Cupid and wine both make us stupid. In the best possible way! Yes, Valentine’s Day is exciting but oh, the stress— planning the date, picking out flowers, cooking, figuring out if your significant other is really worth all this trouble . . . so let me make wine pairing the no-brainer easy part.
Snapshot
Imagine you’re on safari. Hunt out the right wine for your trip. (No machete required!) Plenty of varietals out there roar for your attention. Yes, flowers and cheese and chocolate are in the romance savannah. Now lock them in your sights. See the blue veins in that cheese? Blue veins cry for darker sips like Banyuls and port. You know that classic pairing, port and blue cheese? Well, Banyuls and dark chocolate will make the hyenas howl. Ecstasy. Even if your date’s a dud!
Fave Sips
- Jam Jar Sweet Wine
- Royal Tokaji Mad Cuvée 2009 Late Harvest
- Taylor Fladgate Vintage Porto Vargellas 2001
- 2008 Vial Magneres Banyuls Rimage
- Domaine Sigalas Vin Santo 2004
- Far Niente Dolce 2007 Napa Valley Late Harvest Wine
- Inniskillin Vidal Icewine (half bottle)
Great Eats
A vintage port like Taylor’s, with its beautiful clean finish, burnishes bitter dark chocolate. Not a port fan? Mix things up with Italian Vin Santo and crunchy biscotti, the traditional pairing in Italy—and Italians know romance! But honestly, to do justice to the February freeze, splurge and open a bottle of Inniskillin. It’s harvested during Canada’s subzero weather, when grapes are frozen on the vine! Perfect with salty nuts for a cozy night in. Or step it up a few romance notches with elegant foie gras dishes.
Happy Valentines Day from Jessica Altieri and Wine Channel TV!