Unless you and your beloved both love Champagne, there’s no reason to be a slave to ceremony. Pour whatever you prefer – and pair it with the meal you love. [level-members]
Pizza and a cheap Italian red? That’s OK by me. Just make sure you and your mate agree on what qualifies as romantic.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the whole vintage Champagne and over-the-top classic French cuisine if that’s the route you both want to go.
Then again, you can find something in the middle with, say, a simpler sparkler – even a rosé sparkler – that keeps things fun. This year you can even combine holidays: Valentine’s Day and the Lunar New Year are days apart. Celebrate both with bubbles. (Which are way more food-friendly than most people give them credit for being.)
And don’t forget that “sexy” is in the eye of the beholder. If you and yours are both wine lovers, than that bottle with some age on it is pretty darn sexy even before you pop the cork. Even better a bottle with some age on it that also has special meaning to both. Perhaps it’s what you drank on your first date, or what was poured at your wedding, or even what you drank on your honeymoon or the night you were engaged.
One other great piece of advice we’ve seen: watch the alcohol content. The point isn’t to be passed out before the dessert plates are cleared! [/level-members]