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Three lovely libations for Valentine’s Day

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ferrari-perle-millesimato-magnum-1185804-s238Valentine’s Day is great for the restaurant business.

Beg. borrow or steal a reservation, wait at the bar and finally descend on your table and hope your romantic evening out won’t be sidetracked by an overpressed wait staff and kitchen.

Why not spend a romantic evening at home?

Find a great card and a thoughtful gift for your sweetheart. Set a lovely table and light the candles. Put on wonderful music. And let the magic begin.

Here are three lovely libations to spark romance:
Build a wood fire and put a bottle of bubbly on ice. Ferrari Perle 2008 is celebratory, with that yeasty pop race car drivers and accomplished hosts expect from this superb producer of sparkling wines from Trento in northern Italy.  It’s creamy, with crisp apple and subtle notes of almond. (SRP: $38)

pinotnoir-B3-2_largeOn to dinner! Loveblock Pinot Noir is a gorgeous red with purple hues from a small vineyard in New Zealand appropriately named Someone’s Darling and brought to us by Terlato Wines. It’s complex, so open the bottle early and let it breathe. Expect perfumed violet, intense dark fruit, and an herbaceous oaky waft layered with savory mushroom and sweet strawberry notes. I suggest pouring this pleasing potable with duck. (SRP: $37)

Select_BottleIt’s a romantic evening. Back to the fireplace. Put another log on the fire, dear, and Indulge in Laphroaig Select Scotch Whisky, with the exquisite peaty notes of Scotland and “the beautiful hollow by the broad bay,” the literal translation of the label. (SRP: $44.99)

Hopefully, you already have set out nice glasses and comfy pillows.

Expect a long, dry finish with spice. Add a heartfelt hug from your sweetheart.

 

A toast to Ferrari

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I always keep a few bottles of bubbly chilled because I am an optimist. I believe there will be something to celebrate — sooner rather than later — so I stand prepared.

I am especially fond of the sparkling wines produced in Trento by Ferrari, which I discovered 15 years ago when my husband and I were honeymooning in Italy. (Ferrari also means “smith” in Italian, which is my maiden name!)

Ferrari_Spumante_Art_PostersWe visited the Ferrari winery in the picturesque Alpine region, where we were the only people scheduled for a tour that day. How romantic! We enjoyed a memorable private trek through the winery with a friendly guide, topped off with a glass of bubbly. We watched a classy movie on the history of Ferrari narrated by Roger Moore in dapper James Bond fashion. And we took home a complimentary poster of the comely wine lady (she’s the one on the right) and had it matted and framed. Today, it hangs in our dining room, a reminder of our lovely day.

image001New Year’s Eve will be especially festive when you uncork a bottle of bubbly from Ferrari, Italy’s leading producer of traditional method sparkling wines since 1902, which are crafted using the same process as Champagne. Trento’s high elevation produces dry, crisp, elegant food-friendly wines. In addition to our table, Ferrari is served at the home of the Italian president, the Venice Film Festival, the Milan fashion runways and World Cup Soccer.

The latest release is the 2006 Ferrari Perlé, a Blanc de Blancs sourced exclusively from estate-owned vineyards (SRP $35). Expect a highly refined pour with notes of apples and almonds. The signature Ferrari Brut NV is made from 100 percent Chardonnay grapes and is super with food, especially oysters. Notes of peach are balanced with soft brioche.  (SRP$25)  Ferrari Rosé NV, a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is an exceptional rose that is a good match both visually and taste-wise with salmon. It’s lively and citrusy with a long finish (SRP $37).

Soon, you will be creating your own memories with Ferrari.