As much as I love dining out, for me nothing beats the romance of being wined and dined at home on Valentine’s Day. I vividly remember my heart melting one February 14th when I came home to a surprise dinner of crab and Champagne; two of my favourite things.
If you are the one treating, you'll need to make more of an effort than simply heating up leftovers. Candles and well-chosen music add atmosphere and wine will further your cause immensely.
You could also try incorporating amorous ingredients to whatever you whip up. Cherries, pomegranate, red chili peppers, honey, almonds, vanilla, avocado and even salmon are all said to be aphrodisiacs. (I'd add truffles to that list.) The sexiest food has to be oysters though. Just make sure you have a bottle of sparkling wine chilling.
Chocolate deserves a special mention. While it might be tempting to sip on a Cabernet Sauvignon, a word of warning. A sweet chocolate dessert will likely make the wine taste bitter and excruciatingly dry. Best to go with a dessert wine like Port. Now that's truly a match made in heaven!
Among wine's many attributes, it is also falls into the aphrodisiac category, particularly red. So here's a few to up the ante.
Louis Bouillot, Perle d’Aurore’ Brut Rosé • Crémant de Bourgogne AOC, France • $26.99 at BC Liquor Stores
Think pink and bubbles are cliché? Stop being such a curmudgeon! If these are remotely important to your sweetie, you better not disappoint. Packed with wild strawberries and pink grapefruit, this elegant and sophisticated sparkler is the whole package. And it's in the same league as oysters.
2010 Pasíon de Bobal • Utiel Requena DO, Spain • $18.99 at BC Liquor Stores
I get it, sometimes looks matter. I'm referring to the label of course. This one has Valentine's appropriate hearts all over it. Luckily its charms go well beyond appearance. Bright raspberry, red licorice and vanilla flavours are enveloped in plush soft tannins. And for those of you less gifted in the kitchen, just pick up ready-made duck confit at Oyama and roast up some potatoes in all that delicious fat. A side salad of arugula and cherries balances the meal (both of these are said to improve the mood, by the way).
2012 CedarCreek Pinot Noir • Okanagan Valley, BC VQA • $24.95 at BC Liquor Stores
For your locavore lover, seek out some salmon and top with a pomegranate sauce. BC Pinot Noir is the perfect partner. CedarCreek's is vibrant and mouth caressing with red cherry, spring blossoms and a hint of sweet baking spice on the finish.
2011 Hendry, Block 28 Zinfandel • Napa Valley, California • $57-62, available at private wine stores only
When the most romantic meal for you is a rib-eye steak for two then a full bodied red is in order. Think fruit-driven, concentrated and complex Zin. Bursting with brambly black raspberry, plum and pepper, Hendry is firm yet suave and oh so satisfying. Look for it at Kits Wine Cellar and Everything Wine. Liberty Wine Merchants also has half bottles.
2007 Quinta do Crasto Late Bottled Vintage Port • Portugal • $26.99 at BC Liquor Stores
Luscious dark flavours of blackberry, dried fig and chocolate are corseted by grippy tannins. Sweet and intense enough to stand up to the richest, most dense chocolate dessert. You’ll likely have plenty left over to keep romancing the day after as well.
