Pick The Perfect Red Wine for V-Day!

By Samantha von Sperling | February 11, 2015 | Food Fashion Style

Image Gal Samantha von Sperling schools us on the perfect red wine (and her pairings) for Valentine’s Day!

Big love for big reds.

Image Gal loves drinking red wine in the winter. So how lucky I am to have been invited to “The True Meaning of Terroir in Bordeaux,” held at the French Institute Alliance Fran├ºaise, in their lovely sky room. The event was presented in partnership with Millesima, a leader in fine wine retail since 1983.

ItΓÇÖs common knowledge the Bordeaux region in France produces some of the best wines in the world. This event’s panel of experts: Adrian Chalk, Partner at Adrian Chalk; Louis Kressmann, Regional Manager of Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.; and a very gracious Hortense Bernard, General Manager, Millesima USA; explained the different parts within that region and how the differences in the characteristics of the soil effect the grapes and are responsible for qualities within the wines produced in Bordeaux.

Now, onto the night’s seductive vintages.

My favorite was an extraordinary Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac, Fifth Growth 2000,┬á which was really a great vintage. At $134 dollars a bottle, itΓÇÖs certainly an extravagant splurge. But for a special occasion, perhaps for Valentines Day, this wine is a whole seduction from beginning to end. She opens up slowly, her fragrance drawing you in, revealing the substance of her great legs and beautiful color of dark ruby with pink sunset edge. Like a great striptease, she reveals layer after smooth velvety layer, making you want to know her more intimately, yet leaving you happily satisfied by the brief encounter.

This bottle for me was like an epic affair that included cherry, smoky and mossy notes. Every part of her had a different flavor. It’s one very sexy red wine!

The evening also introduced me to another gem of a wine, Ch├óteau Clarisse, Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion 2012. At $42.99, she’s a cheaper date, but thoroughly respectable, with a lovely fuchsia tone with noticeable cherry notes with a peppery smoky finish: a perfect date night red!

To finish off the perfect Valentine’s night, just add wine’s perfect partner, cheese, provided at our affair by Pr├⌐sident Cheese. Ready to make it a threesome? Bring out the charcuterie and breads (ours were by DΓÇÖartagnan and Pain dΓÇÖAvignon), and explore (it’s half the fun!). Have a delish night!