We couldn’t agree more with the above sentiment (admittedly slightly doctored for the needs of this blog!)

Valentine’s is a great time to celebrate love near and far so enjoy those special relationships and friendships with a feast, kind words and even possibly a gift. In this blog we will explore some feast and gift ideas to help inspire you and help your celebrations along nicely, whomever you choose to share your Valentine's with.

Feast

What is more intimate than delicious food and good wine? The way to a person’s heart is through the stomach they say... though the list of cliché's are endless, basically food and wine are important!  A romantic meal for two or a shared home cooked meal for friends, here are our tips for making it a special evening:

• Set the scene – music on, turn the TV off, light some candles, write a Valentine’s themed note (funny or romantic). Make the restaurant experience at home.
• Dress up a little!
• Make it yourself – or try our less effort more fun approach below!
• Pair meal with a tasty wine – or outsource that to us!  We are always happy to pair food and wine, it is our passion and one of life’s true pleasures.
• Nothing says I love you more than sharing!

The less effort more fun approach – we have done all the work for you with the dinner for two giftbox. Our Pasta, Sugo and Chianti Dinner for Two includes a packet of Appleton's pasta, a jar of ragu sauce and a one litre bottle of Fiasco Chianti... everything you need for a dinner for two except someone to wash up!

Main course – we are thinking T-bone for the perfect sharing main option!?  Think big and bold for your wine would be the top tip here depending on your preference and budget.  If dark fruit flavours, herbal notes, some sweet spices and good tannic structure are essential, then a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon or a Bordeaux blend would be the obvious choices – we have a selection for all budgets up to Chateau Calon Segur 2009 Saint Estephe.  The 2009 vintage contains 90% Cabernet and is full of black cherry and cassis with sweet spices and the expected structure and would pair well for such an occasion.  A quick warning, this might be tough to share!  In the centre of the bottle label, the heart has been the symbol of Calon since the 18th century, thanks to the Marquis de Ségur stating “I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon”.  A perfect sentiment for your Valentine’s special evening.

A more leftfield, but still exceptional pairing would be Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez, Pesquera Reserva 2015.  This wine hails from Spain’s Ribera Del Duero and oozes blackberry, black cherry, a sweet liquorice and great tannic structure with subtle freshness and mouth tingly acidity that will keep you wanting a top-up!

For a Chocolate pudding sharer – prep in advance to reduce the load!  Here is risk free winner for any chocolate lover. A “dense, dark and delicious” chocolate pudding and with this much chocolate, think Tawny port.  Our Kopke 10 year Tawny would be a perfect match here!  The perfect digestive and match with chocolate due to the rich dried fruit, walnut and sweet spice flavours.

Gift ideas

Keeping it fun, romantic and exciting is what Valentines is all about and a gift can be key. Whether you are going the feast and wine idea or need a little more inspiration we have created a couple of products with Valentine’s in mind which we think are good ideas. If you need something more bespoke come and see us instore and let us help create the perfect gift.

Our Luxury fizz and nibbles hamper is built around Bollinger Rose, with cheese, biscuits, condiments and chocolate cigars too.  Everything you need for a romantic picnic somewhere on the coast (wrap up warm!) or an evening in the comfort of your own home. 

Chocolate and fun again are safe territory for a present idea we think and hopefully you well get to enjoy the present too! What better than an edible chocolate shot?  Mozart Chocolate Liqueur is a great chocolate version of baileys and totally delicious. Sink the shot and eat the evidence!  Mozart Chocolate Cups