Rivertowns Biz Snippets: Valentine's Festive Meets Romantic and Classy at Rockwood & Perry

Valentine's Day is all about pink and red—dyes, balloons, artificial sugar treats...

But at Hastings' Fine Wines and Liquors, the vibrant red colors come from nothing but fresh fruits.

For your meal Tuesday night, you can opt for rose champagne—from the champagne region in France—sparkling Spanish "Rosado," or a more traditional red wine.

Store general manager Chris Yukas recommends Billecart-Salmon as the epitome of fine champagne for your special evening. 

"Instead of being citrusy like most champagnes, this one has red berry and cherry flavors and aromas," he said. "It has a really nice texture in your mouth and feel on your palate."

For a slightly less expensive option in the same genre of sparkling beverages, Yukas led me to the Cava, or sparkling wine section from Spain. For Valentine's Day, he pointed specifically to the Mont Marcal Rosado (pink, in Spanish), a vibrant pink sparkling wine, which he said has the same berry flavors as the higher-end champagne, but "it's not quite as intense or complex."

For traditionalists, a good red wine will always serve well for Valentine's Day. Yukas recommends Pinot Noir because it tends to pair well with any meal you're preparing. "It's extremely versatile," he said.

Yukas pointed out the Fleur Pinot for its high-quality and Valentine's-y label. "This one is really bright and super-silky," he said. 

Stay tuned for our next 'snippet' tomorrow at noon-featuring last-minute Valentine's Day ideas.

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