Valentine’s Day is Saturday, and what better way to celebrate with your sweetheart than with a romantic dinner paired with a North Carolina wine?
With more than 100 wineries to choose from, North Carolina’s wineries cater to a variety of tastes. Wines include include dry reds, crisp whites, sweet muscadines, sparkling and dessert styles. The state ranks 10th in the nation in wine and grape production, and you can find N.C. wines in grocery stores, wine shops and of course at the winery. This year, enjoy a glass as part of your Valentine’s Day plans. Better yet, pair your wine with a wine tasting at one of the state’s wineries or turn it into a day trip and follow one of the 21 wine trails in the state.
To help put you in the mood, we’ve compiled a list of 10 fun and flirty wine names that we think will “pair well” with Valentine’s Day.
- In a Heartbeat is a red blend from Divine Llama Vineyards in East Bend.
- Matrimonio Parfait “Perfect Marriage” is a medium-bodied, dry red blend from Round Peak Vineyard in Mount Airy. This wine won silver at the 2014 N.C. State Fair.
- Sly Fox is a dry red muscadine wine from Gregory Vineyards in Angier. This wine also won silver at the N.C. State Fair. And as a bonus from Gregory, try Lee Love, a sweet red muscadine.
- Afternoon Delight is a red muscadine wine from Old North State Winery in Mount Airy. This wine won gold at the N.C. State Fair.
- Pearls of the Vine is a slightly sparkling white wine from Grandfather Vineyard and Winery. This wine won silver at the N.C. State Fair.
- La Dolce Vita, which translates to the Sweet Life, is a sparkling white wine from Raffaldini Vineyards in Ronda. This wine won gold at the N.C. State Fair.
- Pas de Deux, is not only a ballet dance with a male and female dancer, it’s also a semi-sweet moscato from Biltmore Estate Wine Co. in Asheville. This wine won gold at the N.C. State Fair.
- Cherry Bounce is a fortified cherry wine from Linville Falls Winery in Linville Falls. This wine has sour cherries, apple brandy and a hint of cinnamon. It won gold at the N.C. State Fair.
- Dark Shadow is a chocolate dessert wine from Shadow Springs Vineyard in Hamptonville. It is describe as “like drinking a dark-chocolate covered cherry.”
- Vin Chocolate Du Barista is a chocolate dessert wine from Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards in Hendersonville. It is describe as a “desert wine that finishes like a cup of coffee.” It won silver at the N.C. State Fair.
For more information on North Carolina wines, go to www.ncwine.org. And if you celebrate with alcohol, please remember to celebrate responsibly.