Sometimes your friends really know how to throw a party. The theme, the atmosphere, the people, and most importantly the fine wine served make for a party that is so memorable it will be hard to make a better one.

Create a Movie Set Cellar Room with a Barrel Table

For serious wine aficionados, there is nothing better than having a wine tasting party. The difference between ordinary wines and great wines is significant. Nevertheless, it takes the appropriate setting to have the full experience. Serving great wine is necessary at these events and having these great wine barrel tables as part of the setting adds to the overall atmosphere in a delightful way. The wine barrel tables come in two kinds. One is the full round table for the center of a room. The other is a half wine barrel table to place against a wall.

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Everyone understands that Valentine’s Day is important. Overlook the jour d’amour too many times, or fail to find a suitable Valentine’s Day gifts, and your relationship could be history.

The History of Valentine’s Day

But what about the history of the day itself? Where does it come from and why do we continue to celebrate the occasion?

Saint Valentine himself dates all the way back to Roman times, and the name appears often from the second century onwards. ‘Valentinus’ was a popular name all the way through to the eighth century, so there are plenty of theories (and myths!) as to which one inspired the events we now celebrate every February 14th.

The most likely origin lies with Saint Valentine of Rome, who legend has it defied an order from the Emperor banning marriage of young men so that they could be saved for the army. This Valentine was inspired by love over all else and continued to marry young couples, until eventually he was executed for his defiance. The date of his death, or possibly birth, is believed to inspire the mid-February celebration.

Other versions of their story have the Valentine’s celebration as a Christian attempt to claim the Pagan festival of Lupercalia, which also fell in February. While it originates in those distant early days, we have to fast forward to the Middle Ages and the poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer to find the first reliable connections with romantic love, and then to 18th century England for the tradition of exchanging Valentine’s Day Gifts. This is when flowers, love notes or cards, and sweet goods entered the occasion and form the celebration we enjoy to this day.

Nowadays Valentine’s Day is celebrated most fervently in North America, Western Europe and Australia, although recognition is also found in other countries influenced by western culture, such as Japan and South Korea. Whatever the day’s origins, it has clearly become one of the most important dates for young men to mark on the calendar!  Shop wine gifts now!

For the budding sommelier, wine connoisseur, and especially the casual enthusiast learning about wines takes time and diligence…having to sample and taste all those wines. As terrible as that may be, there’s still a lot more that goes into learning about the characteristics of wine. To fully appreciate wine one has to learn about the entire sensory experience of wine; taste, texture, aroma, and how it looks in the wine glass.

Wine Aroma Kits with Wine Essences

While most wines feature their own distinct aroma many will share common traits and some are easy to identify. If you’re looking to achieve a professional’s sophistication when it comes to knowledge of wine a wine aroma kit is a must have. This aroma kit allows you to master the skills in recognizing and evaluating wines without burning through serious dollars in actual wine bottles.

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