When planning a romantic evening, the atmosphere is everything. One of the easiest—and most enchanting—ways to set the mood is by choosing the perfect bottle of wine. Think of it as the ultimate love potion: a luxurious blend of velvety fruits and alluring spices designed to captivate the senses.
Whether you’re sharing a candlelit dinner, enjoying a cozy night at home, or snuggling on the couch, these romantic wines are the perfect pairing for creating unforgettable moments—not just on Valentine’s Day, but any day of the year.
How to Pick the Best Romantic Wines
There are a few ways to pick the best romantic wine. You can select a bottle based on:
- Grape variety – pick your Valentine’s favorite type of wine
- Your Valentine’s Day plans (are you going to dinner or making dinner at home?)
- Sentimental things like:
- Vintage year (the year you started dating or an anniversary)
- A fun wine region you visited together (Did you visit a winery in Sonoma? What about a tasting room in Los Olivos? Grab a bottle from there)
- The first bottle of wine you shared together
Gamay: Flirty & Fruit-forward
Gamay, most famously from Beaujolais, is juicy and fruit-forward. Light enough to pair with a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner, but also light enough to drink on its own, Gamay’s vibrant palate sings with ripe cherries, poppy red fruit, and hints of earth. Serve Gamay with a slight chill for maximum enjoyment.
Try Reeve Wines’ Gamay, Jolie-Laide, or Stolpman Vineyards.
Gamay wines are great with salmon Chilean sea bass, black cod, lobster, and roast chicken. Gamay is a versatile food wine, so no matter what you or your partner cook up for Valentine’s Day, it’s bound to pair well.
Valentine’s Day movie pairing: Notting Hill
Trousseau: Mysterious & Complex
Trousseau wines are an excellent alternative to expensive Pinot Noir. These light red wines have palates that are intense and soulful. Bright, juicy strawberry, intriguing spice, and flickers of raspberry and tea. For California Trousseau, try producers like Arnot-Roberts, Sandlands, and Rajat Parr’s Phelan Farms. If your significant other usually drinks Pinot Noir, surprise them with California Trousseau.
Pair Trousseau with game birds like quail, duck, or Cornish game hens, or traditional poultry dishes. Trousseau wine also pairs well with salmon, and vegetarian meals that are lentil or mushroom-based.
Valentine’s Day movie pairing: 50 Shades of Grey
Valdiguié: The Hidden Gem
Valdiguié is sometimes compared to Gamay because it’s one of those light red wines that tastes amazing with a little chill on it. The palate features bouncy notes of cherry, pomegranate, and strawberry alongside intoxicating spice. This is a wine that leaves a lasting impression.
Try Broc Cellars Valdiguié, Cruse Wine Co, or Ridge Vineyards Valdiguié.
Valdiguié pairs well with a range of dishes, from savory appetizers, to charcuterie boards, lighter pastas, and sweet Valentine’s chocolate treats.
Valentine’s Day movie pairing: A Star is Born
Freisa: The Italian Dream Machine
Here’s what you need to know about Freisa, it’s fragrant, it’s slightly fizzy, and this medium-ish bodied wine will serenade your sweetheart’s senses. Freisa is an acidic wine that tastes like savory strawberries, tart cranberries, and has a nose that evokes roses plucked from a garden.
While Freisa hails from Piedmont, I would love for you to try a California Freisa. Idlewild Wine’s Freisa is delightful.
Freisa pairs well with all of your Valentine’s Day pasta dishes or a casual pizza.
Valentine’s Day movie pairing: Far & Away
Zinfandel: Playful & Spicy
Bold, rich, and layered with warm notes of stewed pitted fruit, spice, and dark fruit, a nice bottle of Zinfandel will earn you major brownie points on Valentine’s Day. Try Overshine Wine Co.’s delicious California Zinfandel.
Zinfandel pairs well with everything from grilled steaks, red sauce pastas, wood-fire pizzas, braised short ribs, and tangy BBQ. After dinner, pair this wine with chocolate truffles.
Valentine’s Day movie pairing: Chocolat
Pinot Noir: The Heartthrob
Pinot Noir is the heartthrob of wines, and it’s got a movie star palate to prove it. Notes of soft cherry, warm vanilla, and velvety earth are wrapped in silky tannins for a light red wine that is sophisticated and ethereal. For a truly special bottle, I recommend Hanzell Vineyards, Sandhi Wines, Aubert, Cobb Wines, Littorai, or Ceritas Wines.
Pinot Noir pairs well with salmon, all types of chicken dishes, vegetarian meals that include lentils or portobello mushrooms, and meaty stews. You can be confident when you open this romantic wine because it goes with practically everything.
Valentine’s Day movie pairing: Legends of the Fall
Champagne: Regal, Polish, & Pampered
Champagne elevates every occasion, but it tastes extra special when you serve it on Valentine’s Day. Fulfill your date’s champagne wishes and caviar dreams with a nice grower champagne. These champagnes come from family or community-owned vineyards, the quality is incredible, and they are far more economical than a Krug or Dom Perignon. Visit your local bottle shop for help selecting the perfect champagne for Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day movie pairing: You won’t be watching the movie if you bring a nice bottle of Champagne home.
Falanghina: Whispers of Italian Vacations on V-Day
Falanghina will remind you of warm Mediterranean nights by the sea. Start Valentine’s Day evening by pairing this zesty white wine with a light charcuterie board before moving on to the main course. Bright acidity, citrus, and pleasant minerality will sweep you off your feet.
Try Matthiasson Falanghina, Arnot-Roberts Falanghina
Falanghina pairs with charcuterie boards, seafood dishes, fritto misto, anything with lemon, garlic, and tons of herbs.
Valentine’s Day movie pairing: Roman Holiday
Fun ways to create a Romantic Wine Surprise for Valentine’s Day
If you want to really ‘wow’ your special someone on Valentine’s Day, surprise them with a romantic getaway to wine country!
Here’s how:
- Buy a bottle of wine from a specific region, for example: Los Olivos, Santa Barbara, Dry Creek Valley, Napa Valley, etc.
- Go online and buy a postcard for the region “Napa Valley postcard”, etc.
- Put the postcard and the bottle of wine in a gift bag.
- Don’t forget to include your Valentine’s Day card, too! These Valentine’s Day quotes will help you write something special.
If something closer to home is easier to pull off, give your Valentine a bottle of wine, and then include a gift card to their favorite winery or tasting room. Surprise!
FAQs
Which Wine Is the Best for a Romantic Date?
The best romantic wines for a date are those that have a special meaning for you and your partner. Here are some ideas to get you started: buy a wine from the year you started dating, the year you got married, the year your child was born, or your partner’s birth year. You can also purchase a wine from a region you visited together like Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Los Olivos, or any region really.
What Makes a Good Valentine’s Day Wine?
When it comes to Valentine’s Day wines, don’t overthink it. Champagne is always a good way to start or end the evening. Light-bodied red wines can be enjoyed with a home-cooked dinner, or saved for sipping while you watch a Valentine’s Day movie.