Wine for Valentine's Day, for celebrations and gifts

Eva Pizarro

Sumiller en restaurante Fierro y formadora en Tandem Gastronómico.

Wines for falling in love! Any help is welcome, whether or not you celebrate Valentine’s Day, but here are 5 recommendations to help Cupid’s arrow hit home.

Bubbles, one of romance's best allies, are an absolute must at celebrations, a coveted object of desire... And as Coco Chanel used to say, “I only drink Champagne on two occasions: when I am in love, and when I’m not”..

Do we know all the sparkling wines we can choose from for our special celebrations?

Champagne obviously takes the forefront in regard to fame and glamour. It is made in the French region of the same name, and this world famous wine was capable of seducing even Marie Antoinette herself.

With just three grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier), a terroir having almost reached its production limits for wine-making and its method (traditional), sparkling wines are produced that become true collectors’ items. Cremant, Saumur and Vovrayare the areas that open up to varieties such as Chenin Blancfor making the sparkling wine in neighbouring France.

Under the Designation of Origin “Cava” , we can find sparkling wines made in Catalonia, Valencia, Rioja, Alava, Navarra, Zaragoza and Extremadura. This is always done using the same method shared with Champagne, the traditional method, but using grape varieties grown in Spain.

Not only can we find sparkling wine under the name of Cava in Spain, in fact several regions produce their own sparkling wine with very different personalities.

Italy produces its Asti, Prosecco and Lambrusco, sparkling wines, each made using their own grapes and method. There is a whole country waiting to be discovered.

Germany with its Sekt, made using the Charmant method and native grape varieties such as Riesling, produces wines with a whole range of pleasures and sensations.

The New World also produces some highly rated bubbly wines, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States.

So what are you waiting for to uncork a bottle?

Other indispensable wines as a show of friendship, pleasure and seduction are the sweet wines. With their thick, velvety texture, we are sure to succumb to the pleasures of drinking these wines.  The world is full of wines of this type, and in fact nearly all countries have their own versions of these sweet, fragrant wines. Moscatel from the Mediterranean region, ice wines or Eiswein from extremely cold regions such as Canada, the magic of Botrytis in Sauternes, the Loire Valley, Germany and Tokaji, fortified port, sherry, fondillon... and an endless etcetera.These wines are ideal to round off a romantic Valentine's Day.

Since the colour of love is pink, we also have rosé wines such as Eglantyne rose petal wine, highly fragrant and fresh. Also full-bodied, aged wines such as Scarlett Rose, now turning to red as a symbol of passion for Valentine's Day.

Aim straight for the heart.