Today is Valentine’s Day and for a variety of reasons the colours red and pink play major roles in the attire, decoration and, more recently, in what we consume, be it strawberries, cherries or wine.

Last week, I suggested a number of wines from all the major styles of wines out there. This week my focus is on pink wines.

Please keep the emails coming; the main question this past week was where to get the wines that I’d suggested. Unless otherwise indicated, all the wines are available from one or most of the following outlets: MegaMart, Loshusan, CPJ Market, Bin 26 Wine Bar, Uncorked, Petcom Dunrobin and Petcom Ocho Rios.

If budget is not an issue, then select a nice cold bottle of Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial. This is what Moët had to say: “Rosé Impérial is a spontaneous, radiant, romantic expression of the Moët & Chandon style, a style distinguished by its bright fruitiness, its seductive palate and its elegant maturity” (A Dry Champagne).

A great bubbly that’s not up there in the Champagne price category would be Martini & Rossi Sparkling Rosé. Hailing from Italy, the Martini & Rossi Sparkling Rosé is a fully sparkling wine crafted from premium Moscato Bianco, Brachetto and Malvasia grapes grown in Northern Italy. This wine is light, crisp and aromatic with hints of citrus, elderflower and soft peach.

Okay, so maybe you are new to the world of wines and you prefer your wines sweet. Moscato has been all the rage in recent times. They are made in White, Red and now Pink. Do try the Beringer Pink Moscato. The Pink Moscato is rosy-pink hued and very perfumed with aromas of white peaches, caramel and honeysuckle. The passion fruit and honeydew melon flavours are sweet, creamy and balanced with nice acidity.

If you don’t like it sweet and you don’t want it too dry either, if just a hint of sweet is all you need then grab a bottle of Ménage à Trois Rosé. I like how the lyricists at the producer describe this wine, “Good rosé is like a carnival in your mouth-and not one of your low-rent carnivals. We’re talking about your really classy, country fair kind of carnival. Our Ménage à Trois Rosé is the epitome of a good rosé. No pretension, no pretense, just a fruit-laden roller coaster ride of raspberries, strawberries, lychee nuts and flowers.”

Just One Red

If I am forced to select just one red to recommend for today, I am going to choose a Petite Sirah. I recently tasted a wine made by this grape and was reminded why this not-so-common varietal is so celebrated by those in the know. So until the Cupcake Petite Sirah is available, I am suggesting you try a bottle or two of Bogle Petite Sirah. – These are the notes from the winemaker:

Thirty-four years after it was first produced by the Bogle family in 1978, Petite Sirah is today considered Bogle’s “heritage” varietal. Once again the trademark qualities shine through in a wine that is supple, luscious and easy to enjoy. Deeply inky, this wine coats the glass and lingers before the first sip has been taken. Heady aromas of boysenberries and blackberries headline the entry, while flavours of wild blueberries steal the show. Full-bodied and concentrated, seductive juniper and anise tangle with coffee and leather tones as the wine’s finish lingers on stage. Enduring and enthralling, this wine is perfectly suited for an encore.

Here’s wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day.

Christopher Reckord – Entrepreneur & Wine Enthusiast. Send your questions and comments to creckord@gmail.com. Follow us on twitter: @Reckord