Valentine’s Day idea: Pink Champagne

This Valentine’s Day switch up from your usual dinner or desert wine and try Pink Champagne! Also known as rose champagne, is a champagne that is more pink in color than other types of champagne. If you’re cooking pink champagne is also a great alternative to regular wine because Rose champagnes have much greater versatility in food pairings than with most champagne because of the weight and richness the red wine blended in gives to the champagne.

Tips

Rose champagne is a very sensuous wine, so take your time with it.
If you just “kick it back”, you are missing out on a truly sensual experience! Smell all of the layers of fruit flavors- strawberry, raspberry, blood orange- feel the richness and voluptuous texture (more so than other rose champagnes) and feel the bubbles tickle your tongue…this wakes up your taste buds!
Choose Veuve Clicquot, Moet and Chandon, and Louis Roederer for outstanding pink champagnes. These champagne houses have long and storied histories, so expect to pay higher prices for their pink champagne.

Perfect Rose food pairings

Roasted Duck: the savory character of the duck will contrast with the luscious strawberry and raspberry fruitiness of the Rose Sauvage making the sweetness of the fruit stand out and have both flavors “pop”. The acidity from the rose will cut through some of the fat from the duck on your tongue, cleansing the palate, preparing you for that next delicious bite

Poached Salmon: salmon and Rose Champagne are a classic pairing. Salmon is a fatty fish that the rose champagne’s high acidity will cleanse and the fruitiness of the rose (especially the intensity of the Rose Sauvage) will complement and integrate with the flavors of the salmon.

One of my personal favorites are Martini and Rossi Sparkling Rose’

Martini and Rossi Rose Martini and Rossi Sparkling Rose’ is a fully sparkling wine crafted from premium Moscato Bianco, Brachetto and Malvasia grapes grown in Northern Italy. It has hints of citrus, sage, elder and peach that are accented with rich delicate violets and wild rose notes. Very Affordable!