Saint Valentine is patron saint of lovers, beekeepers and even epileptics. Imprisoned for serving to and marrying persecuted Christians, the demise of this most misunderstood of bishops was bitter: he was, accounts recommend, stoned then decapitated outdoors Rome’s Flaminian Gate by the order of his as soon as good friend, Emperor Claudius. Minus the gore, Valentine’s Day itself was later romanticised by Geoffrey Chaucer (who was by the way gifted a gallon of wine a day by Edward III) in ‘Parlement of Foules’, which described birds gathering on ‘seynt valentynes day’ to decide on their mates.
Quick ahead to 2023, and the day remains to be marked by depictions of ‘lovebirds’. Right here is our choice of Valentine’s Day hampers – why not increase a toast to the Saint who died so you could possibly laze together with your lover over lavish liquids…
Spirit: Salcombe Rosé Sainte Marie (£99.99, Salcombe)
This double gold-garlanded pink gin (San Francisco World Spirits Competitors) takes the title not of Saint Valentine, however of Marseille’s Sainte Marie lighthouse, constructed the identical 12 months Napoleon III commissioned the 1855 Bordeaux classification. It combines strawberries with lemon verbena, orange blossom and pink peppercorns and is distilled at The Boathouse, Salcombe. Though every hamper options an ample provide of Fever-Tree tonic – in addition to copper tongs, substantial glasses and a jute bag – the gin really thrives in a raspberry-forward, very pink Clover Membership cocktail. Additional emphasising nautical connections, given the distillery is just accessible by boat, 1% from every bottle bought (together with inside reward units) goes to the Marine Conservation Society.
Cyder: Somerset Cheese & Cyder Hamper (£165, The Newt)
Though The Newt is the brainchild of the minds behind famed Cape vineyard, farm, resort and spa, Babylonstoren, the apple is the star at their massive, luxurious working property in Somerset. Betwixt Fort Cary and Bruton you will see an apple tree maze, orchards planted with over 3,000 apple timber of 70 varieties and a state-of-the-art press on the cydery, the place head cyder maker, Paul Ross and cellar grasp, Greg Carnell ferment drinks impressed by the golden age of cyder of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The true eye-opener on this generously loaded hamper is the half bottle of Eiswein-like Ice Cyder which takes 5 occasions the focus of apples to provide as a dry cyder and dovetails with the included Stilton-like Bathtub Blue natural cows’ milk cheese.
Pores and skin Contact: Chocolate & Wine Reward: Milk and Darkish Chocolate Pairing (£44.95, Cocoa Runners)
With as deep an understanding of terroir as any good wine service provider, Cocoa Runners counts no less than one former USA president amongst its common prospects who love to find its finds. In case your vinous horizons hardly ever went past placing Port or Maury with chocolate – assume once more. Therefore this orange wax capped, amber Torontel from octogenarian vines in Chile’s Loncomilla, a distant sub-region of the Maule. Having spent eight months on its skins, this tangy, tannic, bergamot scented wine dovetails sensuously with the chosen Hogarth Buttered Toast and Sea Salt bar from New Zealand.
One thing for everybody: Set the Bar Hamper – The Day Version (£110, Harvey Nichols)
Courtesy of Harvey Nichols
For pure indulgence at drinks o’clock on February 14, iconic London-based division retailer Harvey Nichols has put collectively a boozy hamper with a choice of savoury snacks to accompany your tipple. The gathering contains a bottle every of own-label Prosecco and Corbières rosé alongside The Botanist Islay dry gin – with its 22 hand-foraged botanicals – and two flavoured tonics. Introduced in a basic Harvey Nichols-branded hamper, this can be a reward positive to please the pickiest of Valentine.
Wines: Harrods Wine Celebration Hamper (£380, Harrods)
Brimming with a dozen bottles, this choice chosen by arguably the world’s most well-known division retailer should preserve love alive longer than Valentine’s Day itself. Representing Italy is the family-owned third technology Veneto vineyard, Pasqua whose Provence-style Y by 11 Minutes rosé is fashionable and restrained whereas, on the different finish of the spectrum, their luxurious although not overbearing Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore is reaped from grapes which sound like sports activities automobiles, being Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone. In the meantime, the shop itself options the restaurant, ‘Pizzeria & Pasqua’ the place you possibly can take pleasure in a Vera Pizza Napoletana washed down with Pasqua’s Romeo e Julietta Passione & Sentimento Rosso, the label of which options lovers’ graffiti from Casa Julietta.
