Posted on: Wednesday, February 16, 2005
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RAISE A GLASS
Gift of chocolate goes down better with wine
By JoAnn C. Chisholm
Valentine's Day has passed, but there's always a birthday, an anniversary or some other special day to celebrate.
What to give that special someone? For women, chocolate and silky lingerie. For the men, silk boxers or the watch he's been eyeing.
Yes, we women love that box of See's Candies (nuts and chews are my personal favorites), even if it doesn't complement our present diet commitment. But what about adding a nice bottle of champagne or red wine to go with it?
Gannett News Service Some of us like to stick with champagne, and let's face it, champagne and romance just go hand and hand. A perfect romantic evening should undoubtedly begin with a nice bottle of champagne or sparkling wine. (A champagne is a sparkling wine made by traditional methods in the Champagne region of France; all others are properly termed sparkling wines.) Charles Heidsieck Brut Rose, 1996 ($90), and champagne truffles or strawberries dressed in chocolate tuxedos, is a natural start. If you prefer to stay with a moderately priced wine, perhaps a sparkling wine from our own island of Maui? Tedeschi Winery, at Ulupalakua Ranch on Maui, produces a sparkling brut wine, which is made in the traditional methode champenoise style (fermented in the bottle) and aged for a minimum of 36 months before release ($20). This wine was chosen to serve at the inaugural dinner for President Ronald Reagan. Not bad for little Hawai'i.
So now we are back to the men and what to get them to go with their silk boxers. Vintage port comes to mind, perhaps with a couple of his favorite cigars.
Two that come to mind are Sandeman 2000 Port ($45) or maybe a Ramos Pinto Quinta de Ervamoira 10 year Tawny Port, "seduction in a bottle," ($30). Men also tend to like cognac (French brandy made in and around the village of Cognac in western France ) with their cigars. And, if you are going to go that route, don't skimp: Make the investment to buy something memorable and delightful for you both as it will most likely be a bottle that will grace your shelves for 6 months to a year before the last drop is enjoyed. Prunier XO Grande Champagne Cognac ($110) is such a one. This very old Grande Champagne offers a blend of old cognacs, of different styles and characters. The oldest part of this blend dates back to the end of World War I and the youngest from the beginning of the 1970s. The average age is approximately 45 years old. If you want something a little more affordable, stick with the Remy VSOP or the Courvoisier VSOP at about $35.
As for the cigars, check out The Smokin Bean on South King Street, Honolulu. I am sure Nate and Jason will be more than happy to help you make the perfect choice.
JoAnn C. Chisholm owns Wine Lady Hawaii Inc., a fine-wine management and brokerage firm. Reach her at 293-4127 or see www.wineladyhawaii.com.
Chocolate goes with wine as easily as chips go with beer. Perhaps a nice bottle of Meritage wine? Meritage, a term coined in the United States in 1989, is a high-quality, limited-production blend of wines made primarily from traditional bordeaux grape varieties. The ones I'm thinking of are, first, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc and malbec, called Reflexion, by Crichton Hall Vineyards & Winery Napa Valley ($70) or, second, Nicholas Cole Claret (blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc), from Walla Walla, Wash., at $45.
