Drinks

5 Valentine’s Day Wines and Pairings from an Expert | Listen

By: Erin Byers Murray

Your pairing predicament is solved with these hand-selected Valentine’s Day wines

At Saint Urban’s, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina’s cozy, Euro-feeling wine bar, it’s all about the vibes—and the wines, of course. Warren Johnson, partner and cheesemonger, curates a rotation of international wines to go along with the farmhouse cheeses, tinned seafood, and other specialties on Saint Urban’s shelves. Here, he’s selected a handful of excellent wines to seek out when crafting your ideal Valentine’s Day meal.

Warren Johnson of Saint Urban's shares his 5 Valentine's Wines and pairings

The Dish: Fish or scallops

The Pairing: Domaine Bohn Cremant d’Alsace Brut

Why it Works: This delicate sparkling wine made from chardonnay and pinot noir tastes like a vintage Champagne. Pair it with an elegant fish dish, scallops or, even better, a bubble bath.

Domaine Bohn Cremant d’Alsace Brut, one of five Valentine's Day wines

The Dish: Classic red sauce pizza or flatbread

The Pairing: Thibaud Boudignon Rose de Loire

Why it Works: This rosé is produced in the Loire Valley from a supremely talented winemaker. There’s a reason why so many Michelin-starred restaurants have this on their lists, but I’m suggesting that you lose the porcelain dinnerware and take the pairing in an entirely different direction—a really good pizza.

Thibaud Boudignon Rose de Loire, one of five Valentine's Day wines

The Dish: Something buttery or with heavy cream sauce

The Pairing: Domaine de la Mandeliere Chablis

Why it Works: A pure expression of the Chardonnay grape, this Premier Cru from Burgundy shows you’ve gone the extra mile for your other half. It has a perfume of summer flowers and pear, and finishes with a beautiful salinity. This is great with a cream sauce but screams out for buttery mussels with a mountain of french fries.

Chablis , one of five Valentine's Day wines

The Dish: Gorgonzola dolce or grilled steak

The Pairing: Corison Cabernet Sauvignon

Why it Works: If you’re looking for a bit of a splurge, Cathy Corison delivers medium to full-bodied wines that will impress any wine enthusiast. Pair it with a gorgonzola dolce, a grilled steak, charred vegetables, or roasted mushrooms—preferably all at once.

Corison Cabernet Sauvignon, one of five Valentine's Day wines

The Dish: Anything with chocolate

The Pairing: Angelo Negro Birbet

Why it Works: When I first tasted this wine, I smiled from ear to ear. It’s slightly sweet, slightly sparkling, low in alcohol, and bursting with strawberry and raspberry. It reminded me of a berry cream soda from my childhood.

Angelo Negro Birbet, one of five Valentine's Day wines
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  • Jules Furman
    February 6, 2025 at 6:28 pm

    Hello Ian

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