Thursday, January 20, 2011

Toast Your Valentine's Sweetheart with a Delicious Wine

Words by Courtney Kellar

Words by Autumn Millhouse
Photos courtesy of Courtesan Wines

Saint Valentine enthusiastically shoots his arrow in February and any unsuspecting lover can easily become a victim. That’s why having a sexy wine on-hand can ease the initial ache of amore. The longing, tension and desire, along with a nice bottle of wine, precede an evening of seduction – so be prepared. Below are three voluptuous, yet flirty wines for a perfect Valentine’s evening with your sweetheart.

Bridget Raymond, winemaker and proprietress, of Courtesan Wines recommends a Bordeaux-style wine for a chocolate cake. “I don’t think there are many Napa Valley red wines that don’t pair well with chocolate, but my personal favorites are Cabernet Sauvignon & Bordeaux-style blends. The hints of spice and cocoa are the perfect accompaniment to chocolate covered strawberries.” She suggests Courtesan Wines 2006 Brigitte, a Bordeaux-style blend or 2006 Courtesan Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon.

Swanson Vineyards’ winemaker Chris Phelps proposes a blushing pink rosé which he claims “it’s pink, it’s fun and it embodies the celebratory spirit of love.” Phelps says that “a dry syrah rosé gives the perception of sweetness without being too heavy.” Think of a vanilla bean cupcake with butter cream frosting. He suggests 2008 Swanson Vineyards Rosato which “explodes with refreshing aromas of strawberry, watermelon and raspberry on the nose.”

Hopefully with the help of these delicious wines, you and your sweetheart will have a Valentine’s Day to remember.

About: Autumn Millhouse is a local travel writer, international trekker and self-proclaimed “hopeless-romantic.” Author of the hugely popular Romantic Napa Valley: An Insider’s Guide for Couples, she is currently working on two books with similar themes dealing with travel and romance. Check out her blog here.