The Valentine’s Day holiday raises the questions of where to eat and what to drink. Selecting a restaurant is one thing. But contemplating what wine to share with your loved one can be another way to enjoy the experience together, especially if you are having wine at home. Here are some suggestions:
» Valentine’s Day is a big Champagne/sparkling wine occasion. Bubbles always seem to make moments more festive and, for many, more romantic.
When considering a great selection, the J. Lasalle Brut "Preference" (about $53 a bottle) immediately comes to mind. Currently, three generations of women run this small, artisan domaine, so it is no surprise that this handcrafted Champagne is pretty, feminine and delicately nuanced, with tiny, flirtatious bubbles.
» If that sparkler is a bit pricey for your budget, visit a specialty wine store for the Lambert de Seyssel "Petit Royal" (about $19), a French sparkling wine that’s been produced for centuries. Seyssel is a small wine appellation located in the Savoie region of eastern France. Legend has it that sparkling wine originated there.
It features two regional, indigenous grape varieties, molette and altesse, grown at high altitudes and in rocky soils of the Alps’ foothills. The resulting wine is delightful and delicious, with refreshing minerality and crispness. It really is hard to beat for the price.
» For red-wine drinkers, it seems pinot noir is a popular choice today. An elegant, suave pinot would set the right mood for this holiday. Two that fit the bill are the 2011 Costa de Oro "Santa Maria Valley" (about $28) and the 2011 Melville "Estate" (about $32).
I have been a big fan of Costa de Oro wines for many years and find it surprising they haven’t yet been elevated to superstar status. This is probably because lovely, elegant, delicious, feminine-styled wines don’t reap high ratings from the wine media.
This is also why the "Santa Maria Valley" is so well priced. In the late ’80s/early ’90s, Costa de Oro’s estate vineyard was planted with an heirloom pinot noir selection (as opposed to a scientifically propagated clone) on a sandy-soiled, wind-pounded mesa. These conditions are a big reason why the wine is so full of finesse.
The Melville, meanwhile, comes from an estate vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. Wine aficionados well know that Melville is one of the most highly acclaimed wineries in the Santa Barbara appellation, and deservedly so.
» Another worthy consideration is the 2010 Paul Mathew Valdiguie "Turner Vineyard" (about $19). This is a light (both in color and body), pretty, charming, unpretentious and absolutely delicious red produced from the valdiguie grape variety from a small patch of 60- to 70-year-old vines in Knights Valley in California.
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Chuck Furuya is a master sommelier and a partner in the DK Restaurants group. Follow his blog at chuckfuruya.com.
