Best Wines for Celebrating Valentine’s Day at Home
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and you’re probably busy planning your evening. Whether you have a partner or not, it can be fun to enjoy a nice meal on this day, and this should include a great bottle of wine. If you’re fairly new to the wine game, I want to help you figure out what type of wine you should enjoy this Valentine’s Day.
Best Wine to Pair With Pasta
If you’re planning to make a delicious pasta dish this Valentine’s Day, you’ll inevitably want to include a glass (or two) of wine with your meal. Because pasta sauce is made with tomatoes, it has high acidity and should be paired with a wine that is either equally acidic or more acidic. If you choose a wine that isn’t acidic enough, the sauce’s acidity will overpower the wine, making it taste bland.
The most recommended wine to pair with a tomato-based pasta dish is a cabernet sauvignon. This wine is extremely acidic and savory with hints of black currant. You’ll also notice the flavors of mint, tobacco, vanilla and cherry. Cabernet sauvignon is also notorious for its high tannin content, making it the perfect companion to thick tomato-based sauces.
Best Wine to Pair With Steak
Few dishes say celebration more than steak. Whether you’re cooking it yourself or ordering in a nice steak dinner from your favorite restaurant, you’ll most likely want to accompany it with a glass of wine. There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing the right wine for your steak dinner, including the type of sauce you may be enjoying with your meal.
Most experts recommend pairing a malbec (specifically an Argentinian malbec) with steak, especially if it’s particularly rare. A very rare steak will weaken the sensation of tanning in your wine. So if your wine is relatively young, a rare steak will make it more mellow than normal.
Best Wine to Pair With Seafood
If a lighter dish is what you prefer, seafood is a great option for Valentine’s Day dinner. The best way to think about pairing wine with seafood is to consider the weight and substance of your fish. For instance, if you’re planning to enjoy a light shellfish, you may want to select a light, delicate white wine. However, if you’re choosing something a bit more hearty, such as grilled swordfish, an equally substantial white wine is a better choice.
For seafood dishes that include a more hearty fish like salmon or mackerel, you should opt for a red wine like Pinot Noir. A California red will offer cherry and berry tones, which will pair remarkably well with these fish.
Best Wine to Pair With a Burger
If you’re going for a casual vibe this Valentine’s Day and opting for a meal like a burger and fries, you can still enjoy a nice glass of wine with your meal. For a beef burger, it’s important that you find a wine that can stand up to the meat, making your best options either zinfandel or a cabernet sauvignon. Both of these wines have both the tannins and the structure that pair well with beef. If you’re more of a white wine lover, an oaked Chardonnay will pair nicely with your dish since it offers a woody taste that compliments the beef well.
For the vegetarians out there, you can still enjoy a burger and great glass of wine this Valentine’s Day. Because there are so many recipes for veggie patties, it can be difficult to land on one specific wine. Opting for a fruity red blend that doesn’t have many tannins is always a great choice. Rosé lovers can also rejoice; the wine is another good option to pair with your veggie burger.
Whatever wine you choose to enjoy this Valentine’s Day, be sure you have the right accessories you need to enjoy it. Check out our article on the best wine openers under $50.
