WHAT TO DRINK
We challenged three Denver wine retailers to help us choose wines for Valentine’s Day. Their task? To recommend excellent, romantic bottles of wine at three different price points: Up to $10, up to $25, and up to $75. Here’s what they came up with. Visit one of these shops, or your favorite neighborhood wine seller today.
PETER KLATT
Little Raven Vineyards
1590 Little Raven St., 303-573-9463
INEXPENSIVE
What: Vina San Esteban, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, 2008, Los Andes, Chile
Why: This cabernet has a bright ruby red color, with aromas of cherry and smoke and flavors to match. The intense, well-structured tannins make this cabernet an excellent match with dark chocolate.
Price with tax: $10
MODERATE
What: Bodegas Los 800 Priorat, 2005, Spain
Why: This ripe, layered blend of garnacha, carinena and cabernet sauvignon grapes has a dark ruby color, lots of sweet, savory black cherry and blueberry flavors, excellent concentration, and a lengthy finish.
Price with tax: $25
SLIGHTLY PRICIER
What: Vinedos de los Vientos Alcyone Tannat NV, Atlantida, Uruguay, 500 ml
Why: This dessert wine shows a lovley purple hue and has a honeylike texture. A bouquet of flowers, vanilla bean and cocoa drift from the glass. Warm flavors of chocolate-covered cherries, spices and sweet goodness abound. If you like chocolate, this is for you.
Price with tax: $40
ASHLEY HAUSMAN
Little’s Wine and Spirits
2390 S. Downing St., 303-744-3457
INEXPENSIVE
What: Royal Oporto Ten Year Tawny, Douro, Portugal, 200 ml
Why: The hand-cut glass bottle alone appears to hold love potion for two. A remarkable price for 10-year, this port is surreal when paired with deliciously decadent chocolate souffle or alongside a generous slice of Stilton.
Price with tax: $10.80
MODERATE
What: 2007 Feraud-Brunel Côtes du Rhône, France
Why: What’s a signature red-colored holiday without a hearty red? Push your lover’s buttons with this wine’s ripened dark fruit and gamey notes. (70 percent Grenache, 30 percent Syrah)
Price with tax: $21.94 (on sale for $18.37 through Saturday)
SLIGHTLY PRICIER
What: Gaston-Chiquet Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France
Why: Think of this “Grower Champagne” as high-quality, small-batch bubbles. The delicate texture, the sophisticated scent, the focused flavors — this will hit all kinds of spots. (35 percent chardonnay, 45 percent pinot meunier, 20 percent pinot noir)
Price with tax: $50.80 (on sale for $48.64 through Feb. 28)
NATHAN LOWE and CHAN PARK
SIP Fine Wine and Spirits
1920 Market St., 303-298-9463
INEXPENSIVE
What: Garnacha de Fuego, Calatayud, Spain ($10 Bottle)
Why: Bright and rich color with notes of black cherry and ripe blueberries giving way to a lengthy dark chocolate finish. Perfect for any couple looking to have a special night and save some money.
Price with tax: $10.81
MODERATE
What: Naughty Wines “Racy,” Napa Valley, Calif.
Why: Bing cherry and plum combine with crushed black pepper and boysenberry in this wickedly sinful blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and zinfandel. A very limited release.
WHERE TO EAT: Valentine’s Day deals
We challenged three Denver wine retailers to help us choose wines for Valentine’s Day. Their task? To recommend excellent, romantic bottles of wine for all budgets. Here’s what they suggest. (Note: One bottle is usually good for two people. Usually.)
Price with tax: $27.03
SLIGHTLY PRICIER
What: Michael & David “Lust” Zinfandel, Lodi, Calif.
Why: Subtle notes of vanilla and caramel linger out of your glass while complex notes of red currants smoothly flow into a long finish of oak, vanilla, caramel and mocha. The perfect wine that will surely add the icing to anyone’s cake.
Price with tax: On sale for $59.46 through Feb. 28.
Go out: V-Day deals
Arugula Bar & Ristorante
Sunday: Five-course meal. $52. Reservations recommended. 2785 Iris Ave., Boulder, 303-443-5100,
Bacaro
Sunday: Four course dinner created by Executive Chef Fabio Flagiello. $50, includes a glass of Prosecco. Reservations required. Bácaro Venetian Taverna, 921 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-444-4888,
Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace
Saturday & Sunday: Three-course prix-fixe menu, $55, optional wine pairing for $20, beer pairing for $15, cocktail pairing for $25. Reservations required. 950 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-7771,
Capital Tea
Sunday: Hosting a three-course Valentine’s Day tea. Seatings at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations required. 1450 S. Broadway, 303-777-2255
Cru — A Wine Bar
Friday-Sunday: Four course prix-fixe dinner with champagne toast, $45. A la carte menu also available. Reservations recommended. Two locations: Larimer Square, 1442 Larimer St., 303-893-WINE (9463); Park Meadows, 8433 Park Meadows Center Drive, Lone Tree, 303-708-8084,
The Fort
Sunday: Four course prix-fixe dinner menu. $55, excludes tax and gratuity. Reservations recommended. Regular menu also available. 19192 Highway 8, Morrison, 303-697-4771,
Frasca Food & Wine
Sunday: Four-course menu with two options for each course. $90, excludes beverages, tax and gratuity. Reservations required. 1738 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-6966,
Happy
Sunday: Four course prix-fixe menu, $45 with $25 optional sake, wine or cocktail pairing. Reservations required. 835 Walnut St., Boulder, 303-442-3050,
Jax Fish House — Boulder
Sunday: Five-course prix-fixe dinner, $75 with $25 optional wine pairing. Reservations recommended. 928 Pearl St., 303-444-1811,
Jax Fish House — Denver
Sunday: Four-course prix-fixe dinner, $75 with $25 optional wine pairing. Reservations recommended. 1539 17th St., 303-292-5767,
Jay’s Bistro
Thursday-Sunday: Offering a special menu of appetizers, entrees and desserts. $10-$40. 135 W. Oak St., Fort Collins, 970-482-1876,
The Kitchen
Sunday: The Kitchen Downstairs offers a four course prix-fixe menu, $75, wine pairings for an additional $45. The Kitchen Upstairs is offering a three-course prix fixe menu, $50, beer pairings for an additional $30. Regular menu also available. 1039 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-544-5973 or e-mail info@ for reservations.
Lola
Friday-Sunday: Prix-fixe menu for two, $70 with $20 per person optional drink pairing. A la carte menu also available. Valentine Brunch available ($35 for two) Saturday and Sunday. Reservations required. 1575 Boulder St., 720-570-8686,
Mercury Cafe
Saturday & Sunday: Offering a special Valentine’s Day menu with live music and followed by dancing, 5:30-11 p.m. each night. Also hosting a Sunday brunch, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Reservations recommended. 2199 California St., 303-294-9258,
Peaks Lounge
Thursday-Sunday: Hosting a “Chocolate Lovers’ Lounge” featuring four tasting stations of 19 chocolates from around the world along with champagne, port, red wines and dessert wines. $15 per station, $45 all stations. Reservations recommended. Hyatt Regency Denver, Colorado Convention Center, 650 15th St., 303-486-4433
Second Street Art Market and Wine Bar
Saturday: Offering a Valentine’s Prix Fixe Dinner at the Wine Bar. $50 per person, $40 without wine. Tax and gratuity excluded. Reservations recommended. 366 Second St., Monument, 719-488-2506,
Texas de Brazil
Sunday: Offering a 50-60 item salad area along with beef, lamb, pork, chicken and sausage, desserts and wine. Opens at noon. Reservations recommended. Northfield Stapleton, 8390 Northfield Blvd., 720-374-2100,
West End Tavern
Sunday: Five-course Beer Lovers Dinner paired with a selection of Avery beers, 6:30 p.m. $65. Reservations recommended. 926 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-444-3535,
Wynkoop Brewing Company
Saturday & Sunday: Offering a special dinner package that includes two tickets to the improvisational comedy of Impulse Theater (located beneath the Wynkoop). Reservations required. 1634 18th St., 303-297-2111
Zolo Southwestern Grill
Friday-Sunday: Three course Valentine’s prix-fixe menu, $45, with optional $20 cocktail pairing or $15 optional wine pairing. Reservations required Regular menu also available. 2525 Arapahoe St., Boulder, 303-449-0444,
