Wine Buying and Pairing for Valentine’s Day and Beyond

You’re asking me what’s the way to a woman’s heart? Forget flowers and candy … I’d like Pinot Noir please!

Wine is the drink of conversation. You’re usually over a glass of wine watching each other, you’re talking, it’s over an evening, it lasts a long time, just like love should.

Think about it.

You don’t give a six-pack of beer for Valentine’s Day; you give a bottle of wine and often a bottle of sparkling wine and flowers or chocolates. It’s meant to be shared. It’s meant to be savoured slowly.

But which bottle do you buy? How much should you spend?

Think of your pairing possibilities… not just the food, but also your dining companion.

Romantic Dinner for Two

Just the pop of a cork can break the mid-winter blues. Sparkling wine is a terrific wine for Valentine’s Day. As a style of wine, they’re tasty, they’re toasty, they’re refreshing and they’re very romantic.

Another ironically great choice is Pinot Noir, a wine nicknamed the “heartache grape.” This isn’t because it ruins relationships, but rather because it’s so difficult, and therefore, expensive to make. It can break the hearts of winemakers who love it.

But on the lips and tongue, it’s liquid satin.

Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir
Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

Casas del Bosque Reserva Pinot Noir
Casablanca Valley, Chile

Desserts and Wine to Die For

Chocolate is the default choice for Valentine’s Day, but what about Black Forest cake or chocolate truffles? Which wine then?

The guideline is that the wine should be sweeter than the dessert. Otherwise the wine’s going to taste bitter and dull by comparison so you need to do sweet and sweet.

For the deeply rich chocolate desserts, I recommend vintage port, a fortified wine with extra sweetness and alcoholic heft to dance with the chocolate’s sweetness and creamy richness.

For sensual dessert combinations such as chocolate-dipped strawberries and biscotti, try a light-bodied and citrus-sweet icewine.

Perfect pairing for two!