All You Need is Love (but a little wine wouldn't hurt)

Valentine’s Day is an unusual holiday. You have the people who think it is too commercial, the folks who aren’t currently in love and feel left out, and then you have people who want to celebrate it in a starry-eyed way.

If you want to celebrate the holiday then read on. It is time to prepare! When you think of Valentine’s Day wines, think festive sparkling wine, wines that go well with chocolate, and/or wines that have some sort of illustrative name. So here are some recommendations for you:

Wines that go well with chocolate

Bring your Valentine some nice chocolate and a good bottle of wine and you should be prepped and ready for romance. When pairing wine with chocolate you need to consider the chocolate. If you choose a dark chocolate, go with a big, bold red wine (Zinfandel, Malbec, Syrah or Grenache). The intensity of the wine will match the intensity of the chocolate and make for a great taste experience.

If you’re planning to pair with a milk chocolate consider a sweeter or softer wine. That way the wine doesn’t taste too acidic compared to the milk chocolate. A Merlot, a tawny port or other dessert wines like a Tokaji or Muscat would do the trick.

“A rose by any other name . . .”

Legend has it Cleopatra used Brachetto d'Acqui to entice her lovers. This sweet sparkling red from the Piedmont region of Italy smells like fresh strawberries on a bed of roses. Tart cranberry notes are prominent on the palate, with crisp acidity that ushers to a long, dry finish. It’s perfect for a romantic seafood dinner and chocolate dessert.

Je T Aime Brut Rose Cremant de Limoux NV is a lively, delightful sparkling wine made with Pinot Noir grapes from the Limoux region of France. “J T’Aime” is French for “I love you”.  Awwww. . . .

Primero Beso and Ultimo Beso  (available through wine.com.)  These are new wines, just launched by Scott Harvey Wines, the folks who brought you Menage a Trios, which is a different kind of Valentine’s Day altogether. But we digress. Primero Beso (“First Kiss” in Spanish) is their white blend; Ultimo Beso (“Last Kiss”) their red.

Mi Amore Cagnina Di Romagna: This Italian producer creates both a red and white blend. Their wines tend to be a bit sweet, and so are their prices. “Mi Amore” is “My Love” in Italian

Naked Wines, from Snoqualmie Winery, are for those who just want to cut to the chase. The “naked” actually refers to the organic grapes the winemakers use, but we can keep that detail to ourselves.

Be sure to check the blog often for tips, news, and ideas about our favorite beverage!

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