Top Wines for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is a day for lovers of love.

If you are among those so counted, then you probably know who Cyrano De Bergerac was (big nose), Candace Cameron Bure is (ubiquitous on the Hallmark Channel), and where Romeo and Juliet lived (Verona, Italy).

It’s less likely, but you might even know that St. Valentine of Rome (d. A.D. 269) wore an amethyst ring engraved with an image of Cupid so that Roman soldiers would recognize him and know that he had authority under Roman law to marry them.

Or, that in Medieval times, Valentines Day was counted as the first day of spring. And, the first day to begin the year’s work in the vineyard.

Courtly Love (Amour Cortois)—The Men’s View of Love

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courtly_love

It is the Age of Chivalry —the 11th and 12th centuries in the great wine growing region of Burgundy, France. Knights roam the world rescuing damsels in distress and in search of bold adventures. Burgundy is controlled by Dukes in large castles who apparently had too much time on their hands.

The idea of love then was based on St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in the Christian bible where he warns his followers—OK, I’m paraphrasing here—but basically, don’t have sex or you’re going to rot in Hell for the rest of Eternity.

The Burgundians took that to heart and elevated it to an art form. The art of Courtly Love. What is this Courtly Love you ask?

Courtly love is sexual love without sex.

And, its birthplace is in the vineyards of Burgundy, France.

First off, it’s only for the noble class who hang out in mostly empty castles. A lot of Ladies are left alone in the fireplace draft because their husbands are out on Crusade slamming the infidels upside the head with a broadsword in the Holy Land.

The supply of men is short and the powers that be decide to regulate the knights that do remain around. Troubadours and Minstrels and Poets roam the countryside going castle to castle drinking heavily and promoting a different idea about love. Over time, it starts to catch on.

Taming the Wild Man—the Woman’s View of Love

The seduction of wine and love have been intertwined as long as there have been humans to intertwine themselves.

The oldest story of love in recorded history is from the Epic of Gilgamesh around 4000-4500 years ago in Sumeria, in Mesopotamia. Women were in charge back then—it was a Goddess Culture—where I might add, the wine flowed freely.

The goddess Aruru creates Enkidu, a wild man to fight the king who is behaving badly. Enkidu is more animal than human, covered with hair—some say with a bull’s horns and a tail—who drinks at the watering hole with other wild animals.

Unfortunately, the two guys fight to a tie and they decide to become friends and ravage the countryside together. So, five of the goddesses get together and send Shamhat, a sacred prostitute from the temple to subdue him. Shamhat gets Enkidu drunk, then seduces him.

He’s never been with a human woman before. It takes a while but at the end, Enkidu has sex for the first time and promptly loses his animal characteristics—his hair, his horns, his tail— and becomes human.

Sex has transformed him.

That story is still on TV every week. The wild man (cowboy, soldier, assassin) falls in love with the girl, sleeps with her and is transformed into a domesticated, that is, safe, husband or boyfriend.

We’ll move right along, but I do feel obligated to point out that the man is the problem, wine is the answer and it’s the women who straighten things out. They are the ones that solve the problem of out of control men who are wrecking the kingdom.

Not much Courtly to that love. But it is transformative. As always, when it was all done, the men went off drinking.

Two Great Rosés for Valentine’s

Rosé is the traditional wine of Valentine’s Day. Here’s a couple to look for:

Miraval (Brad Pitt and Angela Jolie)

Miraval is good, but it’s not famous for being good, it’s famous for its famous original owners (of the brand, not the vineyards), Brad Pitt and Angela Jolie.

MIRAVAL ROSÉ

https://www.miraval.com/en/a-work-of-art/miraval-rose/

The World’s Greatest Rosé

Often called the world’s greatest rosé, Whispering Angel from Château d’Esclans in Provence, France. https://cluboenologique.com/review/best-provence-rose-wine/

Love in Verona

Juliet’s balcony (Casa de Giulietta) in Verona, Italy

“We may not know if the lovers Romeo & Juliet existed but we know the families certainly did. Montecchi & Cappelletti were feuding political families from the 1300’s.”

photo and information from https://www.classic-collection.co.uk/blog/holiday-types/luxury-city-breaks/things-to-do-in-verona/

International Wine and Spirit Competition (Verona, Italy)

The International Wine and Spirits Competition in London, England runs wine competitions all over the world. The next one is April 10-13th, in Verona, Italy:

IWSC events IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition

https://www.iwsc.net/events/

• Vinitaly 2022. Sun 10 Apr 2022 - Wed 13 Apr 2022. IWSC will be hosting a stand at Vinitaly 2022 to showcase a selection of the year's top rated wines. The International Wine & Spirit Competition Ltd Studio 208, Canalot Studios, 222 Kensal Road, London, W10 5BN, UK

https://visitawinery.org/i-wine/international-wine-spirit-competition-2022-1.html

Six top Provence Rosé wines from the IWSC

1. Château Saint-Maur Saint M Rosé 2020; Côtes De Provence

2. Vignerons de la St Baume – Rougiers Les Restanques Vertes 2020; Coteaux Varois

3. Gassier Domaine La Chautarde 2020; Coteaux Varois

4. Famille Sumeire Château Coussin César à Sumeire 2020; Côtes De Provence Sainte-Victoire

5. Château Routas Routas 2020; Coteaux Varois

6. Château La Gordonne Vérité du Terroir 2020; Côtes De Provence

from https://cluboenologique.com/review/best-provence-rose-wine/

VALENTINE’S DAY POETRY BONUS

These are some of the very first words ever written in English.

Geoffrey Chaucer was the author of Canterbury Tales and the “Father of English Poetry”. Chaucer wrote in English at a time the languages of England were still French and Latin.

Parliament of Fowls (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer, , circa 1340-1400 A. D.

Original Old English

"For this was on seynt Valentynes day

Whan every foul cometh there to chese his make

Of every kynde that men thynke may

And that so huge a noyse gan they make

That erthe, and eyr, and tre, and every lake

So ful was, that unethe was there space

For me to stonde, so ful was al the place

Modern English

"For this was on Saint Valentine's Day

When every bird comes there to choose his match

Of every kind that men may think of

And that so huge a noise they began to make

That earth and air and tree and every lake

Was so full, that not easily was there space

For me to stand—so full was all the place.”.