Wining & Dining your Valentine!

8th February 2013


If you're planning to cook something special up this Valentine's Day we have the perfect wines pairings for a divine dinner!


Indulge your other half this Valentine's Day with some delicious food and wine pairing options and what better way to begin a romantic evening than with a glass of something pink and sparkling! From the delicate summer berry fruit flavours of Lunetta Prosecco Rosé, to the exquisite & complex layers of flavour blended within a Rosé Champagne, such as Gallimard Champagne Rosé or the instantly recognisable Laurent Perrier Rosé Champagne in it's curvy bottle, or if you want to step it up a notch why not try a Champagne Cocktail;


Kir Royale is delicious and easy to make, simply add half to one measure of Crème de Cassis to a chilled Champagne flute and then top up with white Champagne, alternatively use a good Prosecco or a fine quality sparkling wine. Other classic options include a Peach or Strawberry Bellini; Blend one peach or 3 to 4 strawberries per person and spoon into the bottom of a chilled Champagne flute before topping up with white Champagne. Ideally one third of the glass should be fruit and the rest Champagne, (almost) healthy and definitely delicious!


Starter Course Options


Oysters Rockerfeller


Grilled Fig, Goats Cheese & Caramelised Walnut Salad


Asparagus Spears wrapped in Parma Ham with Melon


Wine Pairings; All the above options will taste fantastic with Champagne or Sparkling wine. The Grilled Fig & Goat's Cheese Salad will also match beautifully with a Sauvignon Blanc such as the zesty Giddy Goose Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from New Zealand bursting with gooseberry & passion fruit flavours, or the bright & citrusy Panilonco Sauvignon Blanc 2011 for a glass full of Chilean sunshine.


Main Course Options


Lobster Thermidor


Courgette Flower & Saffron Risotto


Steak in a Mushroom & Brandy Sauce


Wine Pairings; Once again the Champagne would work perfectly with both the Lobster and the Risotto (if there is any Champagne left!) but other great matches include French, American and Australian Chardonnays such as the top quality Bouchard Meursault 2000, Byron Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2009 or the Yangarra Estate Chardonnay 2009. All are wonderful examples of sumptuous golden fruit & buttery vanilla oak flavours underscored by firm lively notes of minerality, just delicious!


The Steak is a different matter and a red wine is best here, ideally a rich Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux such as the Chateau Cantemerle 2003, maybe the juicy Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Chile, or from South Africa the smooth, warming Glenelly Hill 2004. All three are perfect matches for this dish with layers of red forest fruits, spice & cedar coupled with hints of liquorice & mocha!


Dessert Options


Warm Chocolate Fondue with Exotic Fruits


Raspberry & Vanilla Soufflê


Pears Poached in Red Wine with Mascarpone & Cinnamon Ice Cream


When it comes to desserts it's definitely not a case of one size fits all when pairing wines; Chocolate based dishes (unless made with white chocolate) are best with deeper coloured dessert wines such as an aromatic Black Muscat or a rich Grenache based dessert wine from the Banyuls region of Roussillon in France.


Lighter flavoured desserts such as Raspberry & Vanilla Souffle, vanilla based tarts, flans & ice creams & sorbets are better with white dessert wines including glorious Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc & Viognier, lively Moscato d'Asti, demi-sec or moelleux (sweet) Vouvray & demi-sec Champagne, or if you want a glass of true decadence the famous & magnificent sweet wines of Sauternes & Barsac (which incidentally are just as good as a dessert in their own right - and at over £400.00 a bottle for some of the most famous of these wines, such as Chateau Y'Quem you would want to savour them slowly!).


For red berry or forest fruit dishes & those involving toffee or caramel an Italian Recioto de la Valpolicella dessert wine such as the Giuseppe Lonardi Recioto is a sublime choice and the perfect ending to an indulgent dinner & we suggest you leave the washing up until the morning!


Cheers to a Happy Valentine's Day!

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