February 6th, 2008
Now before you accuse me of selling out, let me say I don’t like cheesy Hallmark-inspired holidays either. But I am rather fond of love, and taking a day to celebrate it is a tradition that spans centuries. So here are my recommendations for some soulful wines (and music to go with them!) to help you celebrate love, no matter who or how many are invited to your Valentines Day celebration!
My Playlist for Love
Here are my top ten tunes to make your love-fest just a little bit better (click here to download iTunes 7). To download the recommendations, open the iTunes icon after your download, then search on title and artist. You’ll have your playlist put together in just minutes. It’s the way Cupid would celebrate, I’m sure.
- My Funny Valentine - Here are two great renditions, the first by Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan (the first song on which Baker sang, thus launching a whole new phase of his recording career), the second a non-vocal version by the Miles Davis Quintet.
- Sea of Love - Several options here. For pure folk guitar, search for John Fahey, for a rock version try Iggy Pop, and for a soulful blues rendition, Katie Webster.
- Kiss – The artist formerly, and now currently, known as Prince throws a little upbeat Pop into the mix, helping to avoid temporal monotony
- My One and Only Love – with vocals by the golden-throated Johnny Hartman and classic sax accompaniment by the legendary John Coltrane. Disclaimer – this is a personal favorite. My wife included it in a playlist for our first Valentines Day, where she was about to receive an unexpected marriage proposal. She said yes. But it took her a while. If this song hadn’t put her in the right mood I’d have been single forever.
- When You Say Nothing at All - Alison Krauss. It took this talented young lady to make me appreciate bluegrass. A voice a pure as mountain air.
- More Than This – while the classic renditions by Roxy Music or 10,000 Maniacs are like comfort food for the ears, you may like the less traditional approach from acoustic folk guitarist Matt Nathanson for something new and different
- Passionate Kisses – Folk singer Lucinda Williams’ unfettered passion edges out Mary Chapin Carpenter for my favorite version of this song.
- Beyond the Sea – though Bobby Darin was the master who made this into a classic decades ago, try the talented Kevin Spacey‘s version from his movie by the same name. (Killer band!)
- Girl From Ipanema – Astrud Gilberto and Stan Getz made this the hallmark of cool jazz in the 60′s, and it still works. Our 5-year old sings along with this version, making it even more endearing. At least, for us.
- At Last – there are may good recordings of this classic, but once you hear Etta James sing it, the others fall off the list faster than Dennis Kucinich.
The Wines of Love
I’ve selected three wines to for your musical love-fest (see prior posting on how music affects wine). These are food wines, wines with enough depth of character to reveal more of themselves as the night wears on, wines that linger, and invite you to do the same.
Tamayo Family Vineyards, 2006 Exotic Red, Contra Costa. $13.50 Red as Dorothy’s slippers, this wine was a surprise for me, as seldom can so much complexity and pleasure be packed into such an affordable package. Made from using old-world techniques, this wine is a blend of eight (count ‘em!) grape varietals, including some most people have never heard of. But whatever its obscure pedigree, you’ll have to agree it’s a lot of wine, and pleasure, for the money. Serve this for company to accompany savory dishes featuring fresh herbs and the deep, passionate flavors of winter.
Chateau di Riussanelle, 2008 Red Blend, Minervois. $19. Not all my Valentine’s Day recommendations are red, but it DOES seem a logical extension of the table of seduction! From Eve’s apple to the heart-shaped symbol of the day, and from ruby red lips to the infinite photo galleries of cherries dripping in syrup, red is the color of passion (and its distant cousin, rage. But that’s a story for a different day). Anyway, this red blend from the south of France offers the distinctive tastes of that area. Serve this wine to your loved one and warm him or her with a hearty stew or cassoulet, then begin the regale of tales about the South of France, and this wine’s origins – the Minervois (perhaps most famous for its Abbey), the Minervois is a popular wine region that produces a growing number of interesting and affordable wines.
Andrew Murray, 2006 Viognier, Santa Ynez Valley. $24 Viognier is enjoying an explosion in popularity, which is not surprising to me. My wife predicted this would happen several years ago, and she’s been right except for the timing – everything happens slowly when it comes to consumer taste, it seems, unless you happen upon an American Idol or Oprah Winfrey moment, and find yourself suddenly launched into the headlines. Viognier is experiencing the steady slog, the gradual rise from obscurity to mini-fame, based solely on the one-person-at-a-time discovery that it is just plain sexy. Leading with aromas of citrus blossoms and honeysuckle, the taster is lulled into thinking the wine will be simple and perhaps even sweet. And the first few molecules to hit the tongue won’t dissuade this impression – it’s not until the wine makes its way across the entire tongue that the taster says “Wow!, there’s a lot going on in that wine!” There’s a distinct impression of almonds on the finish, and apricots up front, and miles to discuss in between. A natural ice breaker for any romantic evening, with lots of opportunities for creative discussion diversions.
Cheers!
Dave Chambers, Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com
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Quotes of the Day
“Why was Cupid chosen to represent Valentine’s Day? When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.” ~Author Unknown
“If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?“ ~Author Unknown
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It was five years ago this year. At the French Laundry. We’d just had the famed “Oysters with Pearls” paired with a beautiful Gruner Veltliner. And, after a short period of hyperventilaing, my girlfriend leaned across the table and kissed me. Four months later, we were married. Must have been the wine.
Cheers!
