The Art of Romance: Wines That Set the Mood

Happy Love Relationship. Girlfriend Kissing Boyfriend After Receiving Beautiful Bouquet Of Roses During Romantic Date In Restaurant

By Jim Peterson

Wine Enthusiast & Instagram Wine Influencer

How do you create amazing memories? How do you show someone meaningful to you that they are truly special? For a wine lover like me, there is nothing I love more than enjoying a great bottle of wine with someone special. The mystery and allure of wine can often be a metaphor for the complexities of life. It’s a bit of a paradox that vines facing the most difficult hardships in the growing season often produce the best wines. I have always thought that aspect of wine should appeal to the best of human nature. We can create greatness no matter the circumstances.

It was described brilliantly by the character Maya in the movie “Sideways” as she talked about what wine meant to her: “I like to think about the life of wine. How it’s a living thing… I like how wine continues to evolve, like if I opened a bottle of wine today it would taste different than if I’d opened it on any other day, because a bottle of wine is actually alive.”

Wine is one of the greatest romantic inventions in human history. I encourage you to use this Valentine’s Day to create your own amazing wine memories. Here are some ideas…

CHAMPAGNE

Of course we must start with champagne. No other wine sets a mood for romance like a lovely glass of bubbles. An interviewer once asked me which champagne I would serve to a lover. I responded, “For a lover I would want a wine that evokes romance in every aspect. I can think of no better bottle than a vintage Billecart-Salmon Elisabeth Salmon Cuvée Rosé, whose namesake met Nicolas-François Billecart in 1818 and fell in love. The Billecart-Salmon Champagne house was formed out of this romance and marriage. Is there a better way to introduce romance than with delicate aromatics of rose petals and red berries, followed by flavors of red cherry and strawberry? It’s like bottled happiness.”

There are many terrific rosé champagnes in every price range. Remember that “pink” does not mean the wine is sweet. If you see “Brut” or “Extra Brut” on the label, you can be sure it is not sweet. Some of my go-to producers of rosé champagne that are easy to find include Billecart-Salmon, Laurent-Perrier, Nicolas Feuillatte, and Moët & Chandon. Some fantastic “grower” rosé champagnes to look for include Marc Hébrart, Famille Moussé, Paul Bara, and Laherte Frères.

WINES FOR SEAFOOD & WHITE MEAT

Let’s be honest here. The obvious choice when it comes to seafood or white meat is white wine. Wait. What’s romantic about white wine? To me, this is where knowing a little history and the “story” behind the wines can help add to the mystique of why the wine choice matters. My first choice for a white is a fine Chablis from France, made from the Chardonnay grape. Why Chablis? The soil or terroir of Chablis has a large amount of limestone. This land was covered by an ocean millions of years ago, and the resulting “Kimmeridgian limestone” gives Chablis its rather unique flinty and mineral characteristic. There is added depth of character and intensity. Doesn’t it make sense that grapes grown in soil that used to be a seabed would be a perfect pairing for seafood?

Chablis can be very versatile when pairing foods. There are some classic pairings like raw oysters or pan seared white fish that are quite appealing. I also enjoy Chablis with crab cakes or a shrimp cocktail. Because most Chablis wines are vinified in stainless steel tanks, they tend to express the true characteristic of the Chardonnay grape. There is a freshness and preciseness that becomes irresistible. Irresistible? How’s that for a mood?

WINES FOR STEAK AND OTHER RED MEAT

This is Texas so of course we must talk about a nice, juicy grilled steak. I mean, I might be fired if I didn’t talk about how to pair red wine with a nice ribeye, New York strip, or filet mignon. One thing I know is that Texas wine lovers enjoy pairing their steak with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Everything is big in Texas – including the wine! The truth is a nice Cabernet Sauvignon pairs well with red meat because the tannins present in Cabernet more easily cut through the fat in the meat. I recently experienced this at a wine dinner with Guy Stout, the first Master Sommelier from Texas, who also makes his own wine. A bite of my picanha steak completely transformed his young Napa Cabernet. The wine’s flavors harmoniously blended with the rich cut of the beef, and it is not an exaggeration to say it shocked my palate in the best way possible.

If you opt for a more delicate meat like lamb, or if your dish is more suitable for a lighter bodied red wine, then a nice Pinot Noir may work best. For California Pinots I prefer those from Sonoma County (especially Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley wines). They have just enough tannins to mesh well with red meat, but typically exhibit a higher fruit profile. For Pinot Noir with bright, cheery fruits, look to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Won’t it be romantic when wines like these heighten the senses?

My advice on selecting a good Napa Cabernet Sauvignon or a solid Pinot Noir is straightforward. Try to avoid the mass-produced, high-volume wines. When a wine tastes exactly the same vintage after vintage, you should be more skeptical than satisfied. Instead, look for some of the amazing smaller or family-owned wineries that put their heart and soul into their winemaking. Like people, wines are much more interesting when you know their story.

Some of my favorite producers of big, bold Napa reds include Paul Hobbs, Dunn Vineyards, Paradigm, Opus One, O’Shaugnessy, and Spottswoode. For Pinot Noir I always enjoy DuMOL, Williams-Selyem, Three Sticks, Big Table Farm, Walter Scott, and Hazelfern.

WINES FOR DESSERT

There is no better way to cap off a romantic dinner than with a savory dessert and a succulent wine to match it. I consider the top end of dessert wine to be a Sauternes from Bordeaux. Sauternes is a small region in Bordeaux that has the perfect growing conditions to allow a fungus, Botrytis Ceneria (aka Noble Rot), to form on grapes but not necessarily harm them. Noble rot concentrates the sugars creating a sweet, concentrated wine like nowhere else on earth. The most prized Sauternes is Château d’Yquem, a favorite of renowned wine lover Coach Gregg Popovich. Fun fact: I had dinner with Coach Pop in 1999 to celebrate the first Spurs NBA championship, and he brought a 1976 d’Yquem. That was a memorable wine moment.

Another amazing dessert wine is the German Auslese Riesling. I have been enjoying these since I first lived in Germany over 20 years ago, especially those from Mosel vintner Joh. Jos. Prüm. Both Sauternes and Auslese can pair with almost any fine dessert. My personal favorite dessert with both wines is crème brûlée. There’s something about the vanilla flavor in the custard intertwining with the rich, luxurious mouthfeel of these wines that’s transcendent.

BE SURPRISED

When I think back about the most memorable wine moments in my life, the best ones have a common theme – there was something that surprised me. Tasting the 1982 Château Pichon Lalande Bordeaux on Valentine’s Day 1999 is a great example. A friend sent a glass over to me. I was so enthralled by the aroma that I had to remind myself to taste it! It is still one of the best wines I have ever had. This year, do something to surprise yourself or your partner. Make it special. Break away from the mundane. Create a timeless moment of your own. You only live once, so make it count!

Biography:

Jim Peterson is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who mainly flew the A-10 fighter jet. He has ties to the wine business going back over 25 years, has visited many wine regions, tasted the world’s top wines, and is an avid wine collector. His new business, The Texas Wine Pilot, offers customized in-home wine tastings and wine collecting consultations in the San Antonio and South Texas area. Visit txwinepilot.com or email him at jim@txwinepilot.com to book your tasting or consult. He has also cultivated a large following on his Instagram account, @tx_wine_pilot.