Wines to combine with an aphrodisiac menu for Valentine's Day

Oysters, fish and shellfish

If your romantic dinner is based on fish, on Valentine's Day you cannot miss the oysters and Champagne pairing! If you really want to impress, you can opt for a Cuvéee de Prestige, such as the Dom Pérignon or the Grande Dame by Veuve Cliquot , otherwise the most suitable types are those with low dosages, such as Extra Brut, or Blanc de Blancs . The local alternatives are Trentodoc and Franciacorta, in the same types or zero dosage . For other courses of fish, crustaceans or seafood, we have selected some of the largest Italian and French whites.

The pleasures of the meat

For meat lovers, we imagine raw meat courses, such as carpaccio or tartare , a nice Florentine steak, or game. In the first case we can still resort to Champagne, preferably Rosé , to a structured white or a slightly tannic red wine such as Pinot Noir or Etna Rosso . The steak finds its ideal pairing in the great Tuscan reds, from Brunello di Montalcino to the Great Selection of Chianti Classico . For game, the wines of choice are the Piedmontese Barolo and Barbaresco .

Côtes de Provence AOC BY.OTT 2023 Domaines Ott

0,75 ℓ

25.40 €

per bottle (0,75 ℓ) 33.87 €/ℓ

incl. VAT and taxes

Champagne Brut Rosé AOC 27ème Édition Krug

0,75 ℓ

387 €

per bottle (0,75 ℓ) 516 €/ℓ

incl. VAT and taxes

Umbria IGT Castello della Sala Cervaro della Sala 2022 Marchesi Antinori

0,75 ℓ

65 €

per bottle (0,75 ℓ) 86.67 €/ℓ

incl. VAT and taxes

Champagne Brut Premier Cru AOC Cuvée Prestige H. Goutorbe

0,75 ℓ

France, Champagne

Discount 13%

48.30 €

per bottle (0,75 ℓ) 64.40 €/ℓ

incl. VAT and taxes

Was: 55.90 €

Lowest price: 55.90 €

Toscana IGT Tenuta Belguardo Vermentino Codice V 2021 Marchesi Mazzei

0,75 ℓ

Sale

22.60 €

per bottle (0,75 ℓ) 30.13 €/ℓ

incl. VAT and taxes

Was: 26.20 €

Lowest price: 22.60 €

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva DOC Marina Cvetic Iskra 2019 Masciarelli

0,75 ℓ

Sale

31.40 €

per bottle (0,75 ℓ) 41.87 €/ℓ

incl. VAT and taxes

Was: 34.80 €

Lowest price: 31.40 €

Sweet, dark or spicy chocolate?

Chocolate has always been the most romantic gift, after roses. And its aphrodisiac properties are well known. But how does chocolate go together? Bitter chocolate, like dark chocolate , can also be combined with soft red wines, with great structure and "meditation". The great Cabernet Sauvignon, Sagrantino di Montefalco, Amarone and Primitivo di Manduria are particularly suitable for this type of pairing. Sherry also lends itself perfectly to pairing with chocolate. If instead the chocolate is sweet or spicy , it is advisable to opt for a sweet red wine such as Recioto, Aleatico passito, Primitivo di Manduria natural sweet, Sagrantino di Montefalco passito .

Strawberries, Champagne and more ...

As Pretty Woman teaches, strawberries and Champagne are another great erotic classic. To enjoy this pairing, strawberries must be served naturely . The most suitable types of Champagne are always those with a low dosage, rosés or Blanc de Noirs , whose scents recall those of wild berries. If served with cream , they must be accompanied by fresh and light sweet wines. Moscato Rosa, Moscato d'Asti, Asti Spumante or Brachetto d'Acqui can prove to be the winning choice.