Checklist for a Perfect Romantic Night
The Wine Defines the Night!
When planning your romantic evening, you need to create a checklist. This ensures that you select a wine that covers all the bases of the night. The night should go as smooth as your wine.
Consider your partner’s preferences:
For any special occasion that involves romance, the choice of wine should be strategic; it is essential to select a wine that not only matches your food menu but also your partner’s preferences. This involves having a good knowledge of his/her tastes, or, at least, investigating them in advance! Does he/she prefer white, red or rosé? Does he/she fancy celebrating with bubbles? Do you know his/her favourite wine?
Choose the right music:
This one is more for romantic occasions at home. Choosing a soundtrack for your romantic evening may seem like an easy task, but in fact, it can be more insidious than you think. Music doesn’t have to be intrusive or too loud; it should rather help you in the opening to your emotions. It may be worth preparing a mix of songs that can please both you and your partner.
Set the tone:
For a special evening, everything needs to be perfect. If you are at home, prepare a beautiful table: crystal glasses, decorated plates, embroidered napkins and silver cutlery would be excellent, but anything set with attention and care will work well. Also, candles are essential: put them on the table or around the room. Flowers or rose petals are a great addition: use your imagination to create something memorable. Be careful with perfumes, you don’t want to overload your senses and cover the aromas of your food and wine! If you are eating out, select a place with the right atmosphere, taking the previous tips into account.
Decide on the perfect food:
Pick a restaurant you know your partner loves or has been dying to try for a while! Read their menu online and make sure their food is suitable for the type of night you have in mind. If you are staying in, there is nothing more romantic than cooking for your partner, but if you don’t feel confident about it, just order something that you know will be a success.
Decide on the perfect wine:
Wine is essential in a romantic dinner and it is important to understand how to match it to your menu. Choose a wine that doesn’t overpower your preparations and can emphasise flavours. If possible, order wine that he/she loves, something you have tasted and loved together or something that reminds you of a holiday or a special moment.
With that being said - every single detail matters! From location to occasion, all the characteristics of your evening will help you pick the right glass or bottle for your evening. Follow our wine recommendations, broken down by the occasion type, location and cuisine.
By Occasion
First Date
First dates can be tough. You want to make a stellar impression. Choosing the right wine can help with that. Sure, there are plenty of fabulous wines out there, but there are certain wines that are the most approachable for any first date, no matter the setting or location.
If you want a smooth first date, we have chose some suitable wines below for you:
Chianti Classico:
Made of the beloved Sangiovese grape, this red wine is one of the most famous in the world. With dark fruit and liquorice notes, it is a red wine that tastes fabulous with white or red meat. If you can find it, the 2015 vintage would make a great impression on your date.
Pinot Grigio:
This classic Italian white wine is a great go-to. Everyone enjoys it! It has bright acidity, with notes of citrus and stone fruit. It tastes fantastic with vegetable-centric appetisers and seafood dishes.
Chiaretto:
A Northern Italian staple, this rosé-style wine has a gorgeous pale pink colour. It is light and has a wonderfully clean finish. It has mildly fruity and floral aromas that any date will love.
Prosécco:
It’s hard to not enjoy Prosécco! This iconic sparkling wine makes a great introduction on any date. It’s dry and refreshing. It also tastes scrumptious with cheese.
Anniversary / or a Milestone
If you are planning something special for your anniversary, a bottle of Italian Wine can be the perfect complement! Italian wines are great due to their unique variety. There are some extra special wines that are excellent to save for a long-awaited occasion.
Don’t chance your wine selection, follow our recommendations below:
Barolo:
If you want to celebrate, a Barolo is a way to go. This Piemontese wine is too famous to overlook. By choosing just the right vintage, you will experience dark fruit, rosé petal, and spice flavours like nonother. Don’t forget to pair it with an amazing red meat dish, like steak, or a meaty pasta dish.
Soave Classico:
This lovely white wine from the Veneto is a fabulous dinner accompaniment. It has more body than other Northern Italian white wines. This makes it a striking addition to an elegant risotto, a veggie dish or rich cheeses.
Pinot Grigio Ramato:
This wine is worth the search. From Friuli, this wine can appear as a rosé or orange wine. It has an impeccable body. The coolest thing is its mixture of red and white fruit aromas. It is particularly sippable while enjoying a seafood crudo or cured meat platter.
Franciacorta:
Some may argue this is the Champagne of Italy. Franciacorta is a sophisticated sparkling wine that pairs with everything, and every course. For a surprising pairing, try it with crudo or sashimi.
Valentine’s Day
When it comes to love, Italians know best. It is hard to come by a wine (or dish!) from Italy that doesn’t have at least a slight aroma of love. When Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, knowing which Italian wine to choose can be hard.
Don’t fall for Valentine’s day pressure, follow our wine tips below for the guarantee of a great wine choice:
Amarone della Valpolicella
To show some love, it's hard to beat Veneto's famous Amarone. This iconic red wine is rich and special. It tastes great with aged cheeses or rich meat dishes.
Arneis:
With its impressive balance of savoury and fruit notes, Arneis is a solid pick for a romantic evening. It is dry and bodied, pair it with any light bites or appetizers you plan on enjoying.
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo:
This Abruzzese rosé wine has a pretty cherry colour perfect for Valentine’s Day. It has marvellous red fruit flavours that pair well with a generous cured meat and cheese plate.
Lambrusco:
This juicy red sparkling wine is delicious and almost too drinkable. It is great for Valentine’s Day at home, especially one where pizza or meaty pastas are involved.
Date Night
No matter what kind of evening is planned, date night is always special. Getting the wine right to pair with your plan, shouldn’t be a struggle. Date night should be fun! From reds to sparklings, there is an Italian wine that will definitely elevate your date night mood.
Respect the sacred aspect of date night and pick the right wine:
Dolcetto d’Alba:
This red wine is known as ‘little sweet’ for a reason. Dolcetto tastes delicious with all kinds of dishes. It has great structure and enjoyable dark fruit flavours. Pair it with pastas, risottos and rich meat dishes.
Fiano:
This mineral-driven white wine will bring your date night to the Amalfi Coast. Fiano has a great body and fruity aromas. We suggest pairing it with an abundant seafood dish or a veggie option.
Etna Rosato:
To wow your partner, try out this unique Sicilian rosé. It is a little harder to find, but there are several producers out there that make some stellar wines. Etna Rosato is very zesty and sometimes smoky. They pair excellently with any appetiser, especially indulgent fried foods or spicy options.
Oltrepò Pavese Metodo Classico:
A unique sparkling wine, which often falls under the shadow of the more renown Franciacorta. Produced in Pavia, it is a harmonious & fresh wine which is a perfect choice when toasting to celebrate a romantic occasion. It matches any course, but we suggest it when complimenting appetisers.
By Location
At a restaurant
There’s no doubt that wine is served at almost every restaurant. While the quality of a wine list widely varies, it is wise to do a little research before ordering the right wine for your romantic dinner. Fortunately, there are excellent go-to Italian wines you can find on restaurant menus that will surely satisfy your date.
Don’t get overwhelmed with restaurant menus, follow our tips below to pick your wine:
Chianti:
Chianti is reliably found on many restaurant menus. It has dark fruit and earthy flavours that easily pair with any white or red meat dish.
Arneis:
A newcomer to many restaurant menus, this Piemontese white wine is superbly delicious, with orchard and citrus fruit flavours. It pairs superbly with delicate white meats and any light or veggie dishes.
Langhe Rosato:
To enjoy a rosé with heartier dishes, a Langhe Rosato is fantastic. It has enough structure and fruit for meat dishes, but it is also a great option for spicy meals.
Prosécco:
Beginning a meal with Prosécco is always a good idea. This fruit-forward sparkling wine can be sipped through appetisers and tapas, particularly ones with cheese.
Outdoors
When it comes to outdoor dining, there are a lot of other variables at play. The season and weather are big ones. Picking a wine that fits every detail is important. There are spectacular Italian wines to savour on a romantic outdoor occasion, which are easy to find.
Outdoor drinking is a lot of fun, especially when the wine is on point - follow our recommendations below:
Pinot Nero:
Pinot Nero (or Pinot Noir) from Alto Adige is fresh, with complex aromas. From balsamic to mint flavours, you can easily sip this red wine all evening long, with any dish. It is a great match with fatty fish, like salmon, and roasted / grilled meats.
Pinot Grigio:
A simple wine, Pinot Grigio can cool anyone off on a hot summer day. With citrus and stone fruit notes, it tastes wonderful with any salad or light meals.
Etna Rosato:
Vigorous and zesty, this Sicilian rosé will keep you refreshed as you relax outside. It is fruity, with great minerality and smoky undertones. Try it with picnic sandwiches, wraps, burgers and focaccia.
Asti Spumante:
Lightly sweet and to the point, this sparkling wine is great for appetisers or dessert. It's often peachy and citrus flavours are hard to resist, especially when you’re relaxing in the sun. Drink it by itself or pair it with light bites.
At home
Relaxing at home with a glass of wine is heaven. But, when it comes to a romantic dinner at home, you have to take it up a notch. The wine needs to strike a balance of romance and comfort. Italian wines give you options in plenty of styles.
For a romantic dinner at home, you cannot get the wine wrong, so follow our tips below:
Morellino di Scansano:
Attractive red, full-bodied, and with a strong character, this wine shows all the charm of the Sangiovese grape. The taste is warm and dry. It’s a perfect companion for roasted and grilled red meat.
Soave Classico:
companion for roasted and grilled red meat.
Soave Classico: From the hills surrounding Verona, home to Romeo and Juliet, this eclectic white is dry, harmonious, and medium-bodied. It will taste delicious with any food plans, even random take away options.
Negroamaro Rosato:
With its bright pink colour and a fragrant nose of ripe fruit and wildflowers, this is a fun wine pick for dinner at home. It’s really tasty with vegetarian dishes, like vegetarian tarts or winter soups.
Franciacorta rosé:
When you’re craving bubbles, try something else apart from Prosecco, go for a Franciacorta rosé. It is elegant, with gentle notes of rosé petal and berries. It is a fabulous way to start the meal, make a toast or complement a dessert.
By Cuisine
Pairing wine with meat
We all know wine tastes great with the meat. This goes not just for red meat, but white meats too. Italian wines typically have enough structure to handle all sorts of meats, making them a perfect choice for an outstanding romantic dinner menu.
Your meat-based dish deserves great wine, find here our wine recommendations:
Morellino di Scansano:
This wine has full-body and a strong character. The scent is intense, with a possible hint of wood and red fruits, such as plum or cherry. Thanks to its intense flavour and long persistence, it is the perfect companion for roasted and grilled red meat.
Soave Classico:
This eclectic white wine is dry, harmonious and medium-bodied. It has characteristic scents of white flowers, pleasant notes of vanilla and a slightly bitter almond finish. It is an excellent wine throughout the meal, particularly suitable for white meats and poultry.
Lagrein Kretzer:
This wine has a marvellous pink colour. Its nose (technical term for smell) is tickled by hints of violet, red rosés and blackberry. Its fruity flavour is cradled by an elegant background of fresh grass, vanilla and a touch of spicy cocoa. Lagrein is a wine with a defined personality that works wonderfully with your appetisers and can match delicate preparations of white meat.
Lambrusco di Sorbara:
Sparkling, light and versatile, this red wine is refreshing and fun all year-round. It has a brilliant ruby red colour and a delicate mousse. The bouquet (technical term for aromas) is fragrant and expresses floral notes of violet, cherry, strawberry and red fruit. You can serve with it cheese and cured meat platters, but also with grilled meat.
Pairing wine with fish
There’s plenty of fish in the sea. But, that’s not the case on a romantic dinner. To impress your date, you want to have at least a rough idea of what wines pair well with fish. Usually, white wine seems like a solid bet. However, there are a few Italian wines, from rosé to sparkling, that taste fantastic with some unique fish dishes.
Pair your fish dishes with the following wines, you won’t go wrong:
Etna Rosso:
From the sunny island of Sicily, this volcanic wine is characterised by intense aromas and red fruits, with light spicy notes. In the mouth, this wine is just as expected: soft, harmonious and full-bodied, with delicate tannins that can sensually accompany rich fish dishes such as tuna or monkfish without overpowering them.
Vermentino:
An extremely versatile Italian wine, this wine has fresh and mineral aromatic components along with white fruit, wildflowers, and Mediterranean scrub aromas. If you are having seafood, like aphrodisiac oysters, then a light and sapid Vermentino is the best Italian answer!
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo:
This wine is one of the most popular Italian rosés. It has a delightful and bright cherry pink colour. Its perfume is fruity, with a delicate and harmonious palate. It has a remarkable lively acidity. It’s perfect with fish soups or grilled salmon, especially if your partner loves intense rosé wines.
Pignoletto Frizzante:
This delicate sparkling wine has fresh aromas of white and citrus fruits along with slight floral hints. In the mouth, the wine denotes a good body, with a fruity bouquet and well-balanced acidity. This wine matches very well many fish preparations, including seafood pasta.
Pairing wine with vegetarian meals
Enjoying a veggie-centric dinner does not make wine pairings more difficult. In fact, Italian wines pair gorgeously with vegetables. That’s because Italian cuisine is filled with all kinds of delicious produce. Once you know more about what you’ll be eating, you can easily select the right wine for your ‘green’ meal.
For vegetarian dishes, the following wines will impress your date:
Langhe Nebbiolo:
This wine is seductive and complex. It offers warm and pungent red fruits, with notes of violet and white pepper. It has solid tannins and a good degree of acidity. It is the perfect companion for all mushroom preparations.
Frascati Superiore:
From the hills surrounding the eternal city, this is a perfect choice for those who like finely balanced wines with plenty of fruity and flowery notes. On the nose, it is an explosion of fruit and floral aromas. In the mouth, the wine has a volcanic and slightly smoky minerality. This wine can be a great aperitif and can go perfectly with vegetarian lasagna.
Negroamero Rosato:
With a fragrant nose of ripe fruit and wildflowers, this wine has a lively freshness and gentle persistence. Generally a great option for any vegetarian dinner, especially if your partner likes exuberant wines. Try it with your appetiser course and cremier (or buttery) meals.
Prosécco:
Sparkling wines are made for romance, making Prosécco a great sparkling option. It is unpretentious and an excellent aperitif. Fresh, sapid and soft, its intense aromaticity extends citrusy fruit followed by pineapple, peach and melon. It is able to accompany any vegetarian dishes, including bitter ones which include ingredients like chicory, radicchio, asparagus and so on.
Pairing wine with a full 3-course meal
Wine pairings for each course may sound a bit posh. Yet, selecting each pairing will surely make a fantastic impression on your date. Italian wines come in such a variety, easing your task of pairing wine with each dish. It actually makes it quite fun. Plus, you may accidentally convince your date that you’re a sommelier.
For your next romantic 3 to 5 course-meal, follow our tips below, you won’t regret it:
Start with a Franciacorta rosé:
Elegant and bubbly, this Italian sparkling is a great accompaniment to any kind of appetisers, such as crudo or small bites, or can easily be enjoyed by itself, prior to consuming food.
Proceed with a Soave Classico:
From the romantic Veronese hills, this fresh white wine pairs well with first courses or a large variety of appetisers, especially veggie or fish-based ones.
Enjoy your mains with a Brunello di Montalcino:
This impressive Tuscan red is great with pasta, risotto and any type of red meat. It is a wine institution which pleases every palate.
Finish your meal with a Brachetto d’Acqui:
The bright pink colour of this dessert wine screams love. It tastes exceptional with chocolatey and fruity desserts. You can’t finish your dinner in a better way!
Pairing with world cuisines
Matching wine with its local cuisine is always a smart go-to. However, Italian wines do marvellously with all kinds of foreign cuisines. When exploring exotic foods, don’t sleep on the wine list. By knowing the right Italian wines for specific dishes, you will turn an already delicious meal into a total flavour adventure.
Asian food can be hard to pair with wine, so follow our tips below and you won’t go wrong:
Indian cuisine:
Tomato-based Indian curries pair excellently with a fresh rosé like Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo. If you are enjoying samosas, a sparkling like Prosécco washes them down easily. But, when things get too spicy - surprise your date with a sweet wine, like Moscato d’Asti.
Chinese cuisine:
Northern Italian white wines like Soave Classico go well with Chinese vegetables and white meat dishes. If you are enjoying peking Duck, a Nebbiolo or Chianti are both reliable choices.
Thai cuisine:
Thai food, like Indian, can often be very spicy. If you like spice, try cooling down with a sparkling or a sweet wine, Prosecco and Moscato d’Asti are always wonderful options. For rich curries, Pinot Noir or Rossesse (Liguarian red) are great picks as they have fresh flavours and low tannins for red wines.
H2: Pro-tips for beginners
When selecting a wine for your romantic evening, here are a few key tips to ensure you make the right choice:
- Ask your date or partner if they prefer a style of wine or whether they are allergic to certain foods.
- Know what you are eating beforehand. This way, you can have an idea of which wines to choose, whether at the store or restaurant.
- If dining out, preview the wine list online. This will help you save time and make accurate wine pairings later on.
- If buying wine at the store, make sure that the wines are stored properly. You want your wines to be at the right temperature when you serve them!
