Valentine’s Day has become almost a cliché. Chocolate boxes appear in every shop window and menus promise predictable pairings. But in Sonoma Valley, February invites a different conversation.
Wine has always been part of how we celebrate love, but not because it pairs well with chocolate. Wine encourages us to slow down, to engage our senses, and to share something that evolves with time. It asks us to pay attention. And love, in all its forms, asks the same.
Chocolate may be the absolutely required companion to a Valentine’s meal, but it is perhaps the least adaptable. In fact, my most memorable Valentine’s meals have little to do with dessert: the perfectly cooked ribeye with a beautifully aged Cabernet Sauvignon; the Dungeness crab with an off-dry Riesling. As far as I am concerned, much more romantic than chocolate, which so easily overwhelms the taste buds, is a great wine and food pairing that unfolds over the course of a meal, can deepen conversation, and lead to an evening that lingers longer than planned.
In wine country, Cabernet Sauvignon is more often the star of a carefully planned Valentine’s dinner than is chocolate. The style that works best with a special meal should be expressive and layered versus dramatic. The best Cabernet Sauvignon does not rush to impress. It reveals itself gradually, offering depth, structure, and nuance. And Cabernet Sauvignon from Sonoma Mountain is an excellent example of this style. Cooler temperatures, elevation, and volcanic soils produce wines with balance rather than excess.
Savory dishes—those with texture, richness, and subtle earthiness—bring out the best in Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine’s structure frames the food, while its aromatics enhance the experience.
For those who choose to celebrate love beyond chocolate, the possibilities are numerous and exciting. Special cuts of meat, aged cheeses, roasted vegetables are just some of the many dishes that can be elevated through a good wine pairing into something greater than the sum of its parts. A thoughtfully prepared meal creates space for wine to complement; a thoughtfully chosen wine ensures the wine will elevate the meal rather than compete with it.
Yet Valentine’s Day is not only about couples, and wine pairings should not be either. Friends gather, families share meals, and wine fits seamlessly into all of these expressions of love. A single glass poured at the end of the day can be just as meaningful as a bottle shared around a table.
Valentine’s Day, at its core, is about marking connection. Wine simply gives us a way to do that with intention. It doesn’t need to be sweet to feel indulgent. It doesn’t need to be dramatic to feel special. It just needs to be enjoyed fully.
This Valentine’s Day, consider letting wine lead the experience, rather than chocolate. The right wine will support the occasion, even elevate it. My advice is to choose a special Cabernet Sauvignon, one that holds significance for you and reflects place and patience. Pair it with food and conversation and allow plenty of time for things to develop. And if the meal ends with chocolate, well that’s all part of the indulgence that characterizes Valentine’s Day.
Just try and keep in mind that the most meaningful pairings are about connection. And that’s something worth celebrating.