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There are only a handful of holidays that cause anxiety among men.  We manage to circumnavigate Thanksgiving and the Christmas/Chanukah season only to resurface reasonably unscathed thanks in part to the guidance and direction of our wives.

But anniversaries, birthdays, and Valentine’s Day are essentially a solo effort, and prior to the existence of smart-phones it was the subtle hints from said spouses that prevented many of us from forgetting these dates.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner gentlemen, let’s put a plan into action shall we!

You must buy her flowers; roses or otherwise – that is mandatory.  But contrary to aggressive advertising campaigns, she really doesn’t want chocolates and if you are anything like me, you probably don’t need them either.  If you plan to dine out, reservations are essential; February 14^th falls on a Tuesday this year, and despite the weeknight inconvenience, Valentine’s Day is typically the busiest day of the year for restaurants.

As a wine writer, you can bet that I am about to recommend a bottle of wine for the occasion, but the philosophy that I represent is that wine is only half beverage.  The other component is somewhat more sensual, personal, and depends entirely on how you decide to define the moment.  Essentially, the experience will only taste as good as you allow it to.  And with that, I’d like to make a few suggestions that will increase your spousal approval rating significantly.

The BYOB (bring your own bottle) service at Ontario restaurants was introduced in January of 2005 and is now becoming quite popular.  For a corkage fee, which varies from one location to another (on average $20), patrons can supply their own bottle of wine instead of selecting from the restaurant’s list. Those who purchase from the wine list historically choose labels that rank closer to the lower end in terms of price ($40); it’s only natural, and the restaurateur is well aware of this.  These are also the wines on the list that have a 300% mark-up and tend to be run-of-the-mill quality at best.  The premium labels can also be a shot in the dark as many of these selections are not ready to drink and may require an hour or two of breathing time to properly open up.  Making use of a restaurant’s corkage service allows patrons to maximize their dining experience by carefully selecting a wine from their own collection or from the wine shop.

I recommend that you call ahead to see if your venue of choice offers a BYOB policy (not every restaurant does – it cuts into their profit margin).  If so, consider a trip to the Vintages section at the LCBO for a bottle of Italy’s great Brunello di Montalcino or the unparalleled Amarone Classico; perhaps a delicate Pinot Noir or Chardonnay from Burgundy, or a higher-end California Cab.  These bottles will cost you $35-$40 plus the restaurant’s corkage fee.  For that amount, you are foregoing the equally priced but lower quality Aussie or Chilean fruit-bomb on the wine list to sip fine wine instead.  Those who take advantage of the corkage service rarely return to the wine list.

Staying in for the night?  Consider a meal in the dining room with the ‘fancy dishes’ (that’s what our children call the special occasion china).  After 16 years, I have found that teamwork in the kitchen has its pros and cons and that one of the keys to a successful marriage is that I am not part of the culinary duties.  It’s just better if I stay out of the way.  Setting the table, entertaining the kids, prepping the wine, and taking care of the clean up after dinner is how I earn my keep.  But on Valentine’s Day, this also affords a few minutes to set-up a special moment for my wife…

Here’s the plan:  Fill the Jacuzzi or run a hot bath and drop in some scented rose petals (they’re also available at the flower shop), light a few candles and dim the lights slightly.  Then, leave a copy of her favourite magazine along with a flute of Champagne and don’t let the kids disturb her.

Anything beyond the bubble bath and you’re on your own.  But take my advice to that point and you’ll have a renewable get-out-of-jail-free card for the next two months!

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Tags: Valentine's Day, wine

About the author: Tyler Philp

Tyler is a freelance wine writer and member of the Guild of Sommeliers. He writes about wine via a variety of outlets and conducts tutored wine tastings in group settings. In 2009 Tyler founded North of 9 Fine Wine, an online wine education resource. For additional vinous related information and learning follow on Twitter @TylerOnWine and visit him at www.northof9finewine.com where you can also subscribe to his weekly ‘Wine for the Weekend’ selections.