco Gallo. His father was the owner of the Gallo Wine Company, a distributor of wine, together with his uncle Michael. The Biancos, on his mother’s side of the family, were vintners. In Jackson, California, and Oakland, California, Gallo’s father ran boarding houses for miners and saloons, respectively. Gallo lived in Hanford, California, with his maternal grandparents, Batista Biancos, when he was a year old. Gallo moved back in with his parents around the age of 6.

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