Those who love sparkling wines like myself are constantly trying to convince the masses that a special occasion is not needed to enjoy a glass of bubbles. However, based on sales figures, sparkling wine sales typically increase around a special occasion or holiday event. So if you won’t take my advice and embrace the notion that bubbles pair just as well with Tuesday as they do a birthday or anniversary; then at least open a lovely bottle of bubbles for Valentine’s Day.

Consider this, if you are celebrating Valentine’s Day with the one you love then bubbles add elegance to the evening, if you are celebrating with your friends then bubbles create a party atmosphere, if you are enjoying a quiet evening alone then you have the entire bottle to yourself! Sparkling wine makes a great aperitif to enjoy as you wait for your bottle selection to decant. Due to its high acidity, sparkling wine pairs seamlessly with a wide variety of foods such as seafood, shellfish, poultry, pork, and red meat, as well as Thai food, French food, Sushi, Mediterranean food, the list goes on. Finally, allow a nice bottle of sparkling wine to dress up an ultra-casual meal such a fried chicken or a hamburger, you’ll be glad you did! Whatever this Valentine’s Day has in store for you a lovely bottle of sparkling wine will only make it better.

Here are two high-quality, low price bottles of bubbles that will make your Valentine’s Day sparkle.

Domaines Paul Mas wines are inspired by a new world attitude and seek to add luxury to every day. The wines are a result of a “harmonious symbiosis between [the] extraordinary region [of Languedoc-Roussillon, which] is capable of producing fantastic fruits, a passion for the vineyards, a true respect for the grapes during vinification, and a talent of blending and aging wines.” All this is evident in the Côté Mas.

NV Paul Mas ‘Côté Mas’ Crémant de Limoux Brut Languedoc-Roussillon France ($15.99): Crafted of 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc, 10% Pinot Noir, and 10% Mauzac in the Methode Traditionelle; clear, pale lemon; clean medium aromas of floral notes, citrus lead by lemon zest, and a touch of honey; dry with medium+ acidity, persistent bubbles create a crisp and lively mouth-feel with a zesty finish.

Anna de Codorníu is a pure, lively, and feminine sparkling wine. ‘Anna’ honors the Codorníu heiress who married viticulturalist Miquel Raventos in 1659. Due to its history and exquisite taste, Anna has become Codorníu’s most emblematic product around the world.

NV Codorníu ‘Anna’ Blanc de Blancs Brut Cava Catalonia Spain ($14.99): Crafted of 70% Chardonnay, 15% Parellada, 7.5% Macabeo, and 7.5% Xarel.lo in the Methode Traditionelle; clear pale lemon; clean medium aromas of grapefruit, citrus zest, pineapple, and white floral notes; dry with medium+ acidity, fine perlage offers a mousse-like mouth-feel, crisp and refreshing with a clean finish. As you can see Codorníu is also offering a limited-edition Valentine’s Day bottle.

These two sparkling wines are crowd pleasers both in style and affordability. They are also widely distributed for year round enjoyment.

My Song Selection:

Get your own bottles of NV Paul Mas ‘Côté Mas’ Crémant de Limoux Brut and NV Codorníu ‘Anna’ Blanc de Blancs Brut Cava and let me know what song you pair with them. Cheers!