With Valentines Day just around the corner it might be time to consider a sparkling wine to pair with your favorite romantic dinner. Of course that dinner could be at your favorite restaurant or a very intimate candlelit dinner at your place. In either location, perhaps Barefoot Cellars can offer the perfect sparkling delight for the occasion.
Barefoot Cellars has a full range of seven (7) sparkling wines beginning with their most dry Brut Cuvée to a Rosé Cuvée and on to the sweetest, a Red Muscato each specially labeled as Barefoot Bubbly. Each of the seven is priced under $11 making them a perfect sparkle value for any occasion and any wallet. For a Valentines occasion with food the Brut Cuvée or the Extra Dry would be most festive.
The Brut Cuvée is dry and elegant and it possesses the distinctive aromas of its base varietal, Chardonnay. Although most sparkling wine makers recommend their wines be served between 42°-52°, Barefoot Cellars recommends a quite chilly 40°. The Brut Cuvée was a Gold Medal winner at the 2011 Ultimate Wine Competition in New York City. It is nicely balanced with enough acid to pair well with lobster or fruit of other buttery or fatty (no negative connotation here) foods as the acid and the fat offset and then complement each other. As winemaker Jen Wall says, "The Brut Cuvee is a great choice for making everyday occasions more special!"
The Extra Dry is actually less dry than the Brut. (If you are interested in the six (6) main styles of Champagne check out this link.) The Extra Dry won Gold at the San Diego International Wine Competition in 2012. It is accented with peach and tangerine flavors and is medium bodied. Also made from 100% Chardonnay grapes, this sparkler is versatile and will pair well with most foods. Cheeses like Brie, Gouda or Roquefort come to mind. Maybe smoked or roasted nuts would be fun as well so serve with the cheese course at the end of the meal rather than a sweet dessert.
So before the big day arrives, in less than a week, get out there and get Barefoot and you'll still have a chance that your Valentine will be Bubbly!!
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