To start off SweetHearts Week, let’s talk about wine. Wine is practically a prerequisite for any romantic dinner or evening. Given that many of us are planning some romantic meals later this week, we should cover some of the basics in selecting wine.

Aesthetically, red wine is more romantic than white. It is richer, heavier, and deeper that a crisp white. In a month like February with cold and gray skies, red wine provides a taste and aroma that radiates warmth.

Red wine  has long been celebrated as heart healthy and reducing the risk of heart disease. A recent study showed it may reduce the risk of lung cancer in men, particularly smokers. There is also research to suggest red wine may prevent the onset of brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Here is a basic breakdown of some common red wines to help you make the best selection for dinner with your SweetHeart:

Cabernet Sauvignon: The bold red of the bunch, full of warmth and luscious flavor. This wine has big aroma, big bod, and big alcohol content. A definite favorite for Valentine’s Day, but might not be for the faint of heart.

Syrah/Shiraz: A spicy red with fruit and chocolate notes, an excellent choice to pair with pizza or burgers. If you are looking for a quality low-budget red, this is a good pick.

Merlot: The softer side of red, this smooth wine is not as bold as Cabernet but still warm and sensual. Perfect for a romantic meal, and readily available to order.

Pinot Noir: A lighter red wine and an American favorite. A bit more subtle than Merlot, but a brighter finish. A good red for wine beginners, though lacking the sensual nature and aroma of Cabernet or Merlot.

Zinfandel: Not to be confused with White Zinfandel (a pink impersonator), but a big, lush red packed with juicy fruit flavors. Great with spicy food (though not Asian cuisine). It lacks the subtle nature of some other reds, it might be overwhelming for a romantic dinner.    

Chianti:An Italian red wine, not quite as popular as the rest, quite dry and acidic. Works best with Italian cuisine, naturally, and good for the more sophisticated palates. May not be available to order in restaurants, or may be a bit more pricey than other reds.

Rose: This wine straddles the line between red and white. It is softer than a red with a color closer to pink. Perfect for fans of white wine looking to dabble on the dark side or for those trepidatious about reds.

If you are more of teetotaler, grape juice has many of the same heart healthy benefits as red wine (just look for 100% juice on the bottle). Make your own sparkling beverage by combining grape juice with club soda and garnish with mint.

This entry was posted on Monday, February 9th, 2009 at 5:05 am and is filed under Bitter/Sweet, SweetHearts Week. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.