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When you’re thinking of the perfect wine for Valentine’s Day, your mind may immediately turn to date night classics like bold, celebratory bubbles or deep reds—despite the fact the world of wine has never been more innovative and dynamic. After Pinot Noir picked up in the early ’00s, then was overtaken by the rosé craze the following decade, we’re now firmly in the era of chilled reds and funky oranges. (It’s reported that the global orange wine market will grow to $67 million in the next decade.) So, why not treat your date to something a little more exciting this Valentine’s Day?
Maybe your V-Day isn’t going according to plan, however: your reservation got canceled, you’re in the middle of a dating slump, your pièce de résistance dessert hasn’t set properly. Or maybe, you simply have no idea what wine to buy. So Vogue has assembled a handful of sommeliers to pair wines with some hypothetical Valentine’s Day scenarios—the sensual, the saucy, and the absurd.
There’s Rafa Martin, who began his career at the renowned Spanish winery González Byass before heading to London as a sommelier at Fino, which later evolved into the renowned modern tapas restaurant Barrafina. With over 15 years of experience, Martin now oversees the wine lists at Barrafina, Parrillan, and Bar Daskal. After working as assistant head sommelier at Petrus by Gordon Ramsay, Carolina Siebel is now heading up the recently opened Story Cellar. She enjoys the variety of small growers in Champagne as well as English sparkling wines, and has a particular soft spot for Chenin from the Loire Valley.
Martina Marini is a sommelier from Rome, now based in London, with a vast knowledge of Italian terroir—she’s the founder of Rolling Grapes, a wine and events service hosting pop-ups with some of London’s buzziest chefs. Meanwhile, Alex Young is one of the founders of the London restaurant and wine bar Goodbye Horses, as well as the whimsical wine and ice-cream spot, The Dreamery.
You don’t need to go too deep into tannic structures or more complicated descriptors (“burnt figs,” “white asparagus”—forget about it) to appreciate these wines, either. This crew of sommeliers can help you pick a wine from 16th-generation winemakers that goes well with your Big Mac, or pinpoint the perfect 35-year-old vines planted in sandstone, clay, and chalk to swill solo. Below, find their wine recommendations to enjoy this Valentine’s Day—whatever situation you might find yourself in.
A wine for a long overdue meet-up with a Hinge date you’ve both failed to commit to—until now
Martina Marini: Something fun, easygoing, and bubbly. A pét-nat from a red variety feels just right. I am currently loving indigenous Mallorcan grapes, like Escursac, which shines in the Bosquet Rosado from Cati Ribot. Or maybe a lively Lambrusco from Italy, for a touch of playful fizz. You are looking for something light, lively, and slightly fizzy. Just like the chemistry you’re hoping for tonight!
Carolina Siebel: Better something gentle and easy so we can focus on the conversation. Why not a Chenin Blanc from South Africa that has just the right amount of fruit and balances the acidity and oak influence, so both the wine and conversation can flow.
Alex Young: Well, you got there in the end. Let’s celebrate with a pét-nat—Clic Clac from Mikäel Bouges, a by-the-glass favorite at The Dreamery. And it’s from 60-year-old vines, so you can feel better knowing it’s taken longer to get here than you guys.
A wine for when you’re cooking for someone, but your cooking is mid
Rafa Martin: If I’m cooking for someone and it doesn’t turn out as expected, I’d open up a bottle of Flor de Muga Rosé. Made in Rioja Alta, this is a grown-up rosé with depth, structure, and enough elegance to impress…Even if the food doesn’t.
Marini: You’ll need a bottle that does the heavy lifting. Something bold, complex, and conversation-worthy, so they’re too busy sipping to notice your ‘experimental’ seasoning choices. Go for a full-bodied white with texture and depth, like a silky, lees-aged Grüner Veltliner from Austria, a luscious yet zesty Chenin from the Loire, or a structured, mineral-driven Verdicchio from Italy. If red is the move, an aged Montepulciano from Abruzzo brings dark fruit and earthy charm, while a classic Rioja Crianza, with its warm spice and subtle oak, is always a safe—and seductive—bet.
Young: Distract, distract, distract! The appropriately named We Forget Too Easily from Anders Frederik Steen. It’s so weird and beautiful—it escapes definition. They won’t be able to think about anything else, let alone your pesto pasta that they will indeed forget too easily.
A wine for when you didn’t manage to get a walk-in table, so you’re eating McDonald’s back at your apartment
Marini: This calls for a Crémant! Something refreshing, not as pricey or serious as Champagne, but perfect for cutting through the grease. You still deserve a treat, and show your class by going for a Crémant from the Jura, like Laura Bourdy’s 100% Pinot Noir. Earthy, mineral-driven, with a touch of oxidative fruit and plenty of character. It’s just the right amount of indulgence.
Young: You can make up for anything with a good champagne. At Goodbye Horses, we like Chartogne-Taillet, Saint Anne. Maybe add a dollop or two of caviar to your Big Mac as well.
A wine to order when the date is going very well…
Siebel: A Mencia from the north of Spain—it is charming and strikes the balance between dark fruit and lighter body.
Marini: Time to elevate the mood with something elegant, refined, and a little special. A Syrah from the Rhône Valley is a great choice as it s sophisticated, complex, but still approachable. Plenty of producers, like Eric Texier or Domaine Gramenon, offer more affordable options without compromising on quality. Smooth, deep, and a little seductive, just like the vibe.
Martin: Stick with bubbles—always. Llopart Brut Reserva is a seriously special Cava, aged for three months in bottle. It’s fresh, crisp, and complex. The perfect way to keep the good energy going.
…and when the date is going very badly
Siebel: Might as well get something out of it—a red Burgundy, and I am always looking for a good example from Vosne-Romanee or Volnay.
Marini: Get something cheap, easy-drinking, and quick to finish so you can make a swift exit. Aim for the second or third wine down the list—not too pricey, but not suspiciously cheap either. A simple, gluggable red or a crisp white to sip (or gulp) while you strategize your escape.
Martin: O Rosal from Terras Gauda. A powerful, structured wine that has heaps of character. I really believe that a glass of this will dissipate any awkwardness or tension.
A wine for date night on the sofa with a spicy reality TV show and an even spicier takeaway
Young: It’s Valentine’s—it s meant to be spicy. High-alcohol low acid wines amplify capsaicin’s burn, so to get even spicier, let’s open Domaine Gramenon s Côtes-du-Rhône, La Sagesse.
Marini: When the drama is hot, and the food is hotter, you need a wine that can handle both. Muscat or Gewürztraminer based wines are a go-to. They bring aromatics, freshness, and just enough sweetness to balance the heat. Skin contact wines also work wonders: especially those from Alsace, like Christian Binner’s Saveurs Macérées. This blend of Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Chasselas, a touch of Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Riesling has a delicate maceration for just a week, which is enough to add texture and depth without the heavy tannins that could clash with spicy dishes. Basically, you want a wine that plays nice with the spice but doesn’t steal the spotlight from the real drama on screen.
Martin: Laderas del Norte from Bodegas Arzuaga—this high-altitude, single-vineyard red has great acidity that cuts through and stands up to the spice.
Siebel: In reality TV shows you never know what s going to happen, so I’d want to stick to something familiar and still very drinkable. Riesling is the predictable option, but it does it so well. I would probably reach for a German one, like from Schäfer-Fröhlich or Clemens Busch.
A wine to fend off dating fatigue with friends
Young: Get that magnum out. You deserve it. P’tit Poussot, L’Octavin.
Marini: Always Beaujolais! This is the ultimate feel-good wine that’s easygoing yet full of character, the kind of bottle that brings people together and lifts the mood. Beaujolais isn’t just for November—it’s a year-round hug in a glass. You can go for something lighter and juicy like a Beaujolais Villages, perfect for carefree sipping, or step it up with a more structured and complex Cru like Morgon or Moulin-à-Vent, with a little more depth of intrigue. Either way, it’s the perfect wine to toast to friendship and forget about bad dates (or celebrate the good ones.).
Martin: Muga Selección Especial—by now, my friends always expect me to bring a really great bottle when we get together. I’d go for this classic Rioja, aged for 18 months in foudres. It’s serious, yet approachable. A perfect wine for good company and great conversation.
A wine to drink solo, because not everyone has a Valentine
Martin: Vibrant from Llopart—this pét-nat rosé is exclusive to Barrafina, Parrillan, and Bar Daskal and simply too good to share. If I’m opening a bottle at home on my own, it’s this one.
Young: The wine is your only companion. So you need something living, full of energy, and with a lot of complexity, that way it can keep you guessing and entertained for the evening. Something deep from Radikon maybe—let’s say the Ribolla Gialla.
Marini: A Blanc de Blancs is the perfect choice: smooth, creamy, and effortlessly elegant. The fine bubbles and crisp acidity keep things fresh, while the soft, buttery texture makes it feel like a well-deserved treat. This is the kind of bottle that turns a solo night into something special.
Siebel: Always Champagne—Dhondt-Grellet Champagne Dans un Premier Temps Assemblage Extra Brut. It’s fresh, chalky, and perky
A wine to impress a wine snob who’s handed you the list to choose
Marini: A Listán Blanco (Palomino) from Tenerife is a great wildcard pick, with its volcanic minerality and salty, textured depth that’ll catch their attention. If you really want to flex, go for an oxidative wine from Jura, something like a Vin Jaune. Perfect to finish the meal, especially paired with a selection of funky, well-aged cheeses. A choice that says, “Yes, I know exactly what I’m doing.”
Siebel: A Portuguese field blend or multi-vintage wine that shows itself from its best side, impressing with complexity, but not conforming to classical standards. A splendid example is the Quinta dos Carvalhais, Dão Branco Especial.
Young: Offer up Babycham with a straight face. Make them question everything.
