WINE
Set the mood this Valentine’s Day with these wines
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by Rachel Moore
MISSION HILL FIVE VINEYARDS 2017 CABERNET MERLOT ($14.99)
ecause of the pandemic, Valentine’s Day will be relatively lowkey this year. But if we know one thing, it’s that a good bottle of wine can turn even the dullest of celebrations around. Therefore, we’ve compiled a list of wines that will impress your partner or provide superb company to those spending the Hallmark holiday solo.
With aromas of spices, ripe black fruits, and wood, this wine will have you salivating the second that it’s uncorked. The Five Vineyards 2017 Cabernet Merlot is made with grapes sourced from Mission Hill’s five growing areas in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley. This dry Merlot is particularly dark in colour and fruit-forward in taste, with hints of blackcurrant and pepper. It pairs well with Gorgonzola or blue cheese, roasted chicken, pastas with tomato-based sauces, turkey, and roast beef.
ROAD 13 2018 SYRAH ($34.99)
Many people make the mistake of forgetting to grab a bottle of Syrah when serpentining through the wine aisles at the liquor store. Syrah, also known as Shiraz, is made from dark-skinned grapes. The Road 13 winery is located on the Golden Mile Bench in the heart of B.C.’s South Okanagan. Its Road 13 2018 Syrah has notes of black cherry, cooking spices, and smoked oak, which pairs perfectly with grilled lamb and steak. It is full-bodied, extremely rich in texture, and well-rounded in flavour. Vegetarians can pair a glass of Syrah with Gouda and crackers, grilled vegetables, and stuffed mushroom caps. Avoid serving Syrah with seafood—this means your famous Valentine’s Day shrimp recipe will need to wait until next year.
Most lovers will be spending the night of February 14 safe at home, binge-eating treats from a local business, maybe with some Chinese takeout, preferably with wine. Photo by Getty Images.
LIQUIDITY 2018 PINOT NOIR ($29)
Those who enjoy fruit-forward red wines will be impressed with the 2018 Pinot Noir produced by Liquidity in Okanagan Falls. The Liquidity 2018 Pinot Noir is filled with notes of strawberry, cola, cherry, raspberry, and Earl Grey. The wine is soft in acidity, with ripe tannins and earthy notes, and every sip ends with a smooth silky finish. Before bottling and blending, the Pinot Noir
spends 14 months fermenting in a French oak barrel. This gives the wine a smoky wood flavour and stabilizes the tannins from the grape skins. Pair the juicy Pinot with pasta dishes, grilled chicken or salmon, hard cheeses, and beef bourguignon—who doesn’t make a large pot of beef bourgi every year on Valentine’s Day? It also goes well with heart-shaped dark chocolate.
MIONETTO PROSECCO ROSÉ DOC MILLESIMATO ($16.99)
It wouldn’t be a Valentine’s Day wine roundup without a bottle of pretty pink bubbles. This extra dry Prosecco from Mionetto’s Prestige Collection is made from Glera and Pinot Nero grapes grown in the Veneto and Friuli regions in Italy. Like all bubbly, it can be enjoyed on its own or with fresh seafood, cocktail-sized sandwiches, creamy risotto, and grilled fish. Those with a sweet tooth can pair the Prosecco with dainty French macarons or chocolate. g
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