Valentine’s Day Wine Thoughts (That Won’t Break Your Bank)

Over the past and this week I’ve received an onslaught of “deals” emails for Valentine’s day dinners and wines, from WTSO, Vivino, Last Bottle, Drizly, Amazon, Instacart, and even Opentable. The choice is quite overwhelming (validation for the choice overload readings). As someone who usually works on holidays (i.e. in restaurants) and who also doesn’t quite care about holidays, here are some thoughts on how to DIY Valentine’s Day dinner and wine to have a romantic, and interesting night without emptying the wallet.

Sparkling wine is always a pleaser, and naturally has that “celebration!” feel. It can be served on its own or as the base for a mimosa or Kir Royale. And it doesn’t have to be champagne either. A decent bottle of Prosecco can come under $20. It’s a great pairing for anything fried, since the bubbles help cleanse the palate of the oil. Fried chicken or calamari for your Valentine? At least for me, that’s already a great start to the night.

Onto the mains. There’s probably nothing more opportune to make on Valentine’s Day than engagement chicken (legend has it that Meghan Markle was making engagement chicken when Prince Harry proposed). Simply pop it in the oven and open a bottle of chardonnay. There might be a surprise bling even before you move onto dessert!

Or if you do not want to go to any trouble of cooking, pizza is probably one of the most underrated Valentine’s Day meals. Grab a bottle of full-bodied Sicilian wine, and Netflix and chill.

(I’ve engaged in and/or overheard multiple conversations where someone is stressed out about Valentine’s Day. Well, it doesn’t have to be. As long as you and your special someone are truly spending quality time together, isn’t that what this day is all about? And maybe, just an excuse to have more wine.)