Without question, a romantic dinner — the type you might be planning for Valentine’s Day — is one of those occasions that cries out for wine.
And not just any wine. If you’re trying to impress a date, this is the time for red wine.
Fortunately, red wine isn’t hard to find. It’s produced in virtually every wine-growing region around the world, although the quality tends to lessen as the climate grows cooler.
In Italy, where some of the world’s most romantic men reside (so I’m told), a red wine is called rosso.
In France, it’s rouge.
And in Spain, it’s tinto.
The United States makes its fair share of red wine, too, with most answering to the name of a varietal grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and so on. Numerous regions have become known for specific types of red wine, especially on the West Coast.
Working from north to south…
* Washington’s Columbia Valley — Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
* Oregon’s Willamette Valley — Pinot Noir.
And in California…
* Napa Valley and Alexander Valley — Cabernet Sauvignon.
* Dry Creek Valley — Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon.
* Russian River Valley — Pinot Noir.
* Sonoma Valley — Merlot.
* Monterey County — Pinot Noir.
* Paso Robles — Zinfandel.
* Santa Barbara County — Pinot Noir.
Of course, other reds are grown in virtually all of the aforementioned regions, and there are other regions that also produce lots of exceptional red wines.
So whether you’re dining out or eating at home, make Valentine’s Day 2019 special by opening a bottle of red wine and sharing it with your Significant Other.
