Spring Break
Taking A Shot of Love
Timothy Bleasdale
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Focus
It's that time of year again - time to take another shot of love … err at love. And hopefully the question you face tonight won't be whether or not you've got a date, but rather what drink you'll pour for your lover.
For some of you the answer may be quite simple. Perhaps your guy is a beer enthusiast (here the recommended gift is a Sam Adams Seasonal Mix Pack) or maybe your lady is into fruity drinks (Smirnoff Ice offers flavors as diverse as Arctic Berry, Green Apple Bite and Pomegranate). In this case buying that special person something to show your love is fairly easy.
But let's face it, on Valentine's Day, we're looking to make a more sophisticated and refined statement of love than Messieurs Adams or Smirnoff usually afford.
When many people think of romantic drinks, they think of wine. While the reasons for this may be many, there is one good theory why wine is closely associated with romance on Valentine's Day in particular.
One of the numerous legends as to how Valentine's Day began centers on a Roman physician by the name of Valentine. Legend has it that the good Doc famously used to make his medicines more palatable by mixing them with herbs, spices, honey and, most importantly, wine. When Valentine was converted to Christianity, the story goes, he was arrested and brought before Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor himself attempted to convert Valentine back to Roman Paganism, but resisting, Valentine in turn tried to convert the Emperor. He was punished by execution, but not before he fell in love with the daughter of one of his jailers while healing her blindness. The legend has it that just before he was put to death on Feb. 14, Valentine penned one last note to his love, signing it "from your Valentine."
Besides being a tad too cute and probably not very true, this little legend is important to drink enthusiasts who claim wine as the drink of the day.
So let's talk wine. What's the most romantic of all? Champagne is the classic answer and if you're looking for something to make the occasion a little more special then this may be the way to go.
For some of you the answer may be quite simple. Perhaps your guy is a beer enthusiast (here the recommended gift is a Sam Adams Seasonal Mix Pack) or maybe your lady is into fruity drinks (Smirnoff Ice offers flavors as diverse as Arctic Berry, Green Apple Bite and Pomegranate). In this case buying that special person something to show your love is fairly easy.
But let's face it, on Valentine's Day, we're looking to make a more sophisticated and refined statement of love than Messieurs Adams or Smirnoff usually afford.
When many people think of romantic drinks, they think of wine. While the reasons for this may be many, there is one good theory why wine is closely associated with romance on Valentine's Day in particular.
One of the numerous legends as to how Valentine's Day began centers on a Roman physician by the name of Valentine. Legend has it that the good Doc famously used to make his medicines more palatable by mixing them with herbs, spices, honey and, most importantly, wine. When Valentine was converted to Christianity, the story goes, he was arrested and brought before Emperor Claudius II. The Emperor himself attempted to convert Valentine back to Roman Paganism, but resisting, Valentine in turn tried to convert the Emperor. He was punished by execution, but not before he fell in love with the daughter of one of his jailers while healing her blindness. The legend has it that just before he was put to death on Feb. 14, Valentine penned one last note to his love, signing it "from your Valentine."
Besides being a tad too cute and probably not very true, this little legend is important to drink enthusiasts who claim wine as the drink of the day.
So let's talk wine. What's the most romantic of all? Champagne is the classic answer and if you're looking for something to make the occasion a little more special then this may be the way to go.
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