Erica's Choice

Valentine’s Day is around the corner and personally I find wine to be the best choice to share with a loved one on this special day. This year my personal picks for Valentines Day are based on a few wines that I tasted over the past few months.  I also decided to reach out to local wine store owners in Milwaukee to provide alternative suggestions for the special day.

Erica’s Wine Picks for V-day:

1. Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rose

For those that love bubbles on Valentines day this wine is the pick for you. Not only does the wine look beautiful in bottle and glass it is also a superb quality and excellent value for money. The palate is smooth, some floral notes mixed with toast & yeast on the nose and a beautiful combination of floral notes & fruit, including strawberry & rasberry on the palate. Even though I prefer this wine accompanied with a strong cheese such as Parmesan it will also serve well with fruit desserts or chocolates. For example Hershey’s Rassberry Bliss will match beautifully. Selling around $20 this represents a great choice for 2010.

For a detailed review that I performed on Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rose please click this link.

2. Chocolate Block 2006, Boekenhoutskloof.

With strong hints of dark chocolate & cocoa as well as ripe fruit and some spice this is the prime choice for Valentine’s Day 2010.  Decant this wine before serving as it will accentuate its lovely nose & palate. Chocolate Block is a masculine wine however with its velvety palate & exotic cocoa & spice on the nose, should impress many the wine drinker and in the end I believe the general consensus will be something like yum…..cocoa. Serve it with red meat dishes such as grilled steak.

V-Day wine picks by local wine bars/stores in Milwaukee:

As promised I reached out to local wine experts for their wine picks for 2010 Valentine’s Day.  Each had some great suggestions!

Phil Beaudou, sommelier and owner of The Thief Wine Shop & Bar:

1)     Heidseick Monopole 1998 Diamant Rose Champagne. Aimee & I will be enjoying this on Saturday night.

2)     Terra Valentine 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District of Napa Valley.

Joe Woelfle – owner of Blatz Liquor, Milwaukee, WI

1)  Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone

2) Terlato Syrah

Ben Christainsen, owner of Waterford Winery

1) Bruenello is what I always recommend but Champagne is what I usually personally enjoy!