Bottles to Fall in Love with This Valentine's Day

Whether sipping with your significant other or celebrating with friends, one thing’s for sure—this Valentine’s Day, you’re going to need some celebratory wine. Not sure where to begin? We’ve got you covered. Our in-house Somm Team has rounded up a list of seven of their favorite festive bottles to pop during the most affectionate week of the year. 

Whether red, white, or rosé is more your crowd’s jam, our comprehensive list has something for every preference (and budget) out there. Check it out below—and don’t forget to grab a few extra bottles for the long holiday weekend ahead!

Raymond Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Nothing screams love like a silky, full-bodied glass of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This bold expression from Raymond is perfect for pairing with a variety of hearty meats and cheeses—AKA, it’s the perfect “romantic dinner” wine. Best of all, the wine’s red velvet label symbolized the texture, emotion, and overall feeling captured in this top-tier wine. Need we say more?

Winery Notes: "A dark purple in the glass, this Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a beautiful nose of blue and black fruits. Expressive flavors of raspberry and blackberries are met with blackcurrant and warm plum. The wine has a lovely freshness and vibrancy with a medium bodied midpalate. Textured with plush tannins, the finish is smooth and velvety."

Shop Raymond Reserve (Sale Price: $46.99)

Silk & Spice 2020

Silk & Spice’s name is actually a double entendre, in that yes, the wine is both silky and spicy, but it also pays homage to the 16th century trade route between Europe and Asia, which was pioneered by Portuguese explorers during the late 15th century. This flavor-packed red blend from Portugal’s Douro Valley is laden with flavors of ripe red fruits, earth, and woodsy spice. Fans of full-bodied blends from California, we can’t recommend this budget-friendly bottle enough.

Winery Notes: "A red-ruby colored red wine blend characterized by intense aromas of ripe red fruit combined with hints of vanilla, mocha and spices. A full-bodied wine with a balanced taste, very soft tannins and a long and persistent finish."

Shop Silk & Spice ($14.99)

Venus la Universal Dido Montsant Rosa 2019

Who says that rosé is destined for summer sipping? Contrary to popular belief, these food-friendly wines are perfect for sipping year round, especially on chilly weather evenings where cheese-heavy dishes are on the menu. Produced in Catalonia, this well-structured rosé packs a serious punch. We recommend buying two—drink one now, lay one down, and thank us in a few years.

Winery Notes:  "A wine made with different types of Garnatxa (Grey, Red and White) to add volume and density but also with Macabeu and Carinyena to provide acidity and Ull de Llebre balance alcohol.A pale and aged rosé following the tendency of the great rosés of the world. A Mediterranean, from the South, well-structured and aging potential wine." 

Shop Venus Rosé (Sale Price: $26.99)

Domaine Sigalas PGI Cyclades 'A/M' 2020

Looking to relive your romantic getaway to Greece? There’s no better wine to do so with than Sigalas’ A/M. Produced on the island of Santorini, this salty, sun-kissed wine promises to evoke unforgettable summer memories with every sip. Expect an elegant and citrus-driven wine laden with flavors of green apple, nuts, lime leaf, and smoky undertones. 

Winery Notes: “Responding to the upward price pressure inherent to the island of Santorini, Paris and team have begun sourcing Monemvasia (not genetically related to Malvasia, despite the name) from the nearby Cycladic island of Paros and blending it 50/50 with the press-juice Assyrtiko that used to go into ‘A/a’ (now discontinued). The result, while not appellation Santorini, is a gloriously drinkable new expression of the southern Aegean from the acknowledged master of Santorini.”

Shop Sigalas Cyclades ($23.99)

Merry Edwards Russian River Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Forget the generic Sauvignon Blanc you may have been used to—this unique bottling from Merry Edwards promises to go the limits. The estate notes that a key component behind the singularity of this wine is the Sauvignon Musqué clone used, which was sourced directly from Sancerre. Expect a more herbal, incredibly zesty wine that comes to life with fresh seafood, oysters, and salads of all kinds.

Winery Notes: “On the palate, vibrant acidity is finely balanced with a rich, creamy mouthfeel creating a unique textural experience — reminiscent of a refreshing blood orange sorbet. The finish is broad and lingers with sweet pink grapefruit and Meyer lemon zest."

Shop Merry Edwards (Sale Price: $52.99)

Marziano Abbona San Luigi Dogliani Dolcetto 2020

Celebrating with an Italian night in? This budget-friendly, easy-drinking Dolcetto has your back. Contrary to the big-boned wines of Barolo and Barbaresco (which we certainly love, of course), this beloved “daily drinker” is what the locals actually pop the cork on regularly. Grab your favorite dried meats, cut up some Grana Padano, and bring the best of Piedmont straight to your casual night in. (Pro tip: Forget the fancy aperitivo snacks—ordering pizza in works just as well here, too.)

90 Points, Antonio Galloni's Vinous: "The 2020 Dogliani San Luigi is a very pretty, delicate wine laced with ink dark red/purplish fruit, sage, spice and violets. This mid-weight, class Dogliani is an absolute pleasure to taste today. Drinking window:  2021-2025."

Shop Marziano Dolcetto (Sale Price: $15.99)

Lohr Seven Oaks Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Bold, velvety, and perfect for sipping with a variety of foods—what more could you want from a Valentine’s Day red? Whether pizza, pasta, or juicy steaks are on the menu, you really can’t go wrong with this bottle. Expect notes of black cherry, roast coffee, and sweet barrel spice to lead to a structured and palate-coating finish. 

90 Points, Wine Enthusiast: Designated Editors' Choice. "Aromas of shaved cocoa and red cherry jam meet with a bit of smoke on the nose of this widely available yet reliable bottling. There is ample tension on the sip, giving the big-boned flavors of black cherry, incense and smoke the tannic edges to cling to."

Shop J. Lohr (Sale Price: $19.99)