Valentine’s Day Love and Bubbles
It’s that time of the year when Hallmark tells us it’s Valentine’s Day and we have to do something special. Quite frankly, everyday is special when it comes to the person you love, but Valentine’s Day is extra special to show your love. This year it a trifecta with February 14 falling mid-week, we have the weekend before, the actual day and the weekend after.
No worries, I have the four perfect sparkling wines for you to toast your love with that won’t break the bank. Celebrate the weekend before, the day of and the weekend after with Cava and Prosecco.
Vilarnau is a small artisan winery located outside Barcelona specializing in small scale production of Cava. Their aim is to make cave with as little impact on the environment. They hold the Organic Viticulture Certificate issued by the Catalan Council for Organic Agriculture which means they have reduced chemical and phytosanitary treatments by 50%.
The two Cavas below are in these beautiful bottles in the Trencadís Edition. Trencadís is a mosaic created from tiny fragments of broken ceramic tiles, or roof tiles. The technique is known as “pique assiette” in French. The bottles are so pretty you almost don’t want to open it.
Vilarnau Brut Reserva NV Made with the typical Cava blend of 50% Macabeo, 35% Parellada and 15% Xarel.lo and aged for 15 months on the lees. You’ll find bright apple and floral notes with exotic citrus and stone fruit. SRP $14.99
Vilarnau Brut Reserva Rosé NV made with a blend of 85% Trepat and 15% Pinot Noir, aged for 15 months on the lees you get bright red fruit popping out at you once you uncork. The Cava is a beautiful pink in color dancing in your glass with flavors of bright cherry and juicy strawberry with an elegant body. SRP 15.99
We head over to Italy and celebrate with two Proseccos. First is a Zonin Cuvee 1821 Prosecco from a the Zonin family that has been producing wine since the 1800’s. Light and refreshing aromas of white peaches and fresh picked white flowers opens to a palate showing some minerality with green apple and pear. There is a hint of sweetness on the finish. SRP $12.99
Rounding out Valentine’s Day with the Lunelli family brings us Ferrari Brut NV which is 100% Chardonnay sourced from grapes grown in the vineyards planted on the slopes of the Trentino mountains, made in strict accordance with the regulations of Trentodoc. This is a beautiful Prosecco with yeasty notes and toast coming from the bottle right after it’s uncorked. Pour it in a wine glass and smell the breddy aromas mixed with lemon, white flowers and chalk. One sip and the smooth and silky liquid is balanced with just enough acidity and flavors of just baked bead with melting butter, golden delicious apples and lemony citrus notes. SRP $25