For me, nothing says I love you more then a beautiful meal with a lovely wine. Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to splurge (yeah for me!) and with the focus on the one I love, I find it fun and relaxing. My husband appreciates a great atmosphere and a homemade dinner more then anything else I could give him.

Since planning gives me pleasure (rushing does not!), I start organizing 2 days ahead. I buy fresh flowers and pick up the house. (Yes, Hubby will most likely bring me flowers, but there’s always room for more flowers.)

Then I start to think about the menu. The key is keep it simple and make something I know he loves. (I don’t want to be exhausted before dessert.) This year, I’m making cheese and pear crostini for an appetizer and Petite Filet Mignon with wine sauce, lobster tails and a simple side salad. Dessert is Wine County Chocolates of course! (I bought the special Valentine’s box as a gift for Hubby.)

With this menu, there are a lot of wine pairing opportunities. The appetizer wine depends on the cheese you use on the crostini (toasted French baguette slices). Goat cheese and pears pair well with a Sauvignon Blanc. A white cheddar goes well with Chardonnay (look for the word pear in the label description). If you want to try something adventuresome, place honey on the crostini, then add Gorgonzola and pear; try it with Champagne.

Steak and lobster is welled paired with a heavy white like a buttery Chardonnay. A special Cabernet Sauvignon (any balanced red) can be delightful with the steak, but won’t do much for the lobster. (I admit sometimes I will indulgently serve both a white and red.)

My tip for Valentine wine…the varietal isn’t as important as the bottle itself. I recommend splurging on a bottle slightly outside your usual budget. (Think of all the money you saved by not going out to dinner.) This is a day to be relaxed, indulgent and whimsical. You may want to choose something with a romantic name or label. I’ll be serving Bellisimo (translation most beautiful in Italian) or Ti Amo (I Love You) from Ledson.

Tell me about your special evening!