Valentine's day, February 14th is the day for lovers. Whether you love celebrating it or you’re the type that doesn’t exactly love the occasion, there’s no reason you shouldn’t raise your glass to somebody that makes your heart beat! The best wines to open for the occasion? Well, that depends on what your toast will look like: If you’re more of a classic bubbly fan, options such as a Franciacorta or a Trento are always great – especially after a meal or for an aperitif. We had some fun finding a few less obvious selections, complete with instructions for use and some romantic trivia to go along with it... A definitive way to win over that special someone.
From Umbria, the land of San Valentino
Saint Valentine, the patron saint of lovers, was born in Terni in 176 AD and, at only 21 years of age, had already become bishop of the city. He died from a beheading on February 14, 273 AD – for having married a pagan Roman legionary and a young Christian girl.
In the province of Terni, some of the best wines of Umbria are produced. The Orvieto Classico Superiore Campo del Guardiano di Palazzone (palazzone.com) is an elegant and full-flavored white wine that is at its best after a few years of aging. Try it with fried fish, a chicken breast with mushroom cream or maybe directly on the farm: Palazzone has a historic residence with rooms that are as romantic as you can get.
The right wine to uncork at the end of dinner, in front of a burning fireplace, is the Muffato della Sala, produced at the Castello della Sala by the historic Antinori family (antinori.it); from late-harvested Sauvignon, Grechetto, Traminer, Semillon and Riesling grapes, morning mists cover the gentle hills of the area and encourage the arrival of what is called “noble rot,” or a certain type of mold that grows on the grapes, to create an extraordinary complexity. Its scents of apricot, saffron and candied ginger are capable of conquering even the less-experienced of wine drinkers. If you want to pair it with something, try it with dry and buttery biscuits or mature cheeses.
Vino and San Valentino
Wine producers love Valentine's Day because it often becomes a testimonial to their products. We love Togni Rebaioli's Valentine's Day, (tognirebaioli.it) produced in Valle Camonica with the herbanno vine, a local biotype of Lambrusco, that creates a fruity and flowing red, ideal for a dinner of pasta with meat sauce... Or you could always replicate the scene of “Lilli and the vagabond”: two hearts and a plate of spaghetti with meatballs. Also called Sanvalentino is the marzemino wine produced by La Cadalora (lacadalora.com). It smells of violet and is a round full-bodied wine, to be drunk at a younger age, perhaps with a steaming plate of polenta and mushrooms in a mountain chalet.
From Verona, the city of love
There is no doubt that history’s most famous couple in love is Romeo and Juliet, meaning it might be a good idea to spend a romantic weekend in Verona where you can visit the house with the balcony from which Juliet sighed, "Oh Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou, Romeo?". Pasqua, a wine cultivator in the area, has dedicated three wines to the famous couple (pasqua.it) with the inscriptions found in the courtyard of Juliet's house displayed on the label: the PassioneSentimento Bianco is based on Garganega grapes that, after drying, make for an intense wine that gives off notes of apricot, peach and citrus fruits; to try with fish dishes but also with oysters; the PassioneSentimento Rosso is based on merlot, corvina and croatina that, after drying, lend themselves to a soft, warm and round wine – great for steak and conversation; and finally, the PassionSentimento Prosecco Brut is a fresh and casual sparkling wine and an ideal companion to a carefree night of amore. Even the most famous wine of Valpolicella (the wine region adjacent to Verona) lends itself well to being uncorked on Valentine's Day: we suggest the Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Proemio di Santi (gruppoitalianovini.it), bewitching with its aromas of cherry, plum, vanilla and cinnamon.
In Tuscany, between movies and hearts
The Cuor Rosé di Tenute Riccardi Toscanelli (tenutericcarditoscanelli.it) comes from a little- known area of Tuscany. It is a rosé made from the indigenous Canaiolo grape variety that smells of ripe apples and wild strawberries. With a heart on its name and label, it is perfect to give as a gift before a declaration of love. The last bottle we recommend for Valentine's Day is Petra's Quercegobbe (petrawine.it), a merlot from the Tuscan Coast that gives off notes of Mediterranean maquis and was also uncorked during a scene in the film “Manuale d'Amore 3” by Giovanni Veronesi. You can’t get more Valentine's Day than that...