A Red, a White, and the Two of You

Whether you’re hopelessly in love or bitter toward a holiday that obliges you to reflect on love lost, this Saturday is one day of the year that requires a nice bottle of wine, or two. For the latter, I would ordinarily suggest a bottle of Bonny Doon’s Heart of Darkness, which in years past came packaged complete with chocolate, cleansing soap, and a voodoo doll, but I have not been able to track it down this season. For the former, if you do not have reservations at this point, you might consider entertaining at home and putting your culinary skills to use; let me suggest a couple bottles of wine to add that needed touch to the evening’s events.

Unless you and your partner have a special bottle that you reserve for such occasions as this, picking a bottle or two might not be the easiest of tasks—red, white, $10, $20, etc. Let me suggest that you mix it up a bit and cover all of your needs.

The first bottle that I want to tell you about is one that Sarello’s in Moorhead has been serving for at least the past month, and is one I have grown particularly fond of—Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006. I have since found it at Bridgeview Liquors for under $20.

I feel that this is a versatile wine when it comes to food pairings, but, to be honest, I do not eat a lot of meat. This delicious red is by no means a sweet wine. Any fruit notes that one will taste lean toward subtle hints of black currant or other darker berries. The feel of this wine is very smooth as it lacks any loud or exaggerated features. A little bit of oak, a little bit of fruit, and a little bit of spice allows for a consistent enjoyment from start to finish. This California red, for me, is what good wine tastes like.

The other bottle that I suggest for Valentine’s Day is a sparkling white that could either be a nice place to begin the evening or finish with: Riondo Prosecco Veneto. This Italian sparkling white is refreshing to say the least. It is very pale in color and, like the Joel Gott, is not overly fruity. There are hints of apple blossoms, and the crisp finish surely begs for another sip. I do not drink a lot of sparkling wines, but I really enjoy this one. Previous sparkling whites that I have tried tended to stick to my tongue with a dry and sour burn, but this Prosecco leaves my mouth feeling clean and rejuvenated.

And even if you are going out for dinner, I still suggest that you pick up this bottle. It would be a nice wine to enjoy before heading out for the evening, or it would also work as a late-night dessert. Furthermore, I am very curious to see what the left over (if there is any) wine would taste like, mixed with some fresh orange juice of course, with Sunday morning breakfast-in-bed. Any way you serve it, the two of you are sure to enjoy the experience, and your 2009 Valentine’s Day will be one to think back on over the coming year. Cheers.