Top Tips For Choosing The Perfect Wine For Your Valentine

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you might be hoping to impress that special someone with an indulgent gift or an intimate candlelight dinner. Whatever your plans, a good quality bottle of wine can make a perfect present or accompaniment to a meal, or simply help you to relax and set the right mood for romance.

However, it can be difficult to know which wine will be the best fit for your plans. A classic bottle of bubbly, a ravishing ruby red, or a fun rosé wine? Here’s a look at how to create the right ambiance for your Valentine date.

Keeping it sweet with rosé

Rosé wine has come back into fashion in recent years, with plenty of excellent choices. It’s a light and refreshing wine that is perfect for a more fun and casual date; maybe for a relationship that is still in the early stages, or for an informal meal such as a takeaway rather than a candlelit dinner with your finest china. 

Rosé is a very versatile wine that can be drunk on its own, or paired with foods such as pasta dishes, fish, or pizza. Crisp dry varieties such as Provence pair well with cheese, while fruiter types such as Pinot Noir are a good match for seafood. 

Are you ready for red?

Red wine has bold flavours and a velvety texture that could help your evening to flow smoothly. The lighter bodied reds, such as Pinot Noir and Merlot, are easy drinking and pair well with foods such as salmon and dishes with creamy sauces or cheese. If you prefer a sophisticated or full bodied red, then Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon will be a great choice. 

They have rich fruity flavours, with subtle hints of spice and oak for a pleasingly complex and intense aftertaste. These wines pair favourably with red meat dishes, and indulgent dark chocolate desserts. A good quality red is perfect for a relationship that is progressing to the deep and meaningful discussion stage.

Celebrate your love with sparkling wine

Sparkling wines such as Champagne and Prosecco are the classic celebration drink, so if you are planning to pop the question, then this could be the bottle for you! It’s also perfect if you are celebrating an anniversary, or simply want to make it an extra special occasion. 

Champagne tends to have a higher price bracket than other sparkling wines. Prosecco, Cava, Cremant, and English sparkling wines make excellent affordable alternatives.

Getting it right with white

White wines are a great all-round option that will go with many types of food, or can be enjoyed on its own. If you want something different to the popular Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc varieties, try a Riesling, which is vibrant, sweet and sophisticated. It pairs well with spicy foods, seafood, and white meats.