Affordable Wines for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is an opportunity to break away from the doldrums of February. Here are a few budget-minded and romantic wines — perfect compliments for red roses and chocolate — that will make your Valentine’s Day special.

Cupcake Red Velvet

Cupcake Red Velvet is a rich delicious and complex red wine that can be enjoyed by itself, with dinner, and most importantly, with chocolate. This dark ruby red wine boasts layers of chocolate, deep rich blackberries, red fruits and creamy mocha. Red Velvet is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is one of my favorite winter wines. A very romantic wine comes with a good price, ranging from $10 to $15 a bottle, can be found at most retail outlets, including the finer grocery stores.

Razors Edge Shiraz

This wine is lighter than Cupcake Red Velvet. Razors Edge Shiraz’s deep purple wine can be enjoyed alone, before dinner, with a meal or with chocolate. The flavor is a combination of ripe blackberry and cherry, with hints of black pepper, earth, and oak. Before you eat dinner, try it with some cranberry cheddar, some pesto on slices of French bread, or chocolate fondue. If your local wine seller does not carry this brand, you can always ask them to special order it for you. It is in the under $20 a bottle price range.

Jean-Luc-Colombo Viognier La Violette

This is what I would call a winter white wine. This is not a sweet wine. Viognier is a bit thicker than Chardonnay and Sauvignons Blanc and has a higher alcohol content than other white wines. Viognier La Violette has a bright fresh flavor, full of yellow peaches and exotic fruits. This rich soft wine has a very elegant and harmonious and deep flavor. Of all the Viognier wine I have tasted, this one is the most fulfilling. For after dinner or snacking, I would recommend strawberries, fresh cut fruit and white chocolate as an accompaniment. This wine should be enjoyed watching romantic movies such as  “The Star” with Betty Davis and Sterling Hayden.

Cupcake Brute Rose Pinot Noir

This sparkling wine is comparable to real French Champagne. The taste beckons the accompaniment of chocolate truffles, or a box of Godiva chocolate. The Cupcake Brute would be a great companion to a good goat Gouda cheese or Gruyere fondue, with savory crackers or hunks of fresh French bread. This sparkling wine is as close as you can get to real French Champagne.

Choco Vine

After your Valentines Day dinner is over and you are ready for dessert, it is time for Choco Vine. Choco Vine is a combination of Cabernet and Dutch chocolate. This perfect combination of wine and chocolate makes for a true match made in heaven. The taste is likened to Baileys Irish cream, only lighter. Poured over crushed ice and garnished with chocolate nibs or with a splash or hazelnut lacquer or raspberry lacquer are two popular ways to serve this delicious wine. Two new Choco Vine products, Choco Vine Raspberry and Choco Vine Strawberry are both quite enjoyable over crushed ice and served as a martini mixer.

Lillet

Lillet is another, after dinner or desert drink. Lillet is a brand of French aperitif wine. It is a blend of 85 percent Bordeaux wines and citrus liqueurs made from a variety of sweet and bitter oranges and grapefruit peels. The traditional way to serve it is in chardonnay glasses over ice with a twist of orange or lemon.

Lillet Blanc is the key ingredient in James Bond's Martini, the Vesper, and is referred to as Kina Lillet.

This is the recipe:

• 3 ounce gin
• 1 ounce vodka
• 1/2 ounce Lillet

Pour the gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc into a cocktail shaker half-filled with cracked ice. Shake well, (not stirred), and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon, and serve.