Cracking out a candlelit meal for two this Valentine's Day? Whether you're having a bottle with dinner, giving a gift or pouring a glass after date night, a delicious wine is the perfect way to get into the romantic mood.
If you want to make the night extra special, resist the urge to go for one of your usual bottles. Why not take Valentine's up a notch - and branch out with one of our delicious English wines?
We're well aware that choosing a new wine can be a little overwhelming. But don’t worry - as always, we've got a thorough, yet accessible guide to what we'd like to be drinking on Valentine's. Here's a rundown of our favourite red, white, rosé and sparkling wines for treating your beau on February 14th.
Our picks for Valentines wine
Romantic reds
Red wine: it's the classic Valentine's choice and the ideal accompaniment to a candlelit, romantic evening meal. These three English reds are deliciously complex but relatively light and drinkable - great with everything from a light starter to a meaty main. Perfect for sipping with good company.
LITMUS RED PINOT NOIR
This elegant, ever-popular red from Surrey is light yet rich and is underpinned by an earthy spiciness and a long finish. Smooth, velvety, and reminiscent of a French Pinot - but better in so many ways! Silver winner of the 2020 WineGB Awards.
Try this if you like: Burgundy.
BOLNEY ESTATE LYCHGATE RED
Medium-bodied and dry, this delicious romantic wine is one of many brilliant wines that have come out of Bolney Estate in Sussex. Full of earthy aromas, hedgerow fruits and black cherry. Bronze winner of the 2020 WineGB Awards.
Try this if you like: German reds.
BOLNEY ESTATE PINOT NOIR
Another fantastic red from Bolney Estate, this time representing a truly excellent example of a cool climate Pinot Noir. Complex, balanced and full of red fruit flavours. Gold winner of the 2020 WineGB Awards, and Silver winner of the Independent English Wine Awards.
Try this if you like: Pinot Noir!
Refreshing whites
English white wines are globally recognised, and these three bottles are some of our current favourites. Elegant, aromatic and refreshing, these whites make perfect accompaniments to dishes like seafood or chicken. Plus, they won't break the bank.
BIDDENDEN ORTEGA
More full-bodied than many English whites, this outstanding Ortega from Kent is full of fresh flavours like green apple, grapefruit and cut grass. Semi-aromatic, crisp and fruity, this wine pairs perfectly with lightly spicy dishes, simple seafood and roast chicken. Bronze winner of the 2020 WineGB Awards.
Try this if you like: Muscat.
DAVENPORT HORSMONDEN
A firm favourite of our CEO, who describes this white as having 'a little bit of magic'. With an aromatic white peach and floral fruit aroma, this organic wine is a benchmark example of a great English white. Silver winner of the Independent English Wine Awards, and Bronze winner of the 2020 WineGB Awards.
Try this if you like: A medium-bodied white.
HEPPINGTON PINOT GRIS
This was the debut wine from Heppington Vineyard in Kent, and it didn't disappoint. With a fresh, crisp flavour and elegant, vibrant acidity, this wine reminds us of a lot of Spanish white wines. It's perfect with seafood and gets even better as it warms a little. Silver winner of the 2021 WineGB Awards.
Try this if you like: Spanish whites.
Blushing rosés
Fruity, light and refreshing, a rosé is a great choice for Valentine's and will transport you and your squeeze straight to sunny picnics in warmer climes. These three delicious (and affordable) English rosés are an elegant match for all kinds of light dishes and creamy desserts.
CHAPEL DOWN ROSÉ
This crisp rosé has a delicate flavour and balanced acidity that makes it an instant hit with all kinds of palates. Reminiscent of sunny days, strawberries and cream, redcurrants and flowers. A little piece of the perfect Kent summer!
Try this if you like: Endless summer days.
BOLNEY ESTATE LYCHGATE ROSÉ
This is everything we want from an English rosé: fun, light, refreshing and a bottle you'll want to keep pouring all evening. Produced in Sussex, this wine has aromas of strawberry and apple, and a palate of red fruits and vanilla. Bronze winner of the 2021 WineGB Awards.
Try this if you like: A classic English Summer rosé.
TOPPESFIELD ROSÉ
This dry, Provençal-style rosé from Essex stopped us right in our tracks. It's elegant, refreshing and highly drinkable - with or without food. That said, it pairs really well with rare lamb, grilled squid, fresh, citrusy dishes and soft creamy dishes. Bronze winner of the 2021 WineGB Awards.
Try this if you like: Whispering Angel.
Special sparkling wines
Why not make Valentine's Day a proper occasion, and pop a bottle of sparkling wine? If you weren't already aware, the UK is now a leading producer of high-quality fizz. In fact, many of them beat the Champagnes in our blind taste tests with industry experts! And for those not drinking, we've even got a top-notch alcohol-free fizz.
BOLNEY BLANC DE BLANCS
This traditionally-made Sussex sparkling white is nothing short of genius. With a fine 'mousse' of tiny bubbles, this wine is smooth, characterful and fruity, with delicious yeasty undertones. Silver winner of the 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards, and Bronze winner of the 2020 WineGB Awards.
Try this if you like: Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
CAMEL VALLEY BRUT
This fresh and fruity fizz is a great sparkling wine to spark the conversation - did you say Cornwall?! Packed with flavours of red apple, English hedgerow scents and a touch of honey on the palate. And if you need more convincing, British Airways serve this to first-class flyers! Bronze winner of the 2021 WineGB Awards.
Try this if you like: Champagne.
CHAPEL DOWN BRUT
Chapel Down Brut is one of the best-known labels in the English wine sector, and for good reason. This seriously delicious bottle of fizz is a great example of English sparkling wine from Kent - full of aromas of red apple, lemongrass and freshly baked bread. Silver winner of the 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards, and Silver winner of the 2021 WineGB Awards.
Try this if you like: A good excuse to drink some fizz.
ALCHEMY ROSE SPARKLING ZERO ALCOHOL
This astonishingly good zero-alcohol fizz is a beautifully balanced combination of fermented grape juice and premium green tea. We had all but given up on the search for good alcohol-free wine until our CEO's wife got pregnant - which re-energised our search! The only problem was, this was so shockingly good, he forgot to share it with her...
Try this if you like: No hangovers.
