Let’s face it, not everybody has the one Valentine on V-Day. Some of us are completely single, some in new relationships, some may be looking to pop the question and some enjoying his or her long-term bliss.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have just the right wine for any state of affairs? Well, I’m here to tell you there is.
Let’s start with the single crowd. Don’t let Valentine’s Day be a bummer, instead turn it in to a celebration of friendship and possibility. Set a date with a group of friends who are similarly single. Don’t make it a private affair, but rather pick one of our many local spots with a lively atmosphere. A restaurant with a fun lounge works great, or how about a wine bar.
OK, so now we’re rolling as we have a fun crowd and a happening location, so what about the wine? Let’s look at popular, reasonable and nothing too serious. Being that it’s February, we’re probably talking reds here. A couple of good choices that are sure to be bold and lively, and reasonable are Malbecs from Argentina and Australian Shiraz.
Next up is wine for the recent date partner. Nothing over the top here, but since this is probably going to be a one-on-one, I say get something interesting that will stimulate conversation. For a white wine, maybe look for something like a Gruner Veltliner from Austria or an Albarino from Spain. These tend to have some complexity and body, and if nothing else you’ll have fun trying to guess how they are pronounced.
Been dating a while? Steady, but not too serious? This calls for something nice and classic. Quality Chardonnay or Pinot Noir are great calls here. They are flexible across a range of tastes and the few extra dollars on the price tag communicate that you appreciate that person as someone special.
Evening Land Chard and the Auteur PinotMarried with children? If you can get anything from your anniversary year, that would be the perfect call. If you want some resources for such options shoot me an e-mail or give a call and I’ll hook you up. Find my contact information in my byline below.
Are going to pop the question? Only one way to go here and that is vintage bubbles. And while there is certainly nothing wrong with that multi-hundred dollar bottle of Dom, you do have options. A wonderful example is Argyle Winery’s Vintage Sparkler that can be had for well under a Benjamin at a restaurant and obviously far less at the store.
Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to match your love for people with your love of wine, so Carpe Diem.
Lou Phillips is a Level 3 Advanced Sommelier and his consulting business WineProwest.com assists in the selling, buying and managing wine collections. He may be reached at (775) 544-3435 or lou@wineprowest.com. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com for more wine columns.
