DOC'S WINES FOR VALENTINE'S

WINE AND LOVE

“Wine comes in at the mouth and love comes in at the eye; That's all we shall know for truth, Before we grow old and die.”

                          -William Butler Yeats-

By Doc Lawrence

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA-Valentine’s Day in the South is a magnified celebration when wine is included with a romantic dinner or combined with roses and chocolates as a gift. Let’s face it: Southerners enjoy the delights of love with wine. Rhett Butler, our legendary ladies man, risked his life smuggling in scarce bottles of Champagne. A lover’s toast requires a glass of bubbly. Down here, this is a hallowed tradition.

If Champagne is a little tough on the budget, there are alternatives. Alluring and refreshing,  Sofia Rosé from Francis Ford Coppola Winery, has the proper combinations-taste, bubbles, color, beautiful bottle-all at an amazing price of $20.00. It’s easy to find at any good retail wine shop, while still retaining the charm of being off the beaten path. Highly recommended.

The red wine for Valentine’s is the one with the perfect name: Saint-Amour. This Cru Beaujolais from Burgundy is truly delicious, food-friendly and also reasonably priced. Locating it might be a daunting task. However, any wine merchant should have it under many labels. Obviously, it is a hot item each February 14.

The late Jim Sanders first tasted Saint-Amour after WW II in France and developed his own cuvee under his J Sanders label and it is still sold at Sherlock’s wine stores in the Atlanta region. Owner Doug Bryant tells me he sells almost every bottle for Valentine’s Day.

Whether Saint-Amour, a sparkling wine or regal Champagne, the glory of the grape belongs in the celebration of love.

Why wait for Valentine’s Day? A well-chosen wine with romance in mind opens the stairway to heaven.