A Toast to Wine & Lovers.
This presentation by Heather and Barbara was all about wine, love and romance as we were two days away from St Valentines day.
Wine No 1 - Ellercombe - English Sparkling Wine
This wine is from the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range. £22 12% vol
Heather talked about; How the English celebrate St Valentines day. Heather
In modern times, St Valentine's Day is more closely associated with cards, chocolates, roses and commercial gain, but it has not always been the case. Although the story of the saint and the origins of the feast day are clouded in myth, February 14 has been celebrated in England as the day of lovers since the 14th century.
Wine No 2 - White Sauvignon Blanc 2018 – Sula Vineyards, Nashik, India
Amazon UK £12.95 12.5% vol
Barbara talked bout; The Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh, India is one of the greatest symbols of love ever built.Commissioned by Shah Jahan (5th Mughul Emperor) on the death of his favourite wife Mumtaz whom he is reputed to have loved very dearly and far more than any of his other wives. The Taj is her mausoleum. Not as old as some may think, it was completed in 1648, making it far younger than our Hampton Court which was built more than a 100 years earlier.
Wine No 3 - Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay White Wine California
Sainsbury’s £8.50 13% vol
Heather talked about; California is home to two of the most successful American industries. Wine production and Hollywood. One of the most romantic films to come out of Hollywood was premiered in 1939 and was advertised as “ The greatest love story ever told” .
Wine No 4 - Vinedos Barrihuelo Rose Rioja 2024 Spain
This wine is part of the Taste the Difference range for Sainsbury’s.
Barbara talked about; Ancient cultures were the first to use the red rose as a symbol of romantic love. In Greek myth the goddess of love, Aphrodite, rushed to help her wounded mortal lover, Adonis, when he had been gored by a wild boar. Aphrodite trod on white rose thorns in her rush to assist him and her blood turned the roses red. In Roman mythology the red rose was sacred to Venus and was used to represent desire.
Wine No 5 - 19 Crimes The Uprising Red Wine Australia
Sainsbury’s £10.75 12.5%
We have featured this range of wines previously. The 19 crimes after which the range is named were those crimes in English law for which a criminal could be sentenced to deportation.
Heather went on to talk about, Botany Bay - Henry Kable and Susannah Holmes.
You can’t have failed to notice bottles of these wines in various outlets with their iconic photographs of criminals. I have discovered that each of the photographs are genuine images of real convicts from that period. So how do we find a story of tender young love and devotion set within such an awful, degrading backdrop.
Wine No 6 - Piccini Memoro 2019 Vino Rosso De Italia
Gold medal winner in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019
Barbaras love story was about; The son of an inn keeper, Guiseppe Verdi is possibly the best known composer of romantic operas and is often referred to as the Grand Opera King. He was born in Busetto in Parma, Italy and received an education in music thanks to a local benefactor who recognised his talent at an early age. During his working life he lived in and around Milan. Most of his operas being premiered at the famous La Scala Opera House there. It wasn’t long before Verdi’s operas dominated the opera world, both in Italy and internationally.
A special note of thanks
A massive amount of work went into this presentation by Heather. Fabulous concept and executed brilliantly by Heather, Barbara and Goff. Well done, you made it such a fascinating LOVE evening.
Heather also made valentine themed jars for the tables, as if researching and preparing all the stories and buying the wines was not enough, how on earth she had time to do some stunning arts and crafts to is .....
We even had cupid himself - shooting his arrow of love. Well done Kevin....
