Champagne, Roses, and Chocolate

Valentine's Day is coming, and it’s not that hard to do somethingcool for the love in your life. Bubbles aren’t necessary, but they’re usually appreciated, and a rose flower or a rosé wine is nice as well. Chocolates always work too, and I have a twist on that for you this month. Wine selections are from Old Vine Wine and Spirits, Mall of America, 952-858-8800.

A blend of pinotnoir and chardonnay

Moet & Chandon Rose NV (Champagne, France)
Price: $74.99
•  This one sets the bar pretty high. It is the real deal in the bubbles world. Brilliant and delicious, it can be enjoyed as a starter or throughout your entire meal.

100 percent sauvignon blanc

Forefathers 2010 (Marlborough, New Zealand)  
Price: $19.99
•  Delivering grapefruit and pineapple with nice acid, this wine goes with a seafood evening. Just get some oysters, chilled shrimp, or sushi from your favorite spot and nosh all night. Sometimes simple is best.

A blend of petite sirah, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and zinfandel

Concannon Conservancy 2009 Crimson & Clover (Livermore, CA)
Price: $14.99
•  Rich and jammy with flavors such as blackberry, clove, and vanilla, it’s perfect for sipping with a spread of meat and cheese.

Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, and cabernet franc

Hedges Red Mountain 2008 (Columbia Valley, WA)
Price: $29.99
•  Your romantic dinner better include a big fat steak to pair with this wine, as it is big and full bodied with a long finish. Sometimes you just need to make your meat and potatoes guy happy.

Red wine infused with dark chocolate

Indulgent Coco Rosso NV (Walla Walla, WA)
Price: $14.99
•  This one is clearly a novelty, but dark chocolate in liquid form can’t be all bad. And why not infused with wine? It’s like chocolate milk all grown up and a little more fun.