WASHINGTON — Ah, Valentine ’s Day. The annual nod to love, gently foisted upon amorous couples around the world each year by florists, greeting card companies and chocolate-makers.
It’s not that I am cynical about love, mind you — well, maybe a little. It’s just that love is something that should be celebrated on more of an organic level and less of a commercial one. But here we are, and who am I to stand in the way of a wholesome excuse to open a great bottle of wine and share it with that special someone?
And, just in case you’re wondering how we “got here,” some scholars believe that the holiday originated with the ancient Romans when they celebrated the feast of Lupercalia, a spring festival traditionally held on Feb. 15. Modern Christianity “appropriated” the custom and moved it up a day to honor a young Roman priest, Valentine of Rome, who was martyred for secretly preforming wedding ceremonies during a ban in AD 269.
There was a relatively long stretch of inactivity following Valentine’s demise before his name became permanently linked with love. It appears that the practice of giving “keys to unlock one’s heart,” and the production of cards professing love on Feb. 14, gained increasing popularity in 18th-century Europe, eventually spreading to the New World and beyond.
Today, we celebrate the day of love by giving or receiving affectionate cards, bouquets or boxes of chocolate. However, I think the surefire way to win the heart of one’s affections is with the perfect bottle of wine. After all, few things can set the mood for amore better than a candlelit dinner and wine.
So, on a day devoted to love, I am hopeful that Cupid’s aim is true, just as long as there is a corkscrew attached to the end of his arrow.
Not many wines scream “Valentine’s Day” louder than rosé Champagne. This year, Moët & Chandon is pleased to offer their iconic Imperial rosé Champagne in a “Love Unconventional” label in a bright pink gift box. The Moët & Chandon Rosé Imperial Champagne from Epernay, France, is more than just a pretty wine on the outside: It is pretty on the inside as well, with red fruit aromas of summer raspberries and cherries on the bouquet, and flavors of tangerine, red plum and raspberry on the palate. The bright, delightfully fresh acidity on the finish makes it an excellent companion with fruit tart or soft cheeses. $50
Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to give up drinking white wine in the winter, so if the lover in your life is a lover of white wine, the 2016 Stemmari Dalila from Sicily will warm his or her heart. A blend of grillo and Viognier, this well-rounded, rich white wine is laden with flavors of peach, mango and papaya on the front of the palate. Notes of creamy citrus compliment the touch of vanilla bean found on the finish. It’s perfect for those couples who just want to spend an evening by the fireplace. $19
Every time I buy my pragmatic wife flowers, she just complains that they are going to die. But one type of flowers she likes comes in a bottle: the 2015 Flowers Vineyard & Winery Sonoma Coast Chardonnay from California. For about the same price as a dozen roses, you get a bouquet that sports beautiful aromas of citrus, peach and apricot that blend right in with a layered mouthfeel of white peach, nectarines and honeysuckle. The buttery notes of marmalade, toasty brioche and spice provides an elegant finish. $40
What better wine to celebrate a day devoted to love than with a wine that has “love” in the name? I love the 2013 Loveblock Pinot Noir from the Central Otago region in New Zealand. Owners Erica and Kim Crawford go to great lengths to conceal their last name, since they do not want to create any confusion with the famous namesake brand they sold several years ago. But you won’t be mistaken when you taste this pretty pinot noir, whose grapes come from the Crawford’s Someone’s Darling vineyard in central Otago. The wine has an intriguing nose of dark plum and black cherry. Distinctive flavors of ripe blueberry, orange peel and baking spices glide over the front of the tongue, while hints of forest floor and mushrooms sneak in on the back of the palate. The beautifully balanced wine finishes with a touch of ripe raspberry and dark plum. $28
