5 Best Champagnes to Enjoy This Valentine's Day

 

Whether you’re in a new relationship or have been married for years, on Valentine’s Day, the pressure is on to turn up the romance. If you’re at a loss for how to make the day special or can’t think of the perfect gift to wow your partner, it’s hard to go wrong with a flute (or bottle) of crisp champagne. With endless options on the market, it can be overwhelming to find the perfect kind, so we’ve put together a guide to the best champagnes from Napa Valley and beyond to try this Valentine’s Day.

 

Technically, sparkling wine can only be called champagne if it comes from the Champagne region of France. While the naming is just a formality, plenty of high-quality champagnes come out of Napa, and Domaine Chandon—the first winery in the US established by Moët Hennessy—is about as close as you can get to France right here in California. Established in 1973 as one of the first French-owned sparkling wine ventures in the U.S., Domaine Chandon is now considered one of the premier sparkling wine producers in the country. The winery produces sparkling wines for every taste and budget, including its étoile Brut, an opulent cuvée known for its tiny bubbles. Other options include from this winery include rosé, the classic Reserve Blanc de Blancs, and limited edition winter and summer bruts. 

 

Also born from a leading French champagne house, Mumm Napa taps its traditional winemaking techniques from its French heritage to produce some of Napa’s best sparkling wines. From sweet to dry, Mumm Napa’s offerings pair well with any Valentine’s Day meal, like the rich and elegant 2010 DVX (reminiscent of Meyer lemon, strawberry, red apple, and honeysuckle) or the Brut Reserve Rosé (a perfect pop of pink to celebrate the special occasion). You can also strike gold with its G.H. Mumm Brut Grand Cordon.

 

A 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs housed in a gorgeous bottle, the Ruinart Brut Blanc de Blancs will blow your date away before you even open it. With a superb golden yellow color and stunning luminosity, this full-bodied champagne is easy on the tongue with notes of honey, almond, and fruits like peach and apple. For something that looks great on the table and in your glass, you can’t go wrong with the Ruinart Brut Blanc de Blancs.

 

If you’re a fan of vintage classics who’s truly looking to impress, look no further than Dom Perignon 2008. While it’s on the pricier side, this French champagne is consistently ranked among the best on the market, making it the perfect choice for the most romantic night of the year. Whether you are a champagne enthusiast or just enjoy a fizzy flute every now and then, the Dom Perignon 2008 is well worth the hype and will not disappoint.

 

Built on the foundation of one of the oldest champagne houses in France, Taittinger is a truly historic winery that produces champagnes that exude class and style. Its Taittinger Brut La Francaise Champagne is a great Valentine’s Day aperitif choice thanks to its refreshing nature, raspberry and apple notes, and a higher proportion of Chardonnay grapes. It also pairs perfectly with oysters—the ideal match to kick off a night to remember. 

 

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