November 16

November 16, 1862: Charles Heidsieck, the Champagne producer nicknamed “Champagne Charlie,” was released from imprisonment at Fort Jackson, Louisiana. He had been jailed by Union forces during the American Civil War on suspicion of spying, and was freed after diplomatic appeals reached President Lincoln. November 16, 2009: 228 vintage Chateau Lafite Rothschild bottles, a rare Bordeaux wine from France, were stolen, according to Hong Kong police. The collection is worth 6.8 million Hong Kong dollars ($877,000). The identical vintage bottles, all from 1982, were kept in a storeroom in the city’s New Territories, which border China. A guard was tied up and put in a chokehold after several individuals allegedly broke into the warehouse covertly. The guard then called the police. The South China Morning Post was the first publication to reveal the incident.

November 16, 2010: A bottle of 1947 Cheval Blanc was auctioned at $304,375, at the time the world record for a single bottle. The vintage is considered one of the highest-quality Bordeaux wines ever made. The Château itself has a long history of quality wine production and is currently run by the renowned Pierre Lurton.

November 16, 2021: Women-owned and purpose-driven winery Teneral Cellars just announced a collaboration with World Central Kitchen for the Peace, Love & Joy Collection. Every purchase contributes $10 to WCK Direct. This text-to-order initiative aims to address the sharp increase in food insecurity, the mounting pressure on the emergency food system, and the troubled restaurant sector. WCK delivers food to those who require it most. The Chardonnay, Grenache, and Syrah wines in the Peace, Love & Joy collection come with recipes from chef Stacey Poon-Kinney and tasting notes from master sommelier Jill Zimorski. You may join the group with the limited-edition Zinfandel and Petite Sirah blend known as The Gratitude Red Blend. Teneral Cellars donates money each quarter to a different charity with a focus on promoting social justice, empowering women, and halting climate change.

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Hero image: Benjamin Zingg, Switzerland / CC BY-SA 2.5. Source: Wikimedia Commons.