Ah Valentine’s Day, the day for lovers, romance, cards, gifts, and chocolates. Valentine’s Day and the day before are the most sought after days for dining out. Have you tried finding an open table at a nice restaurant the day of? Probably not, because the best restaurants are booked for weeks. Yes people still go out on this media infused holiday and I can’t blame them, I love having a nice meal prepared for me! Or if you are like me you might prefer staying in. This is our usual go to, but we still make it a special occasion by planning a nicer than average meal, say scallops, lobster, or maybe homemade pasta, and will usually follow up with a nice dessert as well. Chocolate fondue perhaps?

This holiday I am actually planning and hosting a wine and chocolate pairing while also entertaining out of town guests so think the romantic date night in will need to wait a week lol.

If you do have plans for Valentine’s Day, dinner or lunch, whether out at a restaurant or staying at home, I have put together a list of the top wines to pair with your date. Everyone will find something that they will like on this list. Additionally all these wines pair with everything from steak and seafood to snacking on popcorn on the couch. Valentine’s Day may be an overly commercialized holiday but in my mind it is still nice to set aside some time to be with those that mean the most to you. Make it a wonderful day and bring along your favorite bottle to make it a more memorable moment.

Sparkling Wine

Segura Viudas Reserva Heredad Cava

Bright, crisp, with citrus and tropical fruit notes like lime and pineapple. This sparkling Cava is dry, complex, and ends with a lasting finish. Perfect for those bubble lovers out there. Great to start the date with your appetizers or light snacking on the couch.

Pairs: Soft cheese, salted appetizers (popcorn even!), light pastas, and oysters

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose

Looking to impress someone on this day or just want an excuse to try something a bit different, and hello it’s pink and sparkling! This highly rated Brut ( meaning dry) Rosè from Champagne is perfect for a romantic evening or honestly might want this one for myself lol. The lovely pink color is also ideal for the day of love and again will set the mood right for your day. Have a romantic breakfast with it! But you might not make it out afterwards haha.

Pairing: Tuna roll, pork chops, roasted duck, breakfast

White Wines

Loveblock 2019 Sauvignon Blanc

I love a well done Sauvi-B and this one says it all in the name. These grapes are certified organic and from what I understand undergo winemaking processes to make the wine more complex and achieve a great mouthfeel. Flavors and aromas include pineapple and guava with a hint of green grass making it uniquely from New Zealand. Share this Loveblock wine with your love!

Pairing: Oysters, mussels, cream sauces, and roasted chicken with herbs

Max Ferd. Richter Riesling Spätlese Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr 2018

A wine for the sweeter palate out there, or should we say just sweet enough. German Rieslings are some of my favorite wines. I love how dramatically they can differ in sweetness and while maintaining this amazing acidity. This high acid profile gives the wine structure, balance, and I like to say a strong backbone. Spatlese indicates a “late picked” but does not necessarily mean late harvest, which can indicate a dessert styled wines. These wines will be off dry to semi dry so just a hint of sweetness. To get the most out of this wine I suggest pairing it with something with a bit more heat!

Pairing: Thai curry, pate, Chinese cuisine (remember add a dash of Siracha!)

Rosè Wines

Endless Crush Pinot Noir Rosè – Inman Family

Feeling a little crush on someone? I am crushing on this wine!! This wine comes from a well regarded small winery in Sonoma County. The wine is made from organic Pinot Noir Grapes and the first vintage was made in honor of celebrating a 20th anniversary. Awh love! Share the love with this bottle of rose!

Pairing: Lunch picnic, sandwiches, olives, seafood paella

2018 Château de Manissy Cuvee Des Lys Tavel

Looking for a French Rose that won’t break the budget then look no further cause here ya go. This wine is slightly darker in style, think red cherry, with usually means more anthocyanins were extracted, which means for us wine drinkers that the wine is more concentrated in flavor. This is a new trend I am seeing in Rosè styled wines actually. Again coming from organic grapes you’ll find aromas or cherry, red raspberry, and blood orange.

Pairing: Margarita Pizza, Lobster Bisque, Shrimp Tempura, Chicken Pot Pie

Red Wines

Tablas Creek Cote de Tablas

Okay all you red winos out there. I selected these for you. First up from a great producer up in Paso Robles known for their Rhone style wine is Tablas Creek. They make several high quality red wines and for Valentine’s Day I am going with a well rounded red blend, their Cote De Tablas. This blend is made with four of their estate grown varietals, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Counoise. You’ll find hints of red fruits on this, tobacco notes, and cured meats. Perfect for your steak dinner!

Pairing: Grilled steaks, meat lasagna, french onion soup, pasta in sage butter sauce

Reckless Love

Don’t worry about this one and just enjoy the ride, or day that is. A wine for the adventurer and those just wanting to have a good time. The wine is velvety smooth with plenty of fruit characteristics with an amazing label I might add. Go on and just have some fun with this one.

Pairing: Hamburger, risotto, beef tacos, bacon

Other top picks…

Moscato d’Asti

Got a date with a sweetheart who likes it’s a little sweeter? Try and bubbly Moscato d’Asti! Not quite considered a bubbly but more of a frizzante, slightly bubbly! Moscato d’Asti is also slightly sweet but I do not find them overwhelmly at all and can be paired with multiple different foods, not just for dessert. So either start your night with this easy drinking wine or bring it around for the dessert course, this is to yummy to miss!

Pairing: Charcuterie, spicy sausage, spring rolls with chili dipping sauce, sugar cookies, white or lemon cake

Warre’s Late Bottled Vintage Port

For the more serious wine drinkers who want an after dinner drink or something to pair with dessert you must have a Port. Since its Valentine’s Day go all out and I suggest finding a Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port. These wines are made from a single vintage and must be aged minimum four years before bottling. The term Late Bottled means that they are typically bottled after the harvest of the fourth year (or up till the sixth year). This selection here has aromas of sweet ripe berries, easy tannins, and cooked plums.

Pairing: chocolate truffles, tiramisu, chocolate lava cake, dark chocolate bar with sea salt 

Happy Valentine’s Day!