Valentine’s Day Wine : Which wines to choose?

Valentine's day wine

Valentine’s Day is a moment to celebrate love and to show your appreciation for that special someone in your life. Celebrating Valentine’s Day with your partner or with friends? Wine is your perfect beverage of choice

Red wine or white wine is also a great gift to send to your long-distance loved one or to your crush as a surprise.

But which bottle is best for this very special evening? Valentine wines come in many colors and styles, from a wide range of winery cellars and vineyards. Just as the definition of romance varies from one person to the next, the perfect red or white wine will depend on your taste and the preferences of your Valentine.

Let’s take a look at some of our top choices for best Valentine Day wines at different price points, like a Pinot Noir or Champagne to serve with chocolate or in other food and wine pairing. Whether you prefer red, white or rose wines, we guarantee we can help you make the right choice this Valentine’s Day.

ROSÉ WINES FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

Rosé wine is not just for pool-side sipping during the summertime. This is a great style of wine to enjoy all year round and the perfect beverage to sip on Valentine’s Day. Rosé wines come in a myriad of beautiful hues, from the light pink (or “onion skin”) of Provence rosés to the dark pink of rosés from Spain. These wines reveal aromas of bright citrus fruit and red berries on the nose. Their palate offers straightforward flavors of pink grapefruit and red fruit, along with a refreshing acidity.

For those who live in a warmer climate, a fresh bottle of rosé wine is a great choice to celebrate Valentine Day with a picnic in the park or brunch in the garden. They pair well with fresh foods, like grilled meats and salads, and perform especially well in wine and cheese pairings. They are also perfectly enjoyable on their own as an aperitif.

These are some of the most approachable, considering their regular price and availability.

WHITE WINES FOR THE DAY OF LOVE

White wine is another great Valentine Day wine, and comes in a range of different styles and flavors. You cannot go wrong with a floral and honey-scented Chenin Blanc from the vineyards of the Loire Valley in France. Open a bottle of wine made of Riesling from a winery in Alsace to pair with your Valentine Day dinner, especially if you’re having oysters or sushi.

With spicy Asian cuisines like Thai noodles or Indian curry, try an off-dry Riesling from the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York. Another great wine for Valentine Day is a white wine from the Piedmont region of Italy, like a Gavi for example. With its creamy, nutty texture and delicate citrus, peach and almond aromas, this white wine is perfect for romance.

A few bottles of white wine also make for great Valentine Day gifts. They are perfect in gift baskets with some local, artisanal products like nuts, dried fruit, honey and cheeses.

RED WINES FOR THIS SPECIAL DAY

Red wine warms the palate and comforts the spirit with rich fruit flavors and smooth tannins. Red wines offer the perfect pairing with love on Valentine Day. Choose a bottle of Pinot Noir from Eola Amity Hills in Oregon’s Willamette Valley or a Pinot Noir wine from a winery in Sonoma County in California. These Pinot Noir wines offer rich aromas of cherries and strawberries. Some more Burgundy style Pinot Noir wines can reveal earthy aromas of truffles or forest floor. Pair Pinot Noir wine with a risotto made with Morel mushrooms, sprinkled with aged Parmesan cheese.

Or, share a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley or Washington State with a roast lamb recipe by Martha Stewart. You cannot go wrong with an old-vine Zinfandel from Lodi or Paso Robles, a red wine with luscious flavors of ripe black fruit and black pepper. Choose a Bordeaux-style wine or a Syrah from Santa Barbara to enjoy with a romantic movie on Netflix and a delicious dinner for two.

These are all fantastic wines for Valentine Day, to open with dinner or give as wine gifts to wine lovers.

SPARKLING WINES FOR SAINT VALENTINE'S

Sparkling wine is synonymous with celebration and the perfect Valentine Day gift. The dazzling effervescence of these bottles practically call out for romance.

Be it a bottle of affordable Prosecco from Italy or a fine Champagne from a producer like Billecart-Salmon, you simply cannot miss with a well-chilled bottle of bubbly. Its naturally high acidity and complex aromas make sparkling wine one of the best for wine and food pairing. They go with everything from seafood dishes (think lobster thermidor) to poultry and even surf and turf.

Sparkling wines are also the ideal Valentine’s Day wine gifts, especially when presented with a box of chocolates and bouquet of red roses.

DESSERT WINES FOR ROMANTIC EVENING

And finally, nothing goes better with a rich Valentine’s Day dessert than a bottle of sweet red or white wine. These are some of the best wines to sip on their own or to pair with food on Valentine’s Day

We recommend a botrytized dessert wine, like a luscious Sauternes or Tokaji Aszu, to pair with a nutty dessert like a hazelnut cream or walnut and apple tart. A sweet Riesling from Germany will add a floral and fruity flavor to mascarpone or a crème brulée. And nothing goes better with an indulgent dark chocolate mousse or chocolate tart than a bottle of Port wine from Portugal.

Red and white sweet wines and dessert wines also make for the perfect wine gift for those who love wine.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

ANY QUESTIONS? WE WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER THEM!

Are you planning an extra special Valentine’s Day surprise and need help choosing the right wine for the occasion? Do not hesitate to contact us directly. Our team of wine experts are at your disposal, ready to give you personalized recommendations with your budget and preferences in mind!

You may like

From the timeless Chardonnay to the light Pinot Noir, this food and wine pairing guide is your passport to unforgettable dining experiences with succulent chicken and poultry dishes.

1/31/2024

While this hearty poultry makes for a great club sandwich, savory soup or even meatballs, turkey no doubt shines brightest as the centerpiece of a festive Thanksgiving feast with family and friends.

2/14/2023

Somewhere between a red meat and a white meat, pork is one of the most versatile proteins in the culinary world. A “nose-to-tail” philosophy suggests that each part of the pig can be transformed into a delicious dish.

2/14/2023

More often than not, the Thanksgiving meal is a celebration of diversity – the diversity of the different dishes covering the holiday table and the diversity of the different palates of your guests sitting around it.

2/14/2023

Duck is a fascinating ingredient in that while it is technically considered a poultry, it can also be classified as a dark meat for its bloody, firm texture and gamey flavor. Duck can be prepared in a myriad of ways.

2/14/2023

Any lamb wine pairing should first and foremost consider the type of lamb in question and how it is prepared. Lamb is a flavorful meat that lends itself readily to a wide array of cooking techniques and seasonings.

2/14/2023
Join us
Subscribe to stay informed of wine news, special offers and primeurs offers
2.0.0