With Valentine’s Day coming up, every lover over the age of 21 will be thinking about choosing the perfect bottle to say “I love you.” But what makes a wine romantic, exactly? Is it the flavor? The nose? The label? Maybe a special pairing?
I asked a simple question of a half-dozen winemaking experts: What is your most romantic wine? The answers were just as varied and personal as love itself. Here are the 6 responses, to help you get focused on your own quest for liquid romance.
John Garlich, BookCliff Vineyards:
I think of our 2007 Cabernet Franc Reserve as being our most romantic wine. It is smooth like satin and goes quite nicely with a dark chocolate truffle. Just add a candle and you are good to go.
Kitri McGuire, Sokol Blosser Winery:
Our “most romantic” wine is our Meditrina. Named after the Roman goddess of Wine & Health, Meditrina is a blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel that is round, soft, and juicy. This blend is extraordinarily food-friendly, and will pair well with many romantic meals. Plus, it’s a perfect gift for the “goddess” in anyone’s life!
Susan Sueiro, Gundlach Bundschu Winery:
The most romantic wine we produce at Gundlach Bundschu has to be the Estate Pinot Noir. With aromas of dried roses and sandalwood, the texture of silk and flavors of berries and spice, this is a sultry, beguiling wine. It pairs beautifully with salmon, pork and other lighter fare, and really, no one wants to eat anything too heavy on Valentine’s Day.
Valerie Andrews, Oak Mountain Winery:
Our Frisson Sparkling Wine is a great Valentine’s beverage. It has a romantic Victorian label and frisson means “an Intense Moment Of Excitement”. It is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.
Hennie Bosman, Sandihurst Winery:
Which wine is the most romantic? The dark, spicy, complex and intoxicating Pinot Noir? Or is it the refreshing, aromatic and intriguing Riesling? Maybe as far as Valentine’s Day goes, it is both. To me, these two wines represent the Yin Yang of the wine world — “complementary opposites within a greater whole” (Wikipedia).
Stuart T Smith, Torea Wines:
Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc is our most romantic wine as it has many layers. Just as you think you have got to the bottom of the wines mysteries another layer comes into view — as it is with true love.
So there you have it: Romance tips from 6 wine experts. If you have a favorite romantic wine, please weigh in with your own expert opinion below. After all, you’re an expert on love, aren’t you?
Prost!
