A Love Letter In Bottles

Cupid may have his arrows, but I’ve always preferred a well‑aimed cork. This Valentine’s Day, forget the clichés and reach for something that actually makes your heart beat faster — great wine. From South African sparkle to French finesse and Rioja romance, here’s your cheat sheet to bottles guaranteed to impress. Flowers fade… but good wine is forever.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse (as if we needed one) to indulge in wines that celebrate connection, tenderness and a touch of glamour. This weeks, Wine Times explores a globe‑spanning line‑up of bottles that bring charm, character and a little theatre to the table. Whether you’re planning a candlelit dinner, a Galentine’s gathering, or a solo soirée with excellent chocolate, these wines will set exactly the right tone.

Champagne Taittinger Prestige Rosé

RRP £60 | John Lewis, The Champagne Company

Taittinger’s signature pink fizz owes its gorgeous colour to the elegant l’addition method — blending a little still red wine with white before the second fermentation. Three years ageing on the lees brings depth and silkiness, while soft red‑berry aromas glide into a crisp, fresh finish.

Perfect pairing: smoked salmon, scallops, or the start of a perfect evening.

Contino Reserva (Rioja) 2020

RRP £28 | Cambridge Wine Merchants, Hedonism, Hop Cellar, Tannin & Oak, Taurus Wines

Contino, one of Rioja’s pioneering single‑estate wineries, has a well‑earned reputation for benchmark Reservas. Hand-harvested fruit from tiny micro‑plots and 18 months in oak give this wine its polished balance of spice, red fruit and gentle earthiness.

Perfect pairing: slow‑cooked bolognese, ragu, or any dish that tastes better after hours of simmering — much like love.

Champagne Drappier Clarevallis

£58.95 | The Whisky Exchange

Family‑run since 1808, Drappier is famed for purity, low‑sulphur winemaking and its ties to the ancient Clairvaux Abbey — the inspiration behind Clarevallis. Organically farmed vineyards on Urville’s limestone slopes give this cuvée its serene elegance. Expect a golden‑grey sparkle, floral notes of elderberry and violet, and a beautifully structured palate of red fruit and spice.

Perfect pairing: marinated fish, fresh salads, or a quiet moment for two.
 

Kleine Zalze Cap Classique Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV

12% ABV | £19.99 – Banstead Vintners, Macknade Fine Foods, ND John Wines, Fareham Wine Cellar

South Africa’s MCC tradition shines here — fine bubbles, ripe strawberry and blackberry fruit, and that lovely biscuity richness from traditional‑method ageing. Vibrant, elegant and unforgettable.

Perfect pairing: oysters, sushi, or anything deserving of a celebratory sparkle.

Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rosé 2019 (Western Cape)

Pinot Noir  | 12% ABV | £22 – Majestic

A vintage rosé with Graham Beck’s signature finesse. Creamy mousse, ripe raspberry and strawberry, hints of honeysuckle and subtle spice. It gleams in the glass with its salmon‑pink glow.

Perfect pairing: smoked salmon canapés or a fruity Valentine’s dessert.

Journey’s End Cap Classique NV (Stellenbosch)

12% ABV | £16.90 – Tanners

South Africa’s answer to Champagne — and this bottle proves why MCC is having a moment. Two‑thirds Pinot Noir, one‑third Chardonnay, and 18 months on lees for a brioche‑kissed richness balanced by zesty citrus and crushed almond.

Perfect pairing: shellfish, sushi, or as a crisp, refreshing aperitif.

Joseph Mellot Sancerre Rabault Rosé 2022

13% ABV | £24.38 – Fareham Wine Cellar, DeFINE Food & Wine

From one of Sancerre’s oldest families, this Pinot Noir rosé shines with bright salmon colour, rose and peony aromas and a raspberry‑fresh palate. Refined, vivid and wonderfully elegant.

Perfect pairing: goat’s cheese tart, prawns or a chic Parisian‑style lunch.

M. Chapoutier ‘Rouge Clair’ 2024 (Southern Rhône)

11.5% ABV | £14.90 – The Oxford Wine Company, Latitude Wines, Islington Wine, Dulwich Vintners, Fine Wines of Mayfield, The Wine Reserve

A pale, chillable red made from Grenache and Syrah grown along the Black Mountain foothills. Vibrant raspberries, small red fruits and delicate tannins make this a super‑fresh, modern Rhône crowd‑pleaser.

Perfect pairing: charcuterie, cold buffets, or simply served chilled over ice.