You don't want to look dumb, but you don't know jack about ordering wine. It's pricey and complicated, and there's added pressure on Valentine's Day-your choice can say a lot about how much you value your date.
But before you give up and order a Bud Light, consider our guide to the romance staple: No matter how serious or fleeting your relationship, we have a wine to pair with any date night.
Just started dating:
Taurino Salice Salentino (Italy), $11-13
Newly together? Opt for a laid-back date with a loaded Mellow Mushroom pie, a classic flick (we like "Bull Durham" for romance and sports) and this wine. Slate wine critic Mike Steinberger calls this full-bodied, cherry-berry-flavored bottle from the Adriatic side of southern Italy "the world's greatest pizza wine" and a great antidote to spicy pepperoni.
Prepping for a double date:
Mulderbosch Sauvignon Blanc Stellenbosch (South Africa), $15-17
You're partiers who cringe at fireside foot massages and anything Hallmark. Find friends and gulp this upscale pregame white wine that's gender neutral-we promise, it's better than Brita-filtered 'Crat and your finest vintage of Ocean Spray. Fruity and light without tasting like girly Hi-C, it's pricier than two-buck Chuck-but well worth it. Pair with appetizer munchies like creamy cheeses and crackers or spicy sushi rolls before salsa dancing at George's or Spice Street.
"I'm making the lamb":
Marquis Phillips Sarah's Blend (Australia), $15-17; Penfolds Bin 389 (Australia), $20-25.
You're Facebook-official and have experimented with pet names-celebrate your commitment with candles and New York strips chez vous. These heartier quaffs, awesome with things like Stilton-crowned mega-burgers, are appealling blends. The combination of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz or syrah grapes in each wine makes for a less tannic, smoother drink, which will convert even your wine wimp of an S.O.
Cheers to a 2-year anniversary:
Cristalino Brut Cava Extra Dry (Spain), $5.99
& Louis Roederer Brut Premier (France), $35
Prove your staying power anew with breakfast in bed, complete with a sparkling, cava-based mimosa. With twice the taste at André-level prices, the Cristalino is a savvy choice and comes sans the cheap-champers headache. For a true occasion, Louis Roederer is downright tasty and a smidge cheaper than anything Jay-Z might rap about. Serve very cold and in a glass-not a Solo cup-for a happy ending.
-S.B.
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