Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and I’m here to help with gift giving ideas for the special person in your life. Wine! If that special someone in your life is a wine-lover, like myself, here are some great suggestions.
Roses, romance, dinner, Champagne? Champagne can sometimes be hard on the wallet, with prices aiming towards $100 per bottle. Try an Italian Prosecco or a Spanish Cava.
Hola is how people greet each other in Spain, and that was the reasoning behind the name. It’s crisp and dry, which means not sweet. Made with the Traditional method, just like Champagne, it’s a show-stopper at just $21.99.
However, if it is Champagne you’ve been craving…. here’s a beautiful one.
Renee LaVallee is a winner of Top Chef Canada and the acclaimed chef and owner of the Canteen in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. She teamed up with Duval Leroy Champagne House in the Cotes des Blancs region of Champagne France, to partner and create this beautiful Champagne.
They have been making Champagne for 160 years, and I was thrilled to meet Renee at 2019’s Port of Wines Show at the Casino Nova Scotia. She said this Champagne is in harmony with her style of cuisine. I loved it, it woke my palate up, when I tasted it. A beautiful treat for that special someone, or a gorgeous gift. Renee LaVallee’s Champagnes from Duval Leroy sells for $69.99, and in my opinion, that’s an excellent deal for this great Champagne.
If the person in your life is a white wine lover, you can’t go wrong with Pinot Grigio or a Pinot Gris, it’s the same grape variety.
As a matter of fact, the gris means ‘gray’ in French, because it’s a white grape with a grayish tint to it. True story. And if you see the word ‘Grauburgundur on the label, it’s a Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio from Germany. (Spatburgundur is German Pinot Noir) This wine hails from New Zealand, and although New Zealand is better known for it’s Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, they do grow a wide variety of grapes. With its gorgeous flavors of peach and honey, if fish is on the menu, this is the wine for you.
Before I tell you a great wine for the red wine lover on your list. Let me share what I had last night. A steak. And I do my steak very simply. Melted butter, I did put some fresh herbs in the melted butter last night to try it. I saw it on the Food Network. But you don’t need them, not for a steak. Sea salt and ground pepper. That’s it.
Then I heat up the Sear Zone on my grill, and put a beautiful char on the steak. 1 minute, turn, 1 minute flip, 1 minute turn again.
So, here’s a great red wine to serve on Valentine’s Day, especially if you are celebrating with a good hearty protein.
Last week I was telling you about the fantastic wines that are coming out of Paso Robles California, and here’s another one. Paso Robles is now on my bucket list as places I would like to travel to. Like the Napa Valley, I think it would be like wine heaven, gorgeous scenery and great wine. At least that’s what I hope Heaven is like. This wine is racking up great wine reviews, I even read one from a guy who said he hadn’t had a great Merlot in a while, until he had this one. It’s under $2 a bottle.
Happy Valentine’s Day weekend to all my readers. Happy long weekend here in Nova Scotia, it’s the Family Day weekend.
Till next week, Cheers
Darlene
Wine-It’s Just My Opinion 