1366 - Tax (ducal levy) records confirm operations of Den Hoorn (the 'Horn') brewery in university town (University of Leuven founded 1425) of Leuven, Belgium; 1708 - Sebastien Artois awarded title of Master Brewer; June 15, 1717 - Artois acquired brewery; renamed Brasseries Artois; 1926 - produced barley beer as annual special Christmas beer, named Stella (Latin for star); 1987 - second largest brewer in Belgium; merged with Brasseries Piedboeuf, largest brewer in Belgium, formed Interbrew; 2004 - merged with Cmpanhia de Bebidas das Américas (AmBev), created InBev, world's largest brewer, by volume.

1385 - Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine Winemakers Guild; 1965 - Marquis Piero Antinori (25th generation) became Managing Director (President in 1988); mid-1980s - equity position acquired by Whitbread PLC; 1992 - bought out Whitbread; 2007 -  revenues of $214 million; 27th generation.

June 1, 1495 - First written record of Scotch Whiskey appears in Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, Friar John Cor is the distiller.

1516 - German beer purity law (Reinheitsgebot); mandated that beer could contain only four ingredients: barley, yeast, hops, water; 1987 - struck down by European Union for restricting trade.

1568 - Antonio Cinzano recognized as property owner of oldest vermouth-producing house; 1757 - Cinzano family admitted to an official body of the University of Master Distillery; 1925 - red and blue logo introduced with new marketing strategy.

1691 - Joannes Nolet began distilling fine spirits in alembic copper pot still, Distilleerketel #1 (kettle) in Schiedam, Netherlands (north of Rotterdam); 1902 - opened Nolet Distillery in Baltimore, MD (lost in 1919 due to Prohibition's Volstead Act); 1983 - returned to U. S. market; 1990 - introduced Ketel One vodka; 2007 - 10th generation of management.

1695 - Petrus De Kuyper, his wife Anna Custer, maker of wooden casks for transporting Dutch gin and beer, established distillery; 1752 - Jan De Kuyper (third son) took over distillery at Schiedam (leading centre for production of Dutch gin); 1769 - Johannes and Pieter De Kuyper (grandsons) bought distillery in Rotterdam; 1920s - started distilling liqueur; 1930s - produced almost 20 varieties of liqueurs; 1934 - formed distribution agreement with National Distillers Products Corp of New York to sell products in USA, established joint production facility in New Jersey; 1986 - Jim Beam Brands Co acquired right to manufacture, market De Kuyper products in USA under perpetual agreement; 1995 - Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands bestowed title "Royal", company name changed from Johannes de Kuyper & Zoon to De Kuyper Royal Distillers; world's largest and leading producer of liqueur; 11th generation of family management.

1706 - Thomas Twining (31) began selling tea from premises on the Strand in London (had acquired Tom's Coffee House); one of the first companies to introduce tea drinking to the public; sold more dry tea than wet tea; Twinings Gunpowder Green Tea was expensive, sold for today's equivalent of more than 160 ponds for 100 grams; learned tea trade from Thomas D'Aeth, an East India Company merchant; 1749 - exporting to America; 1784 - Richard Twining, grandson, persuaded William Pitt the Younger to pass the Commutation Act, reduced taxes on tea 119% to 12.5%, effectively ended tea smuggling trade, made it more widely available to public- retained imports of tea came to 4,962,000 lbs vs. 16,307,000 lbs. in 1785 as smuggled tea was imported openly.

June 13, 1708 - Sebastian Artois awarded title of Master Brewer of Den Horen (¨the Horn¨); 1717 - acquired Debn Horen, renamed it Artois Brewery; 1926 - Stella (¨the star¨) beer introduced; 1987 - Stella Artois merged with Jean-Theodore Piedboeuf Brewery (brewed Jupiler beer), renamed Interbrew; 2004 - merged with AmBev, biggest brewer in world, by volume, renamed InBev.

March 22, 1733 - Joseph Priestly invented carbonated water (seltzer).

1734 - Jacques Fourneaux, merchant of champagne wines, established company; came to be known as Fourneaux-Forest; 1912 - Pierre-Charles Taittinger ran business involved in distribution, export of champagne with one of his brothers-in-law; 1932 - Pierre Taittinger took over Fourneaux-Forest; 1945 - François, third son of Pierre Taittinger, and two brothers, Jean and Claude, oversaw period of remarkable growth for champagne house.

1742 - Samuel Whitbread established first brewery at the Goat Brewhouse; 1750 - moved operations to eastern rim of Georgian London, established first purpose-built mass-production brewery in Britain; 1796 - first brewer to exceed annual production of 200,000 barrels; 1868 - introduced bottling, became national brand; 1948 - went public; 1995 - Whitbread Hotel Company acquired rights to Marriott brand; 2000 - sold beer company; 2001 - sold pubs, bars business; 2006 - sold 239 Pub Restaurants to M&B; agreed to sell 50% shareholding in Pizza Hut UK Ltd.; 2007 - sold TGI Friday's business; leading hospitality company, number one brands in hotels, restaurants, coffee shops.

1743 - Claude Moët, wine trader descended from old family resident in Champagne region since 14th century, founded his house in Epernay, shipped wines to Paris; 19th century - grandson, Jean-Rémy Moët expanded expanded business, opened house to foreign markets; succeeded by his son and his son-in-law, Pierre-Gabriel Chandon de Briailles; company renamed Moët & Chandon.

1749 - Giacomo Justerini arrived in London from Bologna; formed partnership with George Johnson as wine merchants; 1760 - Justerini returned to Italy, King George III bestowed first of eight Royal Warrants (8 successive monarchs) on company; 1831 - acquired by Alfred Brooks, renamed Justerini & Brooks, wine merchants and blenders; one of first London spirits merchants to buy stocks of mature malt whisky, create its own blend, named Club; June 1779 - J&B whisky range began with advertisement in Morning Post and Daily Advertiser; 1962 - merged with W. A. Gilbey Ltd., gin maker.

1749 - William Younger established William Younger Brewery in Leith, Edinburgh; 1856 - William McEwan established Fountain Brewery in village of Fountainbridge, Edinburgh; February 27, 1890 - John Barras, Jr. launched Newcastle Breweries; 1931 - William Younger merged with William McEwan, formed Scottish Brewers Ltd.; 1960 - Scottish Brewers merged with Newcastle Breweries, formed Scottish & Newcastle Breweries Ltd.

May 27, 1755 - Hans Christopher Christiansen installed first municipal water pumping plant in America at Bethlehem, PA; city supplied from a 70 foot high tank that was filled with water pumped from a spring through wooden pipes.

1759 - Arthur Guinness signed 9000-year lease on disused brewery at St James's Gate in Dublin for initial £100, annual rent of £45; decided soon after to brew variation of porter stout popular in London); 1799 - concentrate solely on production of porter; 1803 - Arthur Guinness II took over ownership, management of Brewery; 1834 - Glass Tax  repealed, GUINNESS® bottled in glass rather than stoneware; 1850 - Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness (grandson) took over Brewery; 1862 - introduced GUINNESS® beer label (buff oval label with harp and Arthur Guinness’s signature); 1868 - Edward Cecil (great grandson) took over; size of the Brewery doubled; 1876 - Harp registered as trademark; 1886 - first major brewery incorporated as public company on London Stock Exchange; largest brewery in world; 1906 - 3,240 employees (one in 30 Dubliners depend on GUINNESS® brewery for their livelihood); June 4, 1907 - Arthur Guinness Son & Co. Limd registered Guinness "Guinness's Extra Stout James's Gate Dublin Bottled By Arth  Guinness Son & Co. Limited" trademark first used March 29, 1862 (stout); 1914 - produced almost 3 million barrels; 1931 - S.S. Guinness steamship launched, first custom-built to transport GUINNESS® beer; January 15, 1935 - registered "Guinness" trademark first used January 1, 1764 (beer); 1963 - last wooden keg racked at Brewery at St. James’s Gate; metal kegs used for storing, shipping; 1976 - over 7 million glasses of GUINNESS® drunk daily; 2001 - almost 2 billion pints of GUINNESS® a year sold worldwide, over 1 million pints of GUINNESS® a day sold in Great Britain alone.

1772 - Philippe Clicquot-Muiron established Veuve clicquot; daughter-in-law, Nicole-Barbe Clicquot, built business; widowed at 27 (thus 'Veuve' Clicquot - widow Clicquot).

1777 - William Bass set up brewery in Burton-on-Trent; business thrived, developed into one of UK's leading brewers; 1876 - Bass red triangle became first trademark registered in the UK; 1961 - acquired number of well-known regional brewing companies (Mitchells & Butlers in Midlands; 1967 - merged with Charringtons in London; made Bass one of largest brewers, pub owners in UK; 1988 - acquired Holiday Inns International; 1990 - acqired North American Holiday Inn business; 1994 - launched Crowne Plaza, move into upscale hotel market; 1997 - launched new hotel brand, Staybridge Suites by Holiday Inn, entry into profitable North American upscale extended stay market; fastest brand in segment to reach 50 units in Americas; 1998 - acquired InterContinental hotel company; 2000 - acquired Southern Pacific Hotels Corporation (SPHC) in Australia, leading hotel company in Asia Pacific; sold Bass Brewers to major Belgian brewer for £2.3 billion; name changed to Six Continents PLC; April 15, 2003 - completed split of company into InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (hotels, soft drinks businesses) and Mitchells & Butlers plc (retail business); April 2005 - IHG launched Staybridge Suites UK; 2006 - signd operating joint venture with All Nippon Airways (ANA); IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan largest international hotel operator in Japan (world’s second largest hotel market).

1780 - John Jameson founded Bow Street Distillery in Dublin, Ireland; family motto: "without fear", appears on every bottle; 1820 - John Jameson & Sons second largest distiller in Ireland; 1890 - Ireland had about 90% of global export whiskey market, Jameson had about 10% share of Ireland's annual whiskey output; 1966 - John Jameson & Sons Ltd, John Power and Sons, Cork Distilleries Company merged, formed United Distillers of Ireland; soon changed name to Irish Distillers Limited;  1975 - Jameson distilled outside Ireland for first time in 200 years; 1988 - acquired by Pernod Ricard Group; 1995 - annual global sales of Jameson exceeded 10 million bottles; entered Top 100 World Spirit brands by value; 1996 - worldwide sales of Jameson reached million case mark, 2006 - Jameson sold 2 million cases worldwide

May 9, 1785 - British inventor Joseph Bramah patented beer-pump handle.

July 16, 1785 - Florens-Louis Heidsieck established wine making business in Reims, France; 1828 - business taken over by nephew, Christian Heidsieck, cousin Henri Guilaume Piper; renamed Piper-Heidsieck.

1786 - John Molson founded Molson Brewery, Canada's most successful brewer; 1788 - Brewery produced 13,932 gallons of beer; 1800 - first used glass bottles; 1816 - first partnership agreement with sons (John Jr., William, Thomas); signaled beginning of continuing family involvement in company; 1836 - approximately 60,000 gallons of beer produced; 1846 - 100,000 gallons produced; 1859 - first Molson ads; 1886 - 175-fold increase in beer volume since founding year; same profit as that sold in first year, after deduction of taxes (26 cents per gallon); 1909 - yearly production milestone of 2,000,000 gallons; 1911 - name changed to Molson's Brewery Ltd., private, limited joint-stock company; 1926 - ceased to be its own maltster; 1936 - 268,405 barrels produced; February 15, 1945 - went public; 1949 - first million barrel year (25 million gallons); 1954 - introduced "Molson Golden" beer; 1961 - $106.2 million in sales; 1962 - name changed to Molson Breweries Limited; 1973 - name changed to The Molson Companies limited; 1985 - $1.063 billion in sales; July 28, 1986 -  North America's oldest continuing brewery; 1989 - merged with Carling O'Keefe, formed  Canada's largest brewer, fifth largest brewer in North America; 1997 - with Foster's Brewing Group purchased Miller Brewing Company's 20% stake in Molson Breweries = partnership of The Molson Companies Limited (50%) and Foster's Brewing Group (50%); 1998 - purchased Foster's Brewing Group 50% stake; TMCL - 100% owner of Molson Breweries; 1999 - name changed to Molson Inc.; January 2001 - sold Montreal Canadians to Georges N. Gillett Jr., retained a 19. 9% share NHL hockey team; February 2002 - acquired Kaiser, second leading brewer in Brazil, became 13th largest brewing company in world.

November 8, 1789 - Elijah Craig, of Bourbon, KY, aged corn whiskey in new charred oak barrels, turned moonshine into Bourbon whiskey.

1795 - King Carlos IV transferred land deed to second José Cuervo, José María Guadalupe Cuervo, granted him first concession to commercially produce mezcal wine, tequila (Don Jose Antonio de Cuervo received land grant in 1758 to cultivate Agave plants in Jalisco, Mexico); 1812 - founded Fabrica La Rojena to produce Jose Cuervo Tequila, each barrel 'branded' with a crow (Cuervo in Spanish); oldest spirits distillery in Latin America; 1873 - exported to America; 1880 - bottles introduced for tequila distribution; April 10, 1934 - Ana Gonzalez Rubio (VDA. De Cuervo Trading as Jose Cuervo) registered "Jose Cuervo La Rojena Tequila" trademark first used January 1909 (brandy).

1801 - James Chivas became apprentice in William Edward's grocery store (foods, beverages, wines, spirits) in Aberdeen, Scotland; 1841 - took over business (at Edward's death) in partnership with Charles Stewart; began to bottle blends of Scotch whiskies (first brand, Royal Glen Dee); 1843 - granted Royal Warrant as "Purveyor of Groceries to Her Majesty Queen Victoria"; 1857 - partnership with Charles Stewart dissolved; established Chivas Brothers to blend whiskies (with brother, John); 1891 - Chivas Regal, flagship brand, introduced (malt scotch from Strathisla distillery); 1909 - entered American market; 1923 - named "Purveyor of Scotch Whisky to His Majesty King George V"; June 11, 1935 - Chivas Brothers registered "Chivas Regal" trademark first used in 1891 (whiskey); 1936 - registered as Chivas Brothers Ltd.; 1949 - acquired by Seagram Distillers Plc; December 19, 2001 - acquired by Pernod Ricard Group for 5.7 billion pounds.

April 5, 1806 - Isaac Quintard of Stanfield, CT, received a patent for "Cider and Bark Mills".

October 12, 1810 - Oktoberfest festival began in West Germany with  horse race in honor of marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

1813 - Joseph Noilly developed first formula for dry French vermouth; 1855 - son Louis Noilly joined son-in-law Claudius Prat to form  company that became Noilly Prat in Marseillan, aunny port in south of France on Mediterranean coast.

April 23, 1819 - Samuel Fahnestock, of Lancaster, PA, received a patent for an "Apparatus for Making Mineral Waters; soda fountain.

1819 - German chemist Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge (25) analyzed  Arabian mocha beans given by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe; isolated world's first sample of pure caffeine ( found in 63 species of plants).

1820 - John Walker (15) established small grocery store in Kilmarnock, west of Scotland; applied principles of tea blending to malt whiskies, produced Walker's Kilmarnock Whisky; 1865 - Alexander Walker (son) produced first blend (malt and grain mixed), Walker’s Old Highland; 1870 - introduced square bottle (label applied at angle of 24 degrees); 1908 - Walker's Kilmarnock Whiskies renamed Johnnie Walker Whisky; striding man logo introduced; 1933 - King George V granted Royal Warrant to company (official purveyor of whisky to the Royal Household).

1822 - John Taylor established distillery; 1863 - James Burrough, pharmacist, acquired gin & liqueur distilling firm of John Taylor & Son of Cale St., Chelsea; created Beefeaters Gin (nine botanicals, precise combination became close guarded trade secret); used image of a Yeoman Warders (of the Tower of London, serve as a bodyguard to the King or Queen of Great Britain on formal occasions) on the product, named it after their unofficial name - Beefeater (became icon of global spirits industry; 1963 - largest exporter of Gin from the UK; 1987 - James Burrough Ltd. PLC acquired by Whitbread; 1991 - acquired by Allied Domecq; only premium international dry gin distilled in London.

1824 - George Smith founded Glenlivet distillery in Speyside, Scotland to legitimize whiskey he was already making; 1880 - John Gordon Smith (son) took legal action to protect family brand, prevent other distillers from branding 'Glenlivet' name on their casks; 1884 - legal settlement determined only Smith's original single malt could be named "The Glenlivet"; number one single malt whiskey in U. S.

1827 - Jacobus, Gottlieb, Philipp Mumm, Friedrich Giesler, established P.A. Mumm et Cie. in Reims, France (initials stood for their father, Peter Arnold Mumm); 1853 - taken over by George Hermann (descendant of Mumm brothers); 1875 - introduced Cordon Rouge, red ribbon draped around neck of bottles of champagne; 1881 - first house to break into US market.

1828/1829 - Missionary Samuel Reverend Ruggles planted first coffee on Kona coast of Hawaii; arabica trees taken from cuttings planted on Oahu few years earlier; 1840 - first written mention of coffee in Kona; most of coffee grown in North, South Kona cultivated on land owned by Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate (KSBE, 1884) - leases tracts to more than 600 farmers; more than 1,200 acres of KSBE-owned land are now in Kona coffee production.

1829 - David G. Yuengling established Eagle Brewery on Centre Street in Pottsville, PA; 1873 - name changed to Yuengling Brewery.

April 3, 1829 - James Carrington, of Wallingford, CT, received a patent for the "Manufacture of Coffee Mills".

1830 - Charles Tanqueray (20), heir to three generations of Bedfordshire clergy, abandoned family profession, established small distillery in Bloomsbury district of London; 1862 - martini created; initially called "Martinez", named for traveler bound for Martinez, CA (mixed 4 parts red, sweet vermouth with one part gin, garnished with a cherry); 1868 - Charles Waugh Tanqueray (son) assumed control; 1870 - gin and tonic created; British invented tonic water, made with quinine (good tasting way to fight malaria in tropics; discovered it mixed well with gin.

1837 - John Dewar became partner in Alex MacDonald's (uncle) wine business in Perth, Scotland; renamed MacDonald and Dewar; 1846 - established his own business, among first to sell Scotch in glass bottles with his name on them; 1871 - John Alexander Dewar (son) joined business; 1879 - made partner; 1886 - brother Tommy made partner; 1891 - Andrew Carnegie ordered keg of Dewar's scotch to be sent to President Benjamin Harrison; 1899 - introduced Dewar's White Label; 1911 - created largest mechanical sign (68 feet) in Europe on Thames Embankment in London; 1925 - Dewar's Buchanan's, Johnnie Walker merged with Distillers Company Ltd. 1927 - introduced re-sealable spring cap (vs. cork); 1955 - Queen Elizabeth granted Royal Warrant; 1986 - White Label #1 blended scotch whiskey in U. S.

January 26, 1838 - Tennessee passed first Prohibition law in history of the United States; made it a misdemeanor to sell alcoholic beverages in taverns and stores.

1843 - Johann-Joseph Krug, formerly of Champagne Jacquesson & Fils, founded the Krug champagne house.

1844 - German immigrant Jacob Best and his four sons setting up a brew shop on Chestnut Hill in Milwaukee; 1862 - Captain Frederick Pabst married son Philip Best's daughter; 1864 - Pabst bought half-interest in brewing company (volume of 5,000 barrels a year); 1873 - company produced 100,000 barrels annually; Pabst was president.

1846 - Harvey Perley Hood bought milk route in Charlestown, MA; 1856 - bought farm in Derry, NH, started wholesale milk business; 1880 - Charles Harvey Hood (son) joined company, form partnership, HP Hood & Son; 1890 - incorporated as HP Hood & Sons (owned four wagons, nine horses, operated three railroad cars daily); 1900 - first ice cream produced in Hood Creamery retail stores; May 21, 1957 - registered "Hood" trademark first used in 1900 (fliid milk, fluid cream, aerated cream, egg nog, yogurt, cheese, fresh ice cream, milk sherbert, and water ice, and frozen confections in stick, sandwich, or in bar form...); 1971 - use of milk bottles discontinued; name changed to HP Hood Inc.; 1972 - first dairy to produce frozen yogurt in U.S., Frogurt (based on Bloomingdale's request for low-fat frozen dessert); 1975 - Hood Ice Cream ranked #1 in New England (according to Nielsen); 1980 - acquired by Agway, agricultural supply company, to help members of Northeast dairy cooperatives stabilize milk markets; 1991 - produced first non-dairy product (Hood Non-Dairy Country Creamer); 1993 - nation's leading producer of extended-shelf life (UHT) dairy products; 1995 - acquired by John A. Kaneb Family (third owner in 149 years); 2003 - renamed HP Hood LLC; one of largest branded dairy operators in United States; sales approximately $2.3 billion; approximately 5,000 employees.

1846 - Francesco Peroni established Birra Peroni S.p.A. in Vigevano,  Italy; 2003 - majority stake acquired by SABMiller.

1846 - Dario Telles de Menzes, Portuguese man, settled in Maranguape (state of Cear), Brazil, set up prosperous still called Ypioca, liquor produced directly from juice of first crush of sugar cane, national spirit of Brazil; second generation, led by captain Dario Borges Telles, introduced cast iron stills, processing still entirely manual; 1929 - Paulo Campos Telles, took over, introduced bottling liters with precision dropper, aging in balsamic barrels (allowed stocking for periods of over two years); 1968 - fourth generation, under Everardo Ferreira Telles, assumed control; originated new additional establishments, diversified range of products; one of most solid beverage companies in country; produced 2.5 million liters/year; 2001 - five modern industrial units produced 40 million liters/year; employed 1.200 directly, more than 20.000 indirectly; only Cachaça from Cear.

1847 - J.C. Jacobsen founded Carlsberg (named for son Carl) outside Copenhagen, Denmark; November 10, 1847 - produced first brew; 1868 - first export to Edinburgh, Scotland; 1904 - introduced Carlsberg pilsner's logo designed by Thorvald Bindesbøll; 1882 - Carl Jacobsen (son) opened brewery under name Ny (New) Carlsberg; father changed name of his brewery to Gamle (Gl., old) Carlsberg; 1906 - Ny Carlsberg, Gl. Carlsberg merged, formed Carlsberg Breweries (Carl Jacobsen, son, as Director); 1939 - 55% of all beer imported to U.K. from Carlsberg; 1970 - merged with rival Danish brewery Tuborg, formed United Breweries A/S; 1992 - merged with English brewery Tetley (became sole owner in 1997); 2001 - formed Carlsberg Breweries A/S (60% owned by Carlsberg A/S, 40% by Orkla ASA); 2004 - Carlsberg A/S acquired Orkla's share of Carlsberg Breweries.

1848 - August Krug started August Krug Brewery, hired Joseph Schlitz as an accountant; 1856 - took over management of brewery after Krug's death; 1858 - married Krug's widow, changed name to Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co.; 1976 - ranked as the No. 2 brewery in America; June 10, 1982 - acquired by Stroh Brewery Company of Detroit, MI.

May 1850 - William H. Bovee (27) hired James Folger to build The Pioneer Steam Coffee and Spice Mills on Powell Street in San Francisco; inaugurated production of coffee ready for the pot: roasted, ground, packaged in small tins, identified by Pioneer labels; 1855 - Ira Marden made partner, Folger bookkeeper; 1859 - Bovee sold his interest, Marden & Folger formed; 1865 -  bankrupt; acquired Marden interest; formed partnership with Otto Schoemann; J. A. Folger & Co. organized; 1877 - Schoemann interest acquired by employees, W. H. Lamb, August Schilling; name changed to Folger, Schilling & Co; September 1881 - Schilling withdrew, renamed J. A. Folger & Co.; 1885 - Lamb interest acquired  by Folger, became sole proprietor; 1889 - James A. Folger, II (26) became president; principal product was bulk-roasted coffee, delivered to grocery stores in sacks and drums, stored in bins to be scooped out for customer; February 1890 - business incorporated; March 7, 1922 - registered "Folgers Golden Gate" trademark first used in 1878 (coffee, tea, spices, mustard, and food-flavoring extracts); 1963 - acquired by Procter & Gamble Company; 1968 - introduced Folgers Crystals instant coffee; June 4, 2008 - acquisition by J.M. Smucker Company from Procter & Gamble for $3.3 billion announced; biggest U.S. producer of coffee.

January 31, 1851 - Gail Borden announced invention of evaporated milk (devastated to see children die aboard his steamer on return trip from England, apparently as a result of scanty milk from shipboard cows).

May 6, 1851 - Dr. John Gorrie, of New Orleans, LA, received first patent for an "Ice Machine" (a "new and useful Machine for the Artificial Production of Ice and for general Refrigeratory Purposes").

June 2, 1851 - Maine enacted first U.S. alcohol prohibition law.

1852 - Frenchman named Etienne Theé founded Almaden Vineyards; succeeded by Charles LeFranc (son-in-law); made first commercial planting of fine European wine grapes in Santa Clara County; continued by Henry LeFranc (son), Paul Masson (Henry's son-in-law); 1892 - Masson's first champagneintroduced at Almaden (eventually became known as "Champagne King of California"; 1901 - Masson start his own winery in Saratoga, CA; 1940s -Almaden introduced "blush" wine (White Grenache Rosé), first popular pink wine in United States; 1951 - merged with Madrone Vineyards, owned by Lucky Lager; control regained by Lefranc Corporations, Almaden’s original owner; 1967 - acquired by National Distributors; 1987 - acquired by Heublein; 1980s - introduced bag-in-the-box packaging; 1994 - acquired by Canandaigua Wine Company; February 28, 2008 - acquired by The Wine Group LLC from Constellation Brands.

1853 - Thomas Hardy established winery on banks of River Torrens in Adelaide, Australia; grew to become one of world's great wine companies; mid 1970s - five generations of Hardy family had guided, shaped Thomas Hardy & Sons; April 2003 - BRL Hardy Ltd. Pacific Wine Partners (50/50 joint venture of Constellation and BRL Hardy) acquired by Constellation Brands; renamed Hardy Wine Co.; 25% of domestic Australian market, exports to more than 60 countries.

1855 - Frederick John Miller bought small brewery, Plank Road Brewery, in Milwaukee, WI for $2,300; 1888 - reorganized as Frederick Miller Brewing Company; 1903 - named most popular beer, High Life (Champagne of Bottled Beer); May 1933 - renamed "Miller Brewing Company"; 1968 - country's eighth largest brewer; 1969 -  acquired by Philip Morris Corporation; July 2002 - acquired by South African Breweries, renamed SABMiller plc.

1856 - Lawyer Louis Bouloumie founded Vittel spa  in Vosges Mountains of eastern France (1854 - bought the Gérémoy Spring); 1882 - Société Générale des Eaux Minérales de Vittel formed; June 1898 - first million bottles sold; January 1951 - 100 million bottles produced; May 1968 - introduced first PVC bottle (polyvinyl chloride or plastic) aimed at mainstream consumer market; 1969 - Nestle acquired 30% stake in company (third largest mineral water company in French market); October 1990 - billionth bottle produced; Nestle bought up almost all of Vittel's remaining share capital; 2002 - Nestle consolidated bottled-water brands worldwide into single subsidiary, Nestle Waters.

August 19, 1856 - Gail Borden received patent for "Improvement in Concentration of Milk"; condensed milk; could be kept pure (not spoil) and storable without benefit of refrigeration, distributed over great distances; 1857 - began condensing operations in Burrville, CT; February 1858 - founded New York Condensed Milk Company with financing from Jeremiah Milbank; 1860 - incorporated in New  Jersey; 1899 - Borden's Condensed Milk Company incorporated in New Jersey; August 7, 1906 - registered "Borden's" trademark first used in January 1866 (condensed milk, cream and evaporated cream, and buttermilk); October  1919 - name changed to Borden Company; 1938 - began ad campaign featuring Elsie the Cow logo; 1995 - acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company.

1857 - Count Agoston Haraszthy (45), first Sheriff of San Diego County, founder of a city in Wisconsin (Sauk City), ferryboat owner and member of the Hungarian Royal Guard, founded Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, CA; planted some of the state’s first European varietals (Tokay, Zinfandel, and Shiras grape varieties); 1906 - earthquake destroyed its underground cellars; 1940 - Frank Bartholomew, former head of AP, acquired 500 acres of Sonoma land without knowing an abandoned winery came with the property; with help of Andre Tchelistcheff, considered America's most influential post-Prohibition winemaker, restored Buena Vista's vineyards, caves and winery to its original grandeur; 1981 - acquired by Moller-Racke family of Germany; 2001 - acquired by Allied-Domecq; California’s oldest premium winery.

1857 - William Hespeler, merchant, George Randall, contractor, built Granite Mills in Waterloo, ON; Waterloo Distillery - small subsidiary; 1863 - William Roos (Randall's brother-in-law) joined company; 1864 - Joseph Emm Seagram hired; 1869 - Seagram acquired Hespeler's share of company; renamed "George Randall and Company"; 1878 - Seagram bought out Randall; 1881 - name changed to "Seagram and Roos"; 1883 - bought out Roos, used names "Joseph Seagram Flour Mill and Distillery Company", "Joseph E. Seagram, Miller, Distiller"; produced 3,000 barrels of whisky per year; 1911 - incorporated, distillery’s name changed to Joseph E. Seagram and Sons Ltd. (Edward, Thomas, Joseph, Norman); 1928 - acquired by Distillers Corporation Ltd. (founded May 1924 by Samuel Bronfman), formed Distillers Corporation-Seagrams Ltd.

1857 - Castle Breweries, first brewery in India, set up in Ooty; four more breweries followed; March 15, 1915 - Thomas Leishman, Scotsman, purchased 5 breweries to form United Breweries Ltd.; 1955 - Kingfisher Lager Beer introduced.

January 5, 1858 - Ezra J. Warner, of Waterbury, CT, received patent for a "Can Opener" (a new and Useful Improvement in Instruments for Cutting Open Sealed Tin cans and Boxes"); design of a can opener (intended for grocers' use).

1862 - Jerry P. Thomas, first assistant to principal bartender at A.J. McCabe's El Dorado, gambling saloon in San Francisco, published "How To Mix Drinks or The Bon Vivant's Companion", first known published cocktail recipe book; invented cocktails.

1863 - Caleb Chase began in business as coffee roaster in Boston; 1878 - joined with James Sanborn, formed Chase & Sanborn Coffee; shifted from bulk to packaged coffee; first ground coffee to be distributed to both coasts; first to pack, ship roasted coffee in sealed cans; 1882 - sold 100.000 ponds of coffee/month; 1929 - merged with Fleischmann Company, Royal Baking Powder Company, became Standard Brands Incorporated; July 13, 1954 - Standard Brands Incorporated registered "Chase & Sanborn" trademark first used February 1, 1888 (coffee); May 1983 - filed for Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy protection; September 1984