Bring on the bubbly.
Or, the rose.
Or, the red.
Of course, we're bandying about the idea of what wines pair best with Valentine's Day, your loved one and the romance that will ensue.
You absolutely cannot go wrong with sparkling on a Valentine's date or night in.
Make that sparkling real Champagne from the eponymous region of France and you'll definitely have a winner.
Go one step further and make it rose Champagne to match Valentine's pink-red colour theme of a heart and it's a slam dunk.
My wife, Kerry, and my current favourite pink Champagne is the Taittinger Rose Prestige ($100).
The price may make you wince at cupid.
But, if you can and want to splurge, 'Taitty' as fans affectionately call the sparkler, is worth it for its French authenticity and cachet and exotic aromas and flavours of crushed wild raspberries, pink grapefruit and a fresh-baked croissant from a Paris pâtisserie.
Of course, you can still drink exceptional Valentine's sparkling for less.
The Gilda Gran Cuvee Blanc de Blancs Extra Dry Millesimato from Italy is on sale for Valentine's at BC Liquor Stores for $14, down from $17.
It's fresh, fruity, dry and delicious.
If you're looking for just a glass each for you and your Valentine, then the 375 ml half-bottle of Baby Bub Sparkling Rose ($19) from Summerland's Haywire Winery will do the trick.
It has an intriguing profile of strawberry, rhubarb and pink lemonade.
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In the $35 range for bubbles is Evolve 2017 Libre Brut and Evolve 2018 Libre Brut from the sparkling house on the Naramata Bench.
Libre means 'free' and these Champagne-method bubbles are made by winemaker Lynzee Schatz traditionally with gentle rebellion.
That means the sparklers are made of Chardonnay, which is a component of many great Champagnes, but also with a splash of revolutionary Riesling (in the case of the 2017 vintage, and Ortega for the 2018.
Get ready for aromas and flavours of apple, lemon, honey and pastry in the glass and the mouth.
Sparkling goes with many of the bourgeoisie foods we associate with romance -- oysters, caviar and a creamy French cheese.
But, it's also at home with more proletariat fare like pasta in a cream sauce, mushroom risotto, fish and chips, roast chicken, buttered popcorn and potato chips.
By the way, all the food just mentioned -- both high-brow and low-brow -- will also go nicely with a Valentine's still rose wine.
A prime example is the Liquidity 2024 Rose of Pinot Noir made by the Okanagan Falls winery of grapes from Oregon.
This pink is hard to get because it's a wine club member and winery shop exclusive.
If you can get a hold of it you're in for a treat of aromas and flavours of blood orange and nectarine.
If your Valentine's date dinner is filet mignon steak off the barbecue or in a peppercorn sauce, you'll have to go with red wine.
On the lighter side of red is the Fort Berens 2024 Lillooet Pinot Noir ($35) -- fresh with a profile of ripe raspberry and spice.
Bolder is Black Hills 2024 Bona Fide Hiatus Collection ($35) a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Sangiovese grapes from Oregon made by the Oliver winery.
It's smooth and juicy with a cherry-blackberry-black pepper profile.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at [email protected]. HIs wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.
