Valentine's Day Approaches

One week until Valentine’s Day, and many people still haven’t picked out a gift for their significant other. Or, if you’re super single like me, what to send your other single friends to console them during this travesty of a holiday.

Anyway, forget the jewelry, boys, and toss that cologne, ladies, because wine is the best Valentine’s Day gift!

For your husband or wife
Save: A bottle of wine from the year you were married. A nice French bottle is a classic touch, though a bottle from your own area is always fun—wine is made in all 50 U.S. states, and in most regions of the world.
Splurge: A trip to wine country. Like I mentioned above, there are wineries in all the states of the Union. Some are harder to come by (in, say, Alaska), but most states have wine trails, and most countries have wine regions (even India and China, by the way). A day trip is a fun way to spend time together, and a weekend is an excellent way to relax.
Hotels located in or very near wineries are fun. Some suggestions:
Washington—Cave B Inn; Inn at Abeja
California (Santa Rosa)—Vintner’s Inn
Georgia—Chateau Elan
Remember—it still costs less than a tennis bracelet.

For your lover
Save: Reasonably priced sparkling wine. Inexpensive and sexy. I recommend Domaine Ste. Michelle Luxe (about $20).
Splurge: Expensive Champagne. Expensive and sexy. I recommend Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne (about $90). Not only does it have an amazing flavor profile and minerality, it’s also pink.

For your new girlfriend or boyfriend
Save: There’s nothing cozier than a glass of port or sherry in front of a roaring fire. Encourage some snuggling with a bottle of Barnard Griffin 2005 Reserve Syrah Port ($16.99).
Splurge: Make your own wine together at a local crushpad or microwinery. Cleaner and easier than getting a puppy, and an excellent way to bond, crushpads are located in most parts of the U.S. Plus, if you break up, it’s easier to split cases of wine than share doggie custody.
Live in or near San Francisco? Try Crushpad.

For your single friends
Save: A bottle of Mad Housewife, Il Bastardo, or possibly R Winery's Bitch Grenache or Evil Cabernet Sauvignon. Remind them why it’s good to be single sometimes.
Splurge: Personalized bottles from Northwest Cellars in Seattle, WA. Don bottles with a particularly attractive picture of your group of friends, a photo of Matt Damon, or a reminder like “It’s better to go alone than badly accompanied.” The possibilities are endless.