February 1990: In this month, the Boston Wine Expo was initiated. One of the major trade and consumer wine events in the USA is the Boston Wine Expo, held at the Seaport World Trade Center. More than 300 international wineries are represented by 1,800 distinct wine tastings at the largest wine expo in America. There are dozens of tasting seminars held over the duration of the expo. Celebrity chefs like Todd English prepare (and share) meals during the Grand Tasting that include intoxicated shrimp. There’s even a winemaker meet-and-greet where fans can shake hands with their idols and discover even more wine-related secrets.

February 2001: In this month, the Pinot Noir New Zealand festival was first held. Winemakers and lovers from all over the world travel to Wellington, New Zealand, for this festival. 100 of the best Pinot Noir producers in New Zealand participate in tastings. There are several prominent wine figures present. More than 500 people attended.

February 2007: Mendoza, Argentina’s most significant wine-producing region, is usually prone to hail in late winter, though this year’s storms were heavy. They struck some of the province’s most desirable locations and damaged vines before the grapes were fully ripe. “This year has been exceptionally challenging. Despite not being the worst year, high-quality locations had a very challenging year” says José Ortega, proprietor of the Uco Valley-based Bodega y Viedos O. Fournier. “In the previous two months, Argentina has had hundreds of storms, some of which have been in the form of hail.”

February 2007: Empire Merchants LLC was founded as a result of a merger between Peerless Importers Inc. and Charmer Industries Inc. It has since become New York City’s main wine and spirits distributor.

February 2014: In this month, the Chianti region received a brand-new top tier to their wine rating classifications. Chianti Classico Gran Selezione had more stringent rules than Chianti Classico, requiring wines to be matured for at least 30 months.

February 2016: In this month, Breakthru Beverage Group was founded. Breakthru is a relatively young firm in its current form, having emerged via a merger and acquisition that brought together the Charmer Sunbelt and Wirtz distribution companies in early 2016, along with 15 other companies they had acquired in prior years. Operating in mostly central, eastern, and southern states, Breakthru has headquarters in both New York City and Illinois.

February, annually: Shiraz grapes are harvested in Australia during this period. One of Australia’s key varietals Shiraz is cultivated in sixty out of the country’s sixty-five wine districts.

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