What to Drink for Valentine's Day, Part 2

It probably won't surprise you to learn that candy rates as #2 on the list of most popular gifts for Valentine's Day. Number 1 on the list is cards, which some people may not really consider a gift. Flowers (34%) finished well behind candy (47%, statistics from the Retail Advertising and Marketing Assoc), which was a mild upset. But since candy has always been associated with Valentine's Day, we thought we'd give you some wine pairing options for that box of chocolates.

The Golden Rule in successfully pairing chocolate (or any dessert) is simple: The wine should be sweeter than the dessert. From there, you can get more nuanced; an intense wine pairs best with a rich dessert. Wines with more acidity do well with fruity desserts. Skip the ice cream, however, as frozen desserts tend to dull the palate (although we can suggest a variation of the Root Beer Float, using Prichard's Sweet Lucy Bourbon Cream with root beer and vanilla ice cream, but we digress).

Port wine is a classic dessert wine. It's fortified (higher in alcohol), and, like Champagne comes from Champagne, France, true Port will come from the Douro Valley of Portugal. Port-style wines (sometimes using the term 'port') come from virtually every wine-producing region.

At Joe Canal's, we carry a wide range of Port wine, so you're sure to find something to please your palate and your wallet. You may want to consider the Dow's Vintage Port 2007. Dow’s Vintage Ports are only produced in years of exceptional quality and represent only a very small part of the total company’s production in that year.

Wine Spectator ranked this as #14 in their Top 100 of 2010, scoring it a perfect 100. From the review: "Amazing aromas of lilac, violet, crushed blueberry and mineral that turn to black pepper and spices follow through to a full-bodied, medium-sweet palate, with a long, chewy finish. Evolves to tar and asphalt. Really held back, yet powerful grip slaps you—and makes you happy. This is mind-blowing in texture. The greatest Dow ever made." Available in the Bottle Club® for $148.99. At the time of this writing, we have only two bottles in each store.

If you're looking for a Port that's an excellent introduction to the category, you would do well with Fonseca Bin 27.

Bin 27 shares the heritage and style of the great Fonseca Vintage Ports, as well as much of their depth and character.

However, it is bottled when ready to drink and can be served by the glass directly from the bottle. Blended for consistency of character and quintessentially Fonseca in style, this reserve blend provides reliable and affordable value, priced at $14.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Deep youthful ruby color. Intense rich fruity nose crammed with pure blackberry, cassis, cherry and plum aromas interwoven with notes of spice. 

The palate full bodied and round, with a smooth velvety texture balanced by firm mouth filling tannins. The juicy black fruit flavors linger into the rich luscious finish.

The rich black fruit flavors of Bin 27 are a perfect match for chocolate and berry fruit dishes. A chocolate fondant with strawberries makes a deliciously hedonistic combination with Bin 27, the rich creamy chocolate and luscious ripe strawberries blending seductively with the blackcurrant and cherry fruitiness of the wine. Bin 27 is also excellent served after a meal with bitter chocolate with a high cocoa content or a plate of chocolate brownies or truffles.

One of the interesting Italian wine traditions is the drying of grapes before they're crushed. The Amarone is a classic dinner wine made in this manner, and the Recioto della Valpolicella is the dessert wine counterpart.

The Roberto Mazzi Recioto della Valpolicella "Le Calcarole" is made from the traditional grapes (65% Corvina, 10% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella and 5% Molinara) in the traditional manner (drying via natural methods in boxes and racks in well-ventilated areas with periodic monitoring of the state of health of the grapes and crushing in early or mid-February according to the vintage). The wine is aged in oak for two years, followed by another year in the bottle.

At 15.5% ABV, it's higher than many table wines, but lower than some of the fortified dessert wines. It exhibits an intense ruby red color, with aromas of red berry fruit jam and spices. The taste is round, warm and inviting, with a very persistent finish, having a typical slightly bitter after taste due to the type of soil. Pair with spicy cheese and dessert. Also ideal with dark chocolate (max. 70% cocoa ).  Available for $29.96 in the Bottle Club®.

We have plenty of other dessert wine choices, including Sauternes, Tokaji, Sherry, and Madeira. Any member of our wine team can help you find the right bottle, so just ask!