Let’s be honest, Valentine’s Day out is overrated. Crowded restaurants, prix fixe menus you didn’t choose, rushed service, and wine lists that rarely excite me. I’ve tried for years. And every year, my husband and I end up saying the same thing: we should have stayed home.

At home, we cook what we love, open wines we’re genuinely excited about, linger at the table, and actually connect. No reservations. No noise. Just really good food, great wine, and time together.

So if you’re staying in this Valentine’s Day (highly recommended), here’s my curated wine guide—bottles to gift yourself and the people you love, paired with food ideas that make the night feel intentional, indulgent, and memorable.

Sparkling & Rosé: Start the Night Right

Champagne Pommery Brut Rosé

Delicately expressive with pale pink hues and fine, persistent bubbles. Aromas of small red berries lead into a supple, refined palate lifted by vibrant freshness. Elegant, charming, and beautifully balanced. This was stunning with tomato carpaccio, fresh, bright, and simple, but also paired beautifully with chocolate olive oil madeleines. A reminder that rosé Champagne can move seamlessly from savory to sweet.

You can find the curated gift set and make it the perfect Valentine’s Day gift here: HERE

Champagne Mandois Rosé

Generous aromas of ripe red fruits with refined sweetness and impressive balance. It has real presence without losing finesse, making it incredibly food-friendly. A cheeseboard is classic, but for Valentine’s Day, think lobster ravioli or grilled shrimp skewers. This wine elevates everything it touches and is beyond sensational.

Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé

Fine, even bubbles with notes of red berries and citrus. Bright, lively, and bursting with freshness—proof that Crémant can seriously overdeliver. Paired this wine with charred fennel over white bean stew with wild boar ragù and crostini. Unexpected, deeply satisfying, and one of those pairings that makes you pause mid-bite.

Báro Rosé Pet‑Nat

A fun, wild card bottle. Made from 100% Kékfrankos (Blaufränkisch), un-fined and unfiltered, no sulfur added. Bright, lively, and slightly reminiscent of a sour beer, in the best way. Muddled blackberry, raspberry, cherry, spice, and electric energy. A great bottle if you want something playful and conversation-starting. Pairing wise, it’s ideal for apps and salads, but can also stand up to slow cooked pork or even a roast chicken.

Sosie Wines First Things First Brut Nature

First Things First is an elegant, expressive Brut Nature sparkling wine that continues to impress long after it’s opened. Aromas of apricot and orange are wrapped in an inviting brioche bouquet, leading into a palate where ripe stone fruit takes center stage. Notes of honeyed almond and marzipan add depth and texture, finishing dry, precise, and beautifully balanced. This is the kind of wine you open early in the evening and keep coming back to. It’s celebratory without being flashy, layered without being heavy, perfect for lingering conversations, small plates, and setting the tone for the night.

Red Wines Worth Staying In For

Loveblock Pinot Noir

From the family-owned Someone’s Darling vineyard in Central Otago, now in conversion to organics. Fleshy black plum, cherry, sweet berries, violet, and savory undertones. This is Pinot with depth and soul. Dry tannins and subtle cigar notes make it incredibly versatile. Pair this with Valentine’s steak night, roasted turkey, chicken, or even a beautifully seasoned roast. It’s a wine that goes with a lot of different dishes, so should you be ordering take out, this is absolutely a bottle that will work well.

Rosso di Montalcino Il Poggione 2022

A younger, more approachable expression of Brunello, but already stunning. Made entirely from Sangiovese, aged in large casks and barriques to soften tannins while building complexity. This one grew over time, so decanting can be a fun option for enjoyment. This wine will pair with short ribs with mashed potatoes, or a perfectly cooked ribeye. This wine delivers comfort and elegance in the same glass.

Yacoubian‑Hobbs Areni

Silky, seductive, and deeply impressive. Luscious fruit, beautiful spice, and remarkably smooth tannins with real structure. This wine surprised me enough to mention twice. If you want something unique that still feels luxurious, this is it, and it’s available in Tennessee. I paired this in my last post with beef, and it’s a perfect red meat wine from burgers to fillet, this wine totally fits the bill for it all.

Whites Worth Opening

Bernardus Ingrid’s Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

A Burgundian-style Chardonnay from a vineyard planted directly in front of Bernardus Lodge. Fermented and aged in French oak with full malolactic fermentation. Ripe tropical fruit, honeysuckle, white fruits, and ginger cookie spice are intertwined throughout this wine. It’s rich, layered, and beautifully balanced. It can pair perfectly with lobster bisque, burrata with bread and olive oil, baked brie, or tuna tartare with avocado.

Jean‑Maurice Raffault Chinon Blanc 2023

A rare Chenin Blanc, only 2% of Chinon’s production. Fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel, offering precision and purity. This wine is full of citrus, honey, white fruits, and chalky freshness. It’s elegant and quietly complex with just the right amount of acidity and balance for something so rare and delightful. I was so happy to be sent this, it’s not often you get sent a stunning wine like this from Loire, and you best believe this is on my top picks for Valentines Day paired with buttered scallops, or even crab pasta…. still deciding, but the wine will help me make the best decision, I am sure.

Avaline Organic White

Bright, refreshing, and easy to drink. A great bottle to sip while cooking, and versatile enough to use in the kitchen too. This is a wine from Spain so think bright Spanish white varietals that sing with a lot of cuisines and more. This wine is ideal for casual Valentine’s nights or Galentine’s Day with friends. Either way, when you open it, everyone will be happy you did!

Valentine’s Day doesn’t need reservations to feel special. Sometimes the most romantic choice is staying in—opening wines you actually love, cooking with intention, and creating space to enjoy each other.

Good wine helps. The right wine makes it unforgettable. Always remember eat what you like and drink what you love. Please pair responsibly!