Medieval ‘Wine Windows’ Make A Comeback

Bella Breakdown “Social distancing” may be the year’s catchphrase, but the idea behind it dates back to the 1600s. After the Plague swept through Florence in 1634, a man named Francesco Rondinelli wrote about the ways the city was coping with being distant—one way was the tiny wine windows. The tiny wine window allowed merchants to pass vino through a small hole in the wall to avoid direct contact with clients. Fast forward to 2015, three individuals launched Associazione Buchette del Vino—also known as, the Wine Windows Association. The idea was to catalog the historical phenomenon for future generations....

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The Perfect Fall Sangria

Bella Breakdown Nothing says holiday season quite like a themed and color-appropriate cocktail. How else will we get through endless hours of small-talk? Drinks. Stressing about all of the shopping and wrapping that needs to be done? Drinks. Need no excuse? Drinks. And with all these cheers, cranberry cocktails and champagne or eggnog get quite redundant after a couple of times. To switch it up, a light and fruity fall sangria will keep you feeling good without getting overly full and keep you feeling social all evening long. The best thing about sangria is you can make a big...

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Countdown To Christmas With Some Extra Spirit

Bella Breakdown There’s something certainly nostalgic about counting down the days to Christmas. Crossing off days on the calendar, keeping up with the ABC and Hallmark movies, and of course, advent calendars. In my family, each night of December we shared the most festive part of our day before moving a star along on a giant felt Christmas tree and retrieving a Hershey’s kiss to waltz into dreams of sugar plum fairies all month long. As an adult, the countdown to Christmas can be a bit more stressful—each passing day represents another day that you couldn’t find the perfect...

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Americans Love Wine!

Bella Breakdown There are a few simple pleasures in life that seem to be enjoyed among many Americans, no matter where you come from or who you are. For example, snuggling into fresh sheets at night, enjoying happy hour with friends, going on a fancy date with one’s partner, or settling in to watch your favorite show. However, it seems as though there is one delectable treat that may stand above the rest of the simple pleasures we adults tend to enjoy: sipping a glass of wine after a long day. According to a survey taken of 2,000 Americans,...

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A DIY Alternative To The Bar Cart

Bella Breakdown Bar carts have been a booming trend in the last couple of years, with every millennial on the planet trying to get their hands on a chic accent piece to display all their liquor. While a bar cart is always a great option, those who are limited on space, or want a slightly less obtrusive structure, should consider a wall-mounted display, perfect for all those wine bottles and glasses. This sort of structure is maybe not for the DIY novice, and there will definitely be some power tools involved. But it’s also a great way to customize...

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