The Voice of Riesling

Buying jewelry, flowers and chocolates are easy, but if you really wanna swoon your sweetheart, try preparing an awesome dinner and pairing a wine to have the ultimate dining experience in the comforts of your own home. Wow'em with your culinary skills and amaze'em with a nice bouquet.(fancy wine talk) Choosing a wine shouldn't be complicated. Wines are designed to compliment a meal or topping of an evening with a delicious dessert, bringing forth flavorful blends that dance on the palette.

There's no doubt pairing wines with food, one enhances the other, but if you don't know where to begin, decision making can become problematic. So where do we begin? Let's start with the basics I believe everyone is familiar with.

*Chablis
*Merlot

*Pinot Noir            
*Riesling
*Sauvingon
*Zinfadel
*Asti Spumante  

All of these are relatively inexpensive, so if  "splurging" is not in your budget, this selection is for you. A good bottle could set you back $15 to $20 bucks. As a rule of thumb for novices, red wine pair best with red meats and white wines pair better with white meats. But, by all means be daring if your wish. Have fun, experiment!

If pasta is your main entree', reds and white wines could go either way. It all depends on the sauce. For instance a pesto or tomato based sauce may better suit your taste buds with a red; Merlot or Zinfadel. If a lighter sauce is on the menu then go for a white wine. Seafood, appetizers and salads go well with Riesling. Hamburgers, pizza and hearty pastas can be paired with Zinfadel.

Personally, I enjoy a good glass of wine (white, red or rose), nothing too bitter or dry. I don't care for it to have long legs, woody notes or whatever-the-hell-else wine conniossuers say. If you like it, buy it. If you don't- spit it out...they do! The main objective is to create a romantic environment, spectacular food (homemade or catered) which will later lead to a very unforgettable.. fiery intimate.. intense night!

Happy Valentine's Day