Decadent Champagnes and sparkling wines over which to woo your valentine.
It’s not as if we need a reason to open a bottle of bubbly. But if there is one ICONIC occasion that begs for the pop of a cork, it’s Valentine’s Day. Whether your February 14 plans entail time spent with a special someone, or a relaxing evening home alone, the occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on all of the love in your life.
Fill your flute with the iridescent effervescence of one of these wonderful sparkling wines and Champagnes and toast to friends, family and even faithful, furry companions—those who are always there for you, time and again. Enjoyed with another, or relished solo, these bubbles can’t help but beguile.
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Whether your February 14 plans entail time spent with a special someone, or a relaxing evening home alone, the occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on all of the love in your life.
For the ultimate in celebratory sparkles, it’s Billecart-Salmon’s Nicolas François 2007. This aromatic prestige cuvée was created in 1964 in homage to the founder of the iconic French Champagne house and the assembly has remained unchanged since. Beautiful golden yellow, the glittering crystalline appearance is off-set by an eruption of finely chiseled bubbles and flavors of peaches in syrup, fine apple tart and mountain butter.
Elegant, rich, and oh so delicious, pair this one with….absolutely anything. For seven generations, Billecart-Salmon has dedicated itself to quality, and its stewards have served as committed guardians through the centuries, ensuring exacting standards for the vines, the terroir and the art of winemaking.
Choose this one for the bottle alone, the shape of which was inspired by those used during the time of King Henry IV. This ICONIC Champagne was first released in 1968. 100 percent Pinot Noir from Grand Cru villages in the north and south of Montagne de Reims, it is delicious as an aperitif and is versatile for food pairings.
Salmon, prawns, duck and foie gras are excellent matches, as are Thai and Vietnamese dishes. As beautiful in the glass as it is delicious, its bright flavors of fresh strawberries, red currants, raspberries, and black cherries also pairs well with creamy cheeses such as Brie.
This elegant and delicate cuvée, sourced from some of Champagne’s most prestigious villages, perfectly reflects G.H. Mumm’s terroir and style. A refreshing antidote to the floral and sweet fruit flavors of traditional rosés, this drink features rich berry aromas typical of the Pinot Noir cultivated in the Maison Mumm vineyards. This one is both juicy and spicy and it can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a number of creative dishes.
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Champagne Henriot is one of the oldest family-owned Champagne houses still in existence, with 200+ years of savoir-faire in extracting the best from the terroirs from which they harvest. The Brut Souverain NV, a classic blend of 50 percent Chardonnay, 45 percent Pinot Noir and 5 percent Pinot Meunier, offers notes of citrus fruit and elderberry, followed by pastry, lightly toasted bread and roasted almonds.
With a clean, crisp finish, this Champagne lends itself nicely to the crunch of a pear salad, camembert-en-croute or pita chips with pumpkin hummus. Blanc de Blancs NV is the House’s purest expression of the Chardonnay grape. Crisp and full-bodied on the palate, it possesses notes of buttery brioche intermingled with quince jelly and acacia honey, making it a great pairing for apple pie, cinnamon rolls or butternut squash tart.
Known as the toast of Italy par excellence, Ferrari wines accompany the most important moments in culture, entertainment, and sport, as illustrated by its prestigious partnership with Formula 1®. Thrice crowned “Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year” by The Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships, Ferrari is also the official sparkling wine partner of America’s Cup team Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli of Italy.
Ferrari Brut is the company’s original sparkling wine, made from the first Chardonnay grapes planted in Italy’s Trentino mountains by Giulio Ferrari in 1902. The region’s extreme altitude gives this wine a character different from its French counterparts, with notes of golden apple and luscious yeasty tones.
Coppery, and tending toward old rosé, Ferrari Rosé is dry, clean and elegant with the freshness of wild strawberries and sweetness of almonds. 60 percent pinot noir and 40 percent chardonnay, it features refined hints of red currants with a sensation of hawthorn flowers, underpinned by a delicate note of crusty bread.
History buff? This one’s for you. This bubbly, served at Pippa Middleton’s wedding, hails from the unexpected region of Sussex, England.
The Nyetimber name and its grounds date back to the Norman invasion; the estate is named in the Domesday Book of 1086 and was strongly tied to the ancient Priory of Lewes. Henry VIII obtained it through the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536 and passed it first to Thomas Cromwell, and then to Anne of Cleves as part of their annulment settlement.
With shortbread and British summer fruit flavors, this rosé offers a unique combination of aromas. Its creamy texture and red currant, raspberry and cherry flavors give it an elegant and silky finish.
Dundee, Oregon-based Argyle was founded in 1987 by vintner Rollin Soles, whose goal was to make sparkling wines that could stand alongside the greatest wines from Champagne. Willamette Valley’s cool climate region has proven ideal in achieving this objective.
Argyle produces up to 12 varied and limited bottlings annually; the brand’s extended tirage offerings have earned acclaim as New World benchmarks. Highlighted by a tense backbone and well-framed acidity, this graceful and elegant Argyle Extended Tirage Brut is layered with ripe nectarine, white cherry, honeycomb with the complexity of brioche and roasted hazelnut.
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