Valentines Day is quickly approaching and for those looking for some fantastic wines, you’ve come to the right page! With so many wines in the market it can be very overwhelming for many to pick just which wines they should get. I know I am asked constantly “what wine is the best” and that really depends, which is why I love to compile a list of my favorites that I have been personally sipping for you to take with you to the wine store.

Whether you’re planning a happy hour, wine dinner, or date night for Valentines Day or Galentines Day, you’ll want to have some of these wines handy for a delicious winter experience.

Chablis for Valentines Day can be very romantic. Chablis is Chardonnay form the area of Chablis in France, incase you needed a refresher! It’s a wine with nice citrus aromas and flavors and a very striking minerality to that which is just “So Chablis”. Pair these wines with some fresh seafood, grilled oysters, or sushi for the ultimate date night! I decided to pick a category of white wines for this year, to mix things up a bit, plus I have really been enjoying these wines lately!

2018 William Fevre Chablis– This wine is lovely! Nice fruit flavors on the nose and palate, and that very typical Chablis Minerality we all know and love so much. Citrus and white flower notes make this wine very attractive, and ideal for appetizers and or brunch this Valentines Day. Depending where you are in the world, you can enjoy Chablis anytime of year. This wine is great for everyday drinking and also makes a great addition to a gift basket filled with goodies! $35

2018 L&C Poitout “Sycomore” Petit Chablis– This Chablis is fantastic! Mineral notes, earth and ginger make this wine very alluring on the nose following through to a palate full of freshness, and rhubarb. There’s a richness in this wine making it ideal to start a meal or enjoy in the late afternoon into early evening. The length is long and the finish is beautiful, and this wine makes for an excellent date night pick! $25

2018 Domaine Vocoret & Fils Chablis– A chablis from a family owned winery in which their goal is to make wines “that show the fresh, crisp minerality of Chablis.”- Vocoret. A wine from one of the best Chablis sites, which many consider to be as quality driven as premier cru. This wine has ample freshness and delicious fruit forward notes followed by a lovely finish that’s ideal with many types of cuisine. If you’re staying in and ordering takeout, this wine would be lovely with Thai for a playful pairing, as well as French cuisine for a classic but delicious pairing of course! $25

2018 Julien Brocard, Vigne De La Boissonneuse Chablis– A fun biodynamic Chablis that also has an attractive richness about it, along with that famed minerality from the region. It’s a beautiful and elegant wine, with full body and fruit, plenty of layers, and some floral notes in the finish. This wine is from a single vineyard with 25+ year old vines, and boasts lovely lemon and honey notes. All in all, this is a very romantic wine that is ideal for Valentines Day! $49

Rosé is ideal for Valentines Day so it’s no wonder I had to put in a few of my favorites I have been sipping on this season. These wines are ideal with a cheese and charcuterie board, and for the ultimate V-Day date night, you and your special someone could have a lot of fun building one together with all of your favorite ingredients!

2019 Billsboro Rosé of Pinot Noir– A beautiful wine from the Finger Lakes, in NY! It’s really a fun wine, with layers of complexity and fresh fruit forward notes influenced by the slate infused hillsides of the Sawmill Creek Vineyards. This winery is at the tip of Seneca Lake, in this famed area and uses sustainable vilification practices. I had the pleasure of trying a few wines from this winery and have loved them all, so it was no surprise I loved this rosé and you will too!

2020 Brecon Estate Rosé– From Paso Robles California, this rosé is ideal for the upcoming holiday of love. It’s a beautiful wine with refreshing acidity, nice cherry notes, white fruit, and even some provencal like qualities to it. This is a brand new release too, which makes it ideal for the holiday because let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to drink something entirely new and embrace 2021 right? New vintage, new wines, new year! Regardless your reasons, this wine is just delicious and can easily be enjoyed with grilled bread, whipped ricotta, and or a roasted beet and buratta salad! $33

2020 Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé of Pinot Noir– A wonderful option from Sonoma-Cutrer, a famed winery in California. The new release is just wonderful and hopefully you’ll be able to find it by Valentines Day in a store near you (or online). The winery is also celebrating 40 years of quality winemaking and this wine is a perfect example of Pinot Noir Rosé from the Russian River Valley. Aromas of blueberry, citrus, and strawberry dance in the glass with a nice tanginess on the finish. It’s a very pretty wine that can be enjoyed over Valentines Day brunch or lunch, and can be paired with Lobster Benedict, Belgian Waffles topped with fresh fruit and cream, or a very abundant Charcuterie Board!

Reds are essential for every season, and there are certainly ones I enjoy more in the winter than anything else. If you’re going to break out your crock pot or cast iron pan, I recommend pairing these reds with something warm and hearty, like steak or slow cooked short ribs!

2018 Brecon Estate Cabernet Franc– I have been writing about Cab Franc’s lately and it’s because I just love them so! This one is right on the list of my top favorites and is full bodied and full of nice fruit. It has nice structure, and bold fruit, alongside some forest floor like qualities. This wine is simply delicious and makes a great gift for the wine lover in your life and should be paired with a nice dinner. If I were to open this on Valentines Day (already drank mine) I would easily pair this with Ribeye or Filet Mignon with Parmesan Whipped Potatoes, and Roasted Root Vegetables. $63

2017 Cakebread Cellars Syrah– Cakebread always makes one or more of my holiday roundups because I am always bringing these wines to gatherings and celebrations. I love Cakebread wines because they’re very straightforward and delicious, and I find no matter who I am with… wine wise, they always love my picks from this winery! With that being said, this was my first time trying the Syrah and wow! Lots of beautiful blackberry, dark cocoa, and complexity in this wine. It’s really balanced, and warm, and can easily be consumed now, however would do well with some aging too. A Syrah is always a nice option for a romantic evening, and I think this would be great with something hearty such as Handmade Pasta with a Lamb Ragu, or even save this one for dessert and pair it with a Dark Chocolate Torte! $57

2017 McGuigan Cabernet Sauvignon- I was very excited about this wine, because not only of it’s price but it’s taste too. I am constantly asked “can you recommend an inexpensive red wine that’s actually good” and this one is one of them! It’s a very affordable price, and ideal for Cabernet lovers. “The Plan” Cabernet Sauvignon is from South Eastern Australia and is sourced from top quality vineyard sites in McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek, and Barossa Valley. Australian wines don’t get enough love here in the USA and I am hoping maybe this one will change your mind, so you will want to try more and more. “The Plan” is full of elegance and vibrancy, bold fruit, and that fun Australian new world flare. This wine is great to stuff into a gift basket, or even have out and pair with tons of fun takeout such as Italian and Pizza, or even Chinese! The options are endless and with a price like this, what’s not to love? $10.99

2018 Bertani Valpolicella– A perfectly romantic wine from an iconic winery! Love is always in the air, especially when it comes to drinking Italian wines. I love Italian wines, and I know many of you do, so if you’re looking for something amazing to sip on Valentines Day, this wine is one of them you’ll absolutely fall for. A wine from the Veneto, home to Romeo and Juliet and a classic expression from Valpolicella! Bertani Valpolicella is made from two local grape varieties, 80% Corvina Veronese, and 20% Rondinella, and is a vibrant and delicious wine. The Bertani family produces incredible quality wines via traditions perfected during the estate’s 150+ year history, never compromising on quality. It’s also a steal for under $20 and can easily be enjoyed with all types of cuisine including Mediterranean and even Indian! $17

2018 Jean Luc Colombo Cornas “Terres Brûlées”  Syrah– A Rhone Valley wine is another ideal option for Valentines Day. Turn up the heat this holiday with a 100% Syrah. “Terres Brûlées” means “burnt earth,” and references the long hot days in the tiny Cornas appellation which are perfectly balanced by cool nights for optimal grape development. Basically this environment gives the grapes time to develop and become ripe and delicious as well as complex. This wine is layered with complexity, dark fruit, and is just a really wonderful option for an evening in. This wine is big and rich, with a velvety mouthfeel and dark fruit and spice flavors. This wine would pair well with a cooking class, so why not take your Valentine to a virtual French cooking class, and learn something new while enjoying this wine from the comfort of your own home… at least until we can travel to the EU again! $64

2016 Salentein Numina Gran Corte– One of my favorite Argentinian wineries! I have always loved the wines of Salentein and this one is just another favorite to add to the list. The Bodegas Salentein estate is situated against the eastern slopes of the Andes. Numina Gran Corte is a blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. If you know me, you know how much I enjoy a blend, and this one is seductive and perfect for a warm winter evening. The wine will transport you here to Argentina’s Uco Valley, where the grapes are hand-harvested from some of the highest elevation vineyards on the planet. High elevation can also influence the elegance of a wine, and this perfectly balanced blend is a showstopper. Easy on the palate, it’s smooth, alluring, full of ripe purple fruit, some spice, and a lingering finish. Order in some Tapas and have yourself a delicious date night indoors. $40.99

2018 Bodegas Caro Amancaya Reserve Red Blend – “Amancaya” is the name of an elusive flower found at high altitudes in the Andes. Legend has it that if you are able to locate this flower and use it to propose to your loved one, they will surely say yes! How ideal is that to give someone for Valentines Day… right? Well besides the lovely and romantic nature of this wine, it’s also really amazing. The flowers are hard to find, but this bottle is not, so opt for this blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a balanced wine with nice cocoa, cherry, ripe red fruit, and some fig notes on the finish. It’s ideal with cheeses and grilled items, which can be a very fun and playful date idea for Valentines Day! $20.99

2019 Au Contraire Pinot Noir– A luscious and alluring Pinot Noir from Sonoma County! The Au Contraire wines are crafted for those who love classic wines, great taste, and quality. This Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is an elegant, silky, and complex wine that is a great option when you know your Valentine simply loves a delicious Pinot. I have plenty of people in my life who only drink Pinot and this wine is perfect for them. It’s straightforward and provides perfect contrast to hearty roasted meats or robust cheeses. $26.99

Happy Valentines Day to everyone! Always remember, you are loved. Please pair responsibly.