October 2, 1951: On this day, Gordon Sumner, better known by his stage name Sting, was born. Aside from being a famous professional musician, he is the owner of il Palagio in Tuscany. When Sting and his wife “first came upon the estate in 1999, it had by that time fallen into ruin,” they claim. We started working diligently to meticulously restore the home, the outbuildings, and the grounds to their prior splendor (il Palagio website). A range of flavored honeys are also produced by the estate in addition to olive oil.

October 2, 1954: On this day, Lorraine Bracco, an American film and television actress, was born. She has achieved distinction in her acting career, earning a wide range of nominations for her role in The Sopranos. Additionally, she produces wines from several Italian wine regions under her brand Bracco Wines.

October 2, 2013: Kelsey Bench-Lake County AVA was established as a sub-appellation of the Lake County AVA. The AVA consists of well-drained clay and loam soils resulting from gravel deposits from Big Valley. Major varietals in this AVA include Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Riesling, and Viognier.

October 2, 2013: Ballard Canyon AVA was established. It forms part of the larger Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County; the AVA experiences a unique pattern of winds resulting from its north-south canyon orientation. Ballard Canyon AVA comprises 7800 acres, approximately 10 percent of the larger Santa Ynez Valley, with 550 acres of planted vines.

October 2, 2013: Moon Mountain AVA was officially recognized. Its elevation is a huge factor in the AVA’s terroir; vines are planted at 400 to 2200 feet. Growers and vintners from Moon Mountain AVA take pride in the elevation; they sometimes label it in their wines. The mountainous climate and regular breezes from the ocean allow varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel.

October 2, 2013: Big Valley District-Lake County AVA was established. It is located in Lake County, at the edge of Clear Lake and bordering Mayacamas mountain. It is one of the less hilly AVAs in the region, covering 11000 acres. Its terroir creates shorter growing periods and is suited for the Sauvignon Blanc varietal. Other varietals popular in the AVA include Riesling, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.

October 2, 2018: On this day, Amber Revolution: How the World Learned to Love Orange Wine was published. Simon J. Woolf tells the story of the peculiar historical manufacturing processes of orange wine, and its struggle to survive in an industry fixated on red and white varieties. In addition, it includes references for producers worldwide, tips on how to enjoy it, and more than 150 photographs of this amber-colored wine.

October 2, 2021: Four Italian men between the ages of 40 and 70 lost their lives while producing wine on their ancestral land. The men, Giacomo and Valerio Scofano, 70 and 50 years old, and Santino and Massimo Carnevale, 70 and 45 years old were all related and participating in an annual winemaking ritual close to the city of Paola in the southern province of Calabria. One of the victims, Valerio Scofano, was prohibited from entering the shed because he was under house arrest far away for stalking a former lover.

For more dates in wine history, click here.