Centre County pros offer tips, advice for picking out wine for Valentine’s Day

If you don’t consider yourself particularly knowledgeable about wine, picking out a wine for a special occasion — like Valentine’s Day — can be stressful. To guide you through the process, we consulted with Centre County pros to get their top tips and best advice.

Forget the myths

First off, you’ll possibly need to leave some misconceptions at the door.

Pasquale “Pat” Felitti teaches wine-related courses within the Penn State School of Hospitality Management. A few myths that he said tend to trip up those new to wine? The belief that an older or more expensive wine is always better, and that screw tops denote a lesser quality.

“More and more premium wines are becoming available with screw top[s]. They are hygienic, provide the proper transfer of oxygen to the wine when stored and do not use up a valuable natural resource,” he said.

Abigail Miller of the Pennsylvania Winery Association similarly noted, “A big myth is that expensive wine is always better. Another is that certain wines are only for the serious wine drinkers. Pennsylvania wines are a great example of thoughtfully made, affordable and incredibly versatile wines. Wine doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful or delicious.”

That given, how much can you expect to spend on a great bottle of wine? Wine specialists Heath Moore and Levi Long, from the Fine Wine & Good Spirits location on North Atherton Street in State College, noted that some of the better and more popular wines in the store go for less than $20.

How to find what you like

If you have even the slightest experience tasting wine, according to Barbara Christ, co-owner at Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery, then you’ll at least know whether you like white or red wine, which gives you a good starting point.

You may also know if you prefer sweet or dry wine, but if you don’t, Linda Weaver, owner and general manager of Mount Nittany Winery, described the difference: “Dry wine has very little to no residual sugar and will taste crisp, not sweet, whereas sweet wine has noticeable residual sugar and tastes dessert-like.”

Moore and Long further explained that beginner-friendly sweet wines include Moscatos, Rieslings and Valpolicella, while those exploring dryer styles may prefer a Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Grigio.

Additionally, Felitti noted, if you know you’ve enjoyed a wine from a certain region of the world — like Burgundy, Napa Valley, the Finger Lakes, etc. — then consider exploring other wines from that region. Avoid, though, just shopping for wines that someone else told you were great, he said.

“Newer wine drinkers often focus too heavily on trends or ratings instead of trusting their own palate. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you enjoy the wine you’re drinking,” Miller said. “Every palate is unique so embrace the adventure of trying new varietals and learning what you love along the way.

“As you think ahead to Valentine’s Day, consider visiting a local winery and enjoying a tasting to discover which wines speak to you. It’s the new discoveries that make wine and the winery experience so exciting.”

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Winemakers and wine professionals like those at a wine store are often excited to guide shoppers to a new favorite — just be honest about what you like and share details about what you’d like to pair the wine with.

What about wine pairing?

On that note, if you’re specifically purchasing a bottle of wine to pair with a Valentine’s Day meal, Weaver recommended “easy-going” reds like a Merlot, a Rosé or a fresh and aromatic white like a Riesling. Sweeter wines like a Moscato, meanwhile, are ideal for pairing with a dessert (and Mount Nittany Winery is featuring all these wine varieties as part of its Wine & Chocolate Pairing events, Feb. 13, 14 and 15.)

“If I were to choose one wine for Valentines’ Day, it would be our Linden Vale Rosé, an all-around romantic favorite, great with appetizers or on its own,” she added.

“As you may not know your guest’s wine preferences, a good rule of thumb to follow is to stick to Sauvignon Blanc for white [wine], and Pinot Noir (from Oregon or France) for red,” Felitti said. “Both wines are light and have a good level of acidity that will pair well with most meals.”

Overall, Miller advised, balance is key to a good wine pairing.

“Think about the weight and flavors of the dish rather than trying to match exact ingredients,” she said. “Rich or creamy dishes pair well with wines that have good acidity, while lighter meals shine with crisp whites or elegant reds. Pennsylvania wines are particularly versatile at the table, making them ideal for home-cooked meals. Most importantly, choose a wine you’ll enjoy sipping throughout the evening, not just with the first bite.”

Holly Riddle is a freelance food, travel and lifestyle writer. She can be reached at holly.ridd@gmail.com.