Ah Valentine’s Day. Love it or hate it, I think it’s a great excuse to celebrate love. Whether it is with a special someone, with your galentines or your family, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy time with them. I personally love Valentine’s Day because it gives us an excuse to spend some quality time together. I am also a bit soppy so I love any excuse to write a love letter and spoil my one and only. But even if you aren’t into this as much as me, it’s still a great excuse to enjoy a good meal and you know what takes it to another level? Some great wine of course! So I thought I would highlight 5 perfect wines for Valentine’s Day for you.
It can be hard to know what to do on Valentine’s Day, but I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to go to some degustation with matched wines to have a romantic time. You can have romance anywhere, and wine certainly helps to make it even more special. To help inspire you, I’ve pulled together some ideas for Valentine’s Day dates that don’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Along with these ideas, I’ve suggested a wine that will go perfectly with the activity! So all you need to do is take the idea, grab the wine and hey presto! You’ve got a romantic Valentine’s Day. You are so welcome. So here are my ideas and the perfect wines for Valentine’s Day to go with them.
Date Idea 1: Breakfast in bed
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What better way to start off Valentine’s Day than making breakfast in bed for that special someone in your life? Rather than battling the brunch crowds, bring your celebration home and treat them to something really special. Breakfast in bed just feels indulgent and gives you an opportunity to truly pamper them by letting them have a sleep in and bringing breakfast to them.
What should you serve? Have a think about what they love to order from the cafe and try and recreate it at home. Eggs benedict, pancakes, waffles – the list really is endless. You can also make sure you use all their favourite ingredients! If you aren’t that skilled in the kitchen, why not pick up some fresh croissants and fruit and make it a continental breakfast? The great thing about breakfast in bed is that you don’t need to cook up a storm. The act itself is fancy enough. Just make sure you have a tray to bring it all in on.
Pair it with: Sparkling Wine
To take it up a notch, why not serve a glass of Sparkling Wine along with their breakfast? Nothing says breakfast in bed like a bit of bubbles and will make your Valentine’s Day date extra special. It’s perfectly acceptable to sip on some sparkling wine before noon if it’s paired with brunch!
The Petaluma Croser NV is a great option and available at major and independent retailers such as Dan Murphy’s so you can pick it up while you grab your ingredients. This wine is from the Adelaide Hills with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as the blend. Expect flavours of nectarine and strawberries along with hints of biscuit in this drop. These flavours go oh so well with brunch, no matter if you’re enjoying savoury or sweet. Just pour a glass to sit next to your feast, and spoil your loved one without even having to leave bed!
Date idea 2: Picnic in the park
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A picnic in the park is a great way to soak up the warmer weather and gives the perfect backdrop for a Valentine’s Date. It’s also a great option for enjoying with friends or family instead of a special someone. I can’t think of a better Galentine’s Day idea than heading to the park with a group of friends to enjoy some cheese and of course some wine. The great thing about a picnic is you can tailor it to wherever you go. Whether you want to head to the beach to soak up the sunshine, go for a bushwalk or simply head to your local park, there is something for every celebration. You could even theme the picnic around Valentine’s Day by picking up some fresh flowers or having red and white food or some cute love heart-shaped chocolates. The world is really your oyster when it comes to picnics, making them a great idea for celebrating.
Pair it with: Sustainable Rosé
Everyone knows I am obsessed with Rosé, and I can’t think of a better time to enjoy pink drinks than Valentine’s Day. So of course there is plenty of pink in my perfect wines for Valentine’s Day! For those who want to make more sustainable choices, why not pair your picnic outdoors with an eco-conscious wine? Round Theory wines have a great range of wines that are vegan friendly and sustainably grown and sourced. Their unique bottle designs are also 30% lighter, 35% shorter and 100% recyclable. If that’s not enough, they also support CarbonClick, which offsets at least double its carbon emissions produced.
But now onto why the Round Theory Rosé wine would be perfect at a picnic (other than its Instagram worthy label). This wine is bright with aromas of red berries and tropical fruits and flavours of strawberries and blackberries. It has a rich and luscious palate which is balanced out by a clean, dry finish. This wine is perfect for summer and would be a match made in heaven with a nice picnic cheese board. The Round Theory Rosé is available at Dan Murphy’s and BWS nationally.
Date idea 3: Afternoon Aperitivo
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If you’re looking for a great date idea, why not have aperitivo? It’s a great option for if you just want something casual and provides the perfect excuse to enjoy a couple of wines and see where the afternoon takes you. You can either meet somewhere to enjoy some snacks and a glass or two of wine or have it at your house. All you need are some easy snacks and something fun to enjoy.
The great thing about apertivo is that you can really have whatever you have on hand. Whether its some cured meats, olives, dips or even just some chips, you can make it your own. Personally, my favourite way to spend a Sunday afternoon is to sip on some good wine, enjoy some snacks and watch the sun set before thinking about dinner.
Pair it with: A pink Prosecco
What better to pair with Aperitivo than Prosecco? And why not take it up a notch for Valentine’s Day and serve something pink – like the Yarra Burn Prosecco Rosé. This wine offers a refreshingly crisp and dry style of Prosecco with flavours of pear and pistachio and a hint of strawberry. Who needs an Aperol spritz when you can enjoy a Pink Prosecco like this one? It will certainly take your aperitivo up a notch and is sure to make it that much more romantic. The Yarra Burn Prosecco Rosé is available at independent retailers nationwide.
Date idea 4: A pre-dinner drink and snacks
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Although Apertivo and pre-dinner snacks could be classified as the same thing, I think they deserve their own category. Aperitivo could be just afternoon drinks, whereas pre-dinner snacks imply that there is dinner to come. So have a think about what sort of date you want before you commit to cooking!
We’ll cover a bit more on this later, but I think having someone over for dinner needs a drink to enjoy beforehand. It’s a great way to start the evening off right with a chance to chat and enjoy some snacks before the main event. Even if you don’t want to pair it with food, sipping on something before dinner is the perfect start to a romantic evening.
Pair it with: Low alcohol Rosé
A great option for a pre-dinner drink is something a little lower alcohol. That way you can enjoy a couple of drinks before dinner without having to worry about having one too many. The State of Light Rosé from Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand is a great low alcohol option that delivers on flavour but will make sure you stay sharp for finishing off your winning dish. This wine has flavours of fresh berries and watermelon with a nice dry finish. Its light style makes it perfect for enjoying with or without food, and at 7% alcohol offers a great low alcohol alternative to start the night off with. You can find this wine at major and independent retailers nationally, including Dan Murphy’s.
Date idea 5: A romantic meal
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And now we come to the main event. Personally, I love to cook a nice meal for Valentine’s Day as a way of celebrating. It gets you away from paying an arm and a leg for a set menu, and also means you can cook something you know they’ll love (and open a special bottle of wine). The act of cooking a meal is so romantic in itself, and you can really tailor it to the person you’re cooking for, and how romantic you want to be. If you want to take it up a notch, think candles and a decadent dessert. Looking for something more casual? You could opt for a BBQ and leave the candles away.
If you’re not a good cook, that’s not a problem! Why not order their favourite meals from their favourite restaurants? The great thing about this is you don’t have to go to just one – you can sample all of them! You could even take it up a notch and serve the meal plated as it would be in a restaurant. Maybe they won’t even know!
Pair it with: A bold, food-worthy Rosé
A romantic meal isn’t complete without a nice glass of wine. With the weather still warm, its a perfect opportunity to cook something light and enjoy it with a pink drink. So why not reach for a nice Rosé such as the flavour forward Young & Co Strawberry Hustle Rosé. This wine is bold and perfect for enjoying with food as it has enough oomph of flavour. Think bright berries and melon balanced out by a crisp and clean finish. It’s perfect with seafood and salad, making it a great option for pairing with a romantic meal. This wine is available at BWS nationwide.
In summary: Top wines for Valentine’s Day
So there you have it – 5 date ideas and the perfect wines for Valentine’s Day to go with them. Whether you want to do something casual, are catching up with friends or want to take it to the next level and show off your culinary skills, there is something for everyone. Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love, and you don’t have to buy a bunch of flowers or go to a set menu restaurant to show you care. Get creative with it and make it work for you!
What’s your favourite way to celebrate Valentine’s Day?