Saint Valentine

Saint Valentine is a sparkling wine from Massachusetts. The details on file don't name the grape, the production method, the dosage or the vintage, so the notes below describe what sparkling wines of this kind usually offer, not a measured profile of this bottle. Expect a bright, lively style: crisp acidity, fine to moderate bubbles, and fruit in the apple, pear and citrus range, possibly with red berry notes if the base wine is pink. Sparkling wines like this rarely show tannin or meaningful oak. The finish is typically clean and fresh, and the body light to medium. That profile suits salty, fried and creamy foods, where the acidity and bubbles cut through richness. Good matches include oysters and other raw shellfish, fried chicken, soft cheeses such as brie or fresh chèvre, salted nuts, and sushi. If the bottle turns out to be off-dry, try it with spicy dishes or fruit-based desserts. If it is dry, keep it with savory food or serve it as an aperitif. Chill it well, about 40 to 45°F, which means roughly three hours in the refrigerator or thirty minutes in an ice bucket. Don't decant it, because that would flatten the carbonation. Pour it into a tulip-shaped sparkling wine glass or a white wine glass. Both hold the aromas and the bubbles better than a wide coupe. Most sparkling wines at this level are made to be drunk young, so plan to open the bottle within a year or two of purchase and not hold it for aging.