WINES FOR VALENTINES
Always a dilemma. What to drink for a special occasion. So here’s my guide for choosing wine by the company you keep. Just sit back, relax, and assess the following scenarios… one will seem just right for you.
THE FIRST DATE According to E. Jean, columnist for Elle Magazine, you should never plan the “perfect” fancy romantic dinner for your first date… too much pressure to get it right. And certainly not if your first date is on Valentine’s Night! Instead keep it playful and offbeat... don’t force the occasion. Now that that’s settled, what to drink? Match the wine to the tempo of the setting whether it’s a concert, a walk around town, visiting a theme park or dancing the night away. Something eclectic and fun like one of California’s tasty blended reds, such as Kit Fox Red, Sacred Stone or the new Meld Red. As you’re beginning to meld your interests, Meld has blended its varietals of zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and petite sirah, creating a bright, snappy and refreshingly affordable red.
THE BEST WAY TO SAY THOSE THREE LITTLE WORDS You’ve got it goin’ on, and it’s time to show it. So let your Wine mirror your Love. Is it soft and sensual? Then choose the most sensual of varietals…. Pinot Noir. Maysara’s 3 Degrees Pinot Noir from Oregon has rich, vibrant red fruit with underlying hints of terroir and complexity. Or is your love lusty and passionate? Italy understands passion and presents us with Lamuri (“love” in Sicilian dialect) from Tasca d’Almerita. Made from Sicily’s native Nero d’Avola grape, this is rich and round, dark and velvety.
TRIED AND TRUE AND GOING THE DISTANCE Sustain the evening like you’ve sustained your marriage… one course at a time, savoring every sip. Your aperitif should be effervescent and celebratory… and there’s nothing like a French Bubbly to fit that bill. True luxury calls for French Champagne, so make it a Grower’s Champagne such as N.V. Aubrey Brut, and relish the extra care and expertise that went into it’s élevage. Or pick an alternative to Champagne, such as N.V. Bailly Lapierre Cremant de Bourgogne. Still French, but lesser known, dry, and with tiny bubbles that tickle your nose. And half the price of true Champagne.
For your main course, you can’t find a more elegant, textured and lovely red than the La Posta “Cocina” Malbec from Argentina. Pair with a great cut of lamb, and get swept up in its sanguine aromas and meaty flavors which entice you again and again to take another sip of the wine.
And for the final nightcap, indulge yourselves with a glass of Quinta de la Rosa Porto. Yep, the real stuff, from Portugal. This is so deep, dark, concentrated, and heady (hey, it’s 20% alcohol), it’ll make you smile from the inside out.
JUST US GIRLS So who’s better company when the fellows aren’t around… by chance or by choice? Welcome to Girl’s Night In. Whether you’re watching all night movies, playing Scrabble, or 7-Card Stud (couldn’t resist that one), keep it fresh and lively with a delicious German Riesling, like Incline by Selbach. The name “Incline” refers to the steep hillsides of the Mosel Valley, where the grapes are grown. Possessing lower alcohol, great minerality, and lovely sweetness, you’ll be inclined to open several bottles.
JUST US GUYS Ok, picture this:
Big Screen, Man Cave, Chips and Dip and… a bottle of Troublemaker Red by Austin Hope! Restless and rebellious, rockin’ and raucous, this is just the ticket to a full throttle evening. A Rhone-inspired blend, Troublemaker is a rollicking blend of syrah, grenache, mourvedre and petite sirah, all from Paso Robles, California. Or, hey, just pick up another 6 pack… whatever.
ONE IS THE ONLY-EST NUMBER: JUST ME AND MY SHADOW Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, who’s the Sweetest of them All? Me and my Felsina Vin Santo, of course! The Italians consider Vin Santo a “Meditation Wine” or passito, which is made from a blend of malvasia, trebbiano and sangiovese grapes, dried on bamboo mats for several months to concentrate the flavors. The resulting wine is then aged for seven years in small casks, followed by an additional year in bottle before shipping.
Described as having a golden yellow color, with scents of peach, apricot and ripe pineapple, you might pair it with hard cheeses… or you might just inhale that great fragrance and drown yourself in the decadence of the moment.
YOU HIT THE JACKPOT.
YOU WON THE MOTHERLODE. AND NOW IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE
Molly Dooker Winery has an irresistible package designed especially for you. “Follow your Enchanted Path to a Carnival of Love for our special Valentine’s price of $195. Your matched pair of 2010 Love Wines will come in the beautifully designed ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE BOX including a gift card.” Available from the winery. www.mollydookerwines. com No matter which path you choose, always remember to FOLLOW YOUR BLISS !
Krissy Miller
