What could be a more romantic way to celebrate your Valentine’s day than by cooking your loved one a home-cooked meal. Or even better, you could cook with your loved one to make it an affordable and fun Valentine’s Day dinner. Choosing what dinner to make can be difficult, not to mention determining what wine best pairs with your Valentine’s Day dinner. We have 15 romantic food and wine pairings for Valentine’s Day that will leave you more time with your Valentine, and less time pouring over cookbooks. The great thing about this list is that it offers suggestions for your Valentine’s day dinner, but in no way confines you to these options. Simply interchange the proteins listed with what you have on hand, or what is fresh at your grocery store. For example, if you don’t have corvina, then you could substitute it with tilapia or cod. Any white fish would do, and would still pair well with Sauvignon Blanc. *The pictures below are all meals that we prepared; however, the wine’s pictured are not chosen for any specific brand. It is simply to show you the type of wine that would work best with the meal. We recommend any brand of wine that is available to you, and affordable.
15 Romantic Food and Wine Pairings for Valentine’s Day
1. Field Greens Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese and Mandarin Oranges paired with a glass of Champagne
A light and refreshing start to the meal, we are pairing a fresh field greens salad with a glass of champagne. Always refreshing, most champagnes have lovely apple and pear flavors that finish with a burst of lemon that would go perfectly with a field greens salad topped with fruit. We topped ours with goat cheese and mandarin oranges to incorporate the creaminess of the cheese, and the fruity taste of the colorful oranges. We also served ours with a light tomato soup, but if you wish to save room for the main course, then a salad with champagne is the perfect duo.
2. Spicy Shrimp Miniature Tacos with a glass of RieslingKeeping in the white wine family, we’re serving our signature spicy shrimp miniature tacos with a glass of citrusy Riesling. This fruity wine is the perfect balance with the spicy flavors of the taco. Plus the petite size of the tacos makes it an ideal size for an appetizer and appealing to the eye.
3. Crab Cake with a glass of White Rioja White Rioja, is not only fun to say but also pairs very well with seafood. It is a Spanish white wine that is light-bodied, lively and dry. Of course a Baltimore Valentine’s Day cannot be complete without a crab cake. Our signature crab cake is stuffed with Gruyere cheese that takes the lump Maryland crab to a whole other level. This could be a part of your appetizer course, or it can be your entree. Either way, your Valentine will be swooned by this romantic food and wine pairing.
4. Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta with a glass of Chianti Another practical Valentine’s day appetizer is an heirloom tomato bruschetta. Bruschetta incorporates all things good in this world, as it is the perfect combination of chopped tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil and garlic. Seriously, does it get any better? Pair this classic Italian dish with a glass of Chianti and you will be falling in love with your amor all over again.
5. Crab Arancini with a glass of ChardonnayWant a quick way to impress your Valentine’s day date? Sneak more crab into your meal, and do it with an eloquent presentation. These crab arancinis are filled with crab and cheesy rice making it an unbeatable combination. What goes perfectly with seafood? Butter. What’s the closest comparison to butter when it comes to wine? Chardonnay. A glass of chardonnay with these crab arancinis will make cupid wish this was a dinner for three.
6. Duck Sliders with a glass of Pinot NoirIt’s ok if you are not that familiar with duck, that’s what Valentine’s day is for. Experiencing new dishes and flavors with your partner in crime. These duck sliders would go well with a sweet and light glass of Pinot Noir. We like to top our duck with a blueberry compote. This would elevate your dish to another level, and leave it hard for you to ever go back to a beef slider again.
7. Lamb Chops with a glass of ZinfandelWhether you are in a relationship with someone with a Greek background or not, lamb makes for a beautiful romantic dish for Valentine’s day. Lamb chops are relatively easy to make, and it makes it seem even easier if you pair it with a glass of Zinfandel. Wild raspberry and rose petal aromas permeate from Zinfandel and compliment lamb chops very well.
8. Swordfish with a glass of Pinot NoirSwordfish is the steak of seafood and makes for a hearty meal that would fill you up this Valentine’s Day. This meaty fish would pair well with a light red, like a pinot noir. This ruby red shows notes of black cherry, tart cranberry, potpourri, tobacco, black tea, forest floor, or cloves. An unbeatable pair, just like you and your Valentine.
9. Coq Au Vin with a glass of Cabernet Coq au Vin is a classic French dish of chicken that is cooked in red wine. It is a delectable rustic dish that is sure to comfort you and your loved one this Valentine’s day. Since the chicken is cooked with red wine, then it only makes sense to drink a glass of red wine with the meal. We would recommend something light like a Cabernet Sauvignon.
10. Corvina with a glass of Sauvignon BlancIf you are a fan of white fish, then corvina is about to be your new best friend. Delicious in taste and texture, this fish pairs well with a sweet white wine like Sauvignon Blanc. We would recommend some colorful sides like sweet potatoes and asparagus to dress up this white fish.
11. Portobello with a glass of MerlotA vegetarian Valentine’s Day meal option, this portobello stack is absolutely beautiful and beyond tasteful too. The portobello mushroom is stuffed with slices of tomato, squash and mozzarella cheese. It’s topped with a balsamic glaze that is the perfect touch of flavor to these roasted vegetables. A full-bodied wine like a Merlot would pair well with this rustic meal.
12. Beef Tenderloin with a glass of SyrahSliced beef tenderloin is hard to beat for any occasion, especially when it is topped with a Cabernet sauce. We slice our meat after it is medium rare, so that it is tender enough to be sliced with your fork. We would pair this meal with a spicy red like a Syrah that is the perfect blend of savory and spice. Any side would do, but we stay traditional pairing ours with a potato and vegetable.
13. Veal Osso Bucco Shepard Pie with a glass of ChiantiThis classic Northern Italian veal dish is modernized in a Shepard Pie recipe that will knock your socks off. We make miniature Shepard Pies in ramekins because we plan for several courses for our romantic food and wine pairing for Valentine’s day. Pair this veal osso bucco Shepard pie with a glass of Chianti and you’ll practically be enjoying your Valentine’s day in Italy, instead of cold Maryland.
14. S’mores with a glass of Port WineWhat better way to end your Valentine’s day romantic food and wine dinner, than with s’mores? We make ours on lollipop sticks, to avoid the ooey-gooey mess and to easily top them with warm chocolate and crumbled graham crackers. What would be better is if you have a fire place, and you can cuddle next to your Valentine and make s’mores while drinking a glass of port wine.
15. Chocolate mousse with a glass of ZinfandelChocolate is a must for Valentine’s day, so we made our chocolate mousse cups to enjoy with a glass of Zinfandel. The sweet, fruity red wine works perfectly with the rich dark chocolate. Your favorite chocolate dish will work perfectly with this aromatic red wine.
We hope you enjoyed these 15 romantic food and wine pairings for Valentine’s day. Enjoy Valentine’s Day with your loved ones!
