Valentines Day is right around the corner and if you’re planning the ultimate romantic night in, these wines are a must! Whether it’s a Galentines Day Celebration or a night in with your love, wine is essential if you enjoy it. I know after going out last year for Valentines Day and having the worst experience, I am officially done with going out to a restaurant on this day and have decided to bring the restaurant to my NYC apartment. I will be making a 3 course meal for my husband and I, and we will be pairing some of these lovely wines!

The reason is, not only does he love when I cook, but last year I took a recommendation for a restaurant that promised an “outdoor heated garden” and we sat in a cement backyard with a tent, surrounded by faux Home Depot “out of season” plants surrounding us, with 1 heat lamp for 20 people. My duck was raw, and to top it off they brought a welcome drink that could not be substituted with whipped cream on top; it was at that moment I lost it. I did not lose it on my server don’t worry, I just lost my passion for going out and giving myself a night off from cooking.

This year if you’re looking for some fantastic wines to pair with your Valentines Day, look no further because below are the best within varying price points, while keeping some fun pairings in mind to inspire you!

Sparkling Wines

2020 Troon Pét tanNat- This one is for the wine lover who dares to drink a little different! This one is a distinctive pét nat crafted exclusively from their Estate Tannat. Tannat is a grape and this naturally bottle-fermented sparkling wine is made in the extra dry style, essentially it’s the driest of the dry! Richly flavored and intriguing it’s a wine with a lot of layers and complexity with a rustic charm that’s just perfect for an aperitif. It’s uniqueness is what is captivating and the lingering finish makes you want for another sip or a nice taste pairing wise. I like this wine with something like a Sake Washed Cave Cheese (Wegman’s has them) or maybe something like Hot Dogs in Puff Pastry; something delicious and also unique. $35

Ruffino Organic Prosecco- Bright straw color with fine bubbles, this wine is fragrant with white flowers and orchard fruits like apples and pears. It’s crisp and clean, and really elegant with some peaches and flowers following though to the palate. This wine is ideal for greeting your gal pals or your love at the door, nothing says “come on in and celebrate” like a glass of bubbly and this organic Prosecco is ideal for the occasion! You can pair this with cheeses and meats or even with dinner as this would go nicely with Lobster Bisque, Seafood Risotto, or even something fun and fried like Fried Chicken! $16.99

Camille Braun Brut Rosé, Crémant D’ Alsace– I had to throw a sparkling rosé in the mix because what would Valentines Day be without one? This one is superb with lovely minerality rose and red apple on the nose. It’s fresh and has a pepperiness with some tart cranberry notes making it lovely for appetizers or aperitif hour. I love wines from Alsace especially to begin a meal and this one is ideal for the occasion and any occasion for that matter. It’s bright and vibrant and has a nice refreshing finish that would easily pair with some Crispy Pork Belly, Tempura, Baked Salmon, and more. This wine is certified Organic, and the winemaking family has been producing since the 1500’s. There’s a ton of rich history with this wine, and a lot of delicious red fruit, balance, and gorgeous acidity. $24.99

Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain– This Champagne is crafted every year since 1808 when the first cuvée was created by Apolline Henriot. One year was not enough to tell people about the terroir here, so she decided to put wines in reserve each year to incorporate them into a blend for the future. What’s amazing is that all the vineyard lives are within this one bottle, and I think for a day like Valentines Day this is something purely special. Like this Champagne your love should tell a story and the Brut Souverian could be the begging to a love story for the books! It’s a blend of mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a touch of Pinot Meunier. This bottle has more than three years of aging and the complexity is like nothing you’ve ever experienced. This is a special bottle for a special occasion and why not make it Valentines Day! I know I will be opening this bottle on the 14th this month, and so should you. Most likely I am pairing mine with Poached Lobster Tail, or Sea Scallops because to be honest I am not a fan of Caviar, (I know, it’s a sin… I just can’t help it) but if you enjoy it, some Caviar on top of some potato chips would be a great pairing too! $44.99

Fun Fact About The Above Wine: ” More than 25 cru wines from the finest Champagne terroirs in Cotes des Blancs and Montagne de Reims make up the blend, together with 30% of precious reserve wines. The Brut Souverain blend also contains a small quantity of our prestige Cuve 38 Champagne. This wine, made in the style of a perpetual reserve crafted exclusively from Grand Cru chardonnay, is unique to the Champagne House and expresses its quintes- sential savoir-faire and originality.” -Champagne-henriot.com

White Wines

2018 Panthera Chardonnay – Mentioned on the blog before, this Chardonnay is just fun! The Panthera wines are from the Sonoma Coast in California and this wine inspired by the flavors at the winemakers blending table. This Chardonnay showcases the uniqueness and energy of the Russian River Valley and expresses oak and fruit; very California. This wine boasts beautiful flavors of Asian pear and golden apple that follow through with some lemon curd and a bit of creaminess from malolactic fermentation. The acidity is what I really like about this wine and makes it ideal with salads, chicken, fish, and other types of poultry. If you’re going fancy, try making Coq Au Van! $45

2020 Linganore Albariño Reserve- A bright and floral wine and one that’s great for Valentines Day. Nothing screams romance like a great wine and this white will surely impress! Want to know why? It’s a wine from Maryland! Yes, you read it right, Maryland in the USA. They started out with fruit wines and now make really nice dry wines as well as honey wines too. This was my first Maryland wine and I am impressed because this wine has all that peach and apricot and bright flowers that I love in American Albariño’s but it’s dry enough and has a nice roundness. This would pair nicely with some Asian fusion and Sushi as well as grilled fish and poultry dishes. $31.19

 

 

Drank this wine for my birthday weekend away in Woodstock, NY!

Red Wines

Coen Malbec Reserve 2019-This 100% Malbec from the Uco Valley is great for a romantic evening in! It’s a gorgeous wine and deep ruby in color with baking spice notes and layered with tobacco, fruit, and spice. It’s a great wine and has a liveliness! Lots of fruit with nicely integrated oak followed by this “old world” style taste. You can serve up some Tapas with this wine or maybe even some grilled steak, Argentinian style! If you decide to do a cheese board, I recommend chilling this wine a little which will be nice with salads or light bites and you’ll love this wine to have earlier in the evening with a slight chill. $44.99

Bella Union 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley- This one is an exquisite bottle to have when you have your best friends over. Sometimes maybe you want to invite another couple, or maybe your best friends over for this evening. If you’re breaking out this bottle, share it with people who make you happy because Bella Union means “Beautiful Union” and that’s what friendship and love should be! This wine showcases the best of Napa Valley with notes of ripe blackberry and raspberry along with layers of dark spice, chocolate and some sweet baking spice. This wine is seductive so pair it with something fabulous like Pan Seared Duck Breast with Baked Apples and Roasted Potatoes, or Classic Steak Frites! $80.00

Post & Beam 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley- Another amazing Napa Valley Cabernet but a bit more approachable price wise depending on your V-Day budget. Also delicious, because on this site we never skimp on quality, this is an awesome wine that pairs great with some good ol’ takeout! Pizza is never a bad idea, nor is Italian takeout in general. Grab yourself some meat heavy pizza like maybe a Sausage and Prosciutto Pizza because the tannins in the wine will love it, and maybe a pasta or two, and you have yourself the ultimate evening in with an incredible bottle of wine. This wine has nice baking spice aromas as well as a roundness that’s really alluring. It’s very pleasing and expresses nice toasted notes, with hints of ripe fruit and some coffee bean. I think this would be great with a Beef Wellington, but if you’re vegetarian or don’t want meat certainly a Puttanesca inspired Risotto could also work nicely! $50.00

EnRoute 2019 “Les Pommiers” Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley– I love a good Pinot Noir, especially around this holiday because I really enjoy them with earthy soups and also some chocolate! Usually hubby and I can drink about 2 bottles so I am sure a Pinot will be in the mix, most likely this one for Valentines Day! This wine is very Russian River Valley and expresses the terroir from this outstanding California region. This AVA is well-known and your guests will appreciate it’s quality and elegance. This wine offers red fruit notes as well as some crushed earth and leaves. There’s nice baking spice notes which I love from this region and a balance in this wine that’s really so pleasant. This one is a slow sipper, you can enjoy this though dinner and dessert easily! $60.00 

Lion Tamer Cabernet Sauvignon-  Sabrina and Tim Persson are the next generation of the Hess family and the stewards behind the Lions Head Collection! This is a Napa Cab I love to mention on the blog because it’s so palate pleasing to many and incredibly high quality for such a well-known winery. Rich in texture with big aromas of blackberries, black cherry and notes spice and ground coffee. In this wine there is a touch of Malbec which softens the tannins a bit giving it that smoothness that appeals to everyone! It’s a great wine with an elegantly long finish and will easily pair with Slow Roasted Short Ribs, Grilled Swordfish, or Roasted Lamb. $65

2017 Unánime Malbec- From Mascota Vineyards, this wine is a great wine if you want something a bit seductive and with some tannins. It’s a deep red wine with some hints of cherries, plums, and cooked fruit. Some toasty notes are also noticeable and attractive like hints of coconut and oak. It’s a pretty complex wine and a great price, so it’s absolutely wonderful for Valentines Day and should be on your must try list. This wine is great with all styles of cuisines, from Chinese to Indian due to its subtle sweetness, but you can also easily go bbq such as BBQ Brisket, Ribs, and or Pulled Pork, it would be absolutely delicious and quite a fun pairing! $24.99

2018 Quinta do Vesuvio Pombal do Vesuvio- Oh Portugal, how I love thee! Portuguese wines are amazing quality wines and still being sold at great prices like our Argentinian wines. I love the concentration of the wines in

Enjoyed this one with my gals for an evening of cheese and charcuterie!

Portugal especially the Douro Valley. The hot and dry conditions also make these wines wildly attractive, deep, and layered. This wine is dark and concentrated with nice vanilla, ripe fruit, and spice. I love the plum and wild berry and it makes it a great wine with game meats as well as duck. I would pair this wine with duck or lamb, but you can also easily do a charcuterie board, maybe with some duck prosciutto, truffle cheeses, and other tasty sides. $27.99

2018 Tenuta Di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG- Just a fun loving Chianti everyone should have in their cellar. This one I paired with a fun appetizer HERE on my Instagram and the wine was just divine with some baked Truffle Bombs! It’s a wine full of cherry and violet flowers with lots of spice and earth notes. There’s some nice savory notes like mushrooms too, but overall the fruit lingers through to the finish and it’s just so lovely for an evening at home. I’d pair this one with some Truffle Pizza, or some Ricotta Gnocchi with Pancetta, but if you wanted something heartier Short Ribs would also go nicely with this meal. If you’re thinking more casual, you could easily do tacos as well! $25

Now that you have fourteen wines to choose from for your Valentines Day what will you pair!? Always remember to eat what you like and drink what you love, please pair responsibly!