Break out the fizz... because you're worth it

Feb 14 2008 By Laurence Mccoy

FOR Valentine's Day romantics the candlelit dinner and the bottle of fizz chilling in the ice bucket has to have the edge over pizza in front of the telly.

Champagne and a bunch of roses should be the perfect guarantee of Valentine bliss - but love does mean never having to say you're sorry about getting the wrong kind of bubbles!

Like it or not, Champagne is a measure of commitment - or lack of it - so Valentine's Day is a good reason to keep the peace and splash out. Any day of the year, however, and pink fizz definitely get's the "because you're worth it" message across. It's hard to go wrong with elegant and distinctive Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut (widely available at around £40).

Mumm's the word for a lively and fresh rose Champagne (around £28) that has vivacious raspberry alongside more succulent strawberry fruit.

And Moet and Chandon Millesime Rose 1999 (widely available around £36) is a real treat, pale salmon in colour with a whiff of strawberry leaf and an unravelling gamut of red fruits, rich and satisying with a structured seam of integrated acidity.

It's not fair to compare Champagne with Cava, which is a fraction of the price, but the Spanish counterpart can bring a fizz to a romantic occasion.

Codorniu's Pinot Noir Rose comes in a very smart, bell-like bottle, is a delightful pale pink and is full of soft red fruit flavours (£8.99 at Sainsbury and Thresher. Buy two at Majestic and save 25 per cent).

Romance lives on in Italy too with Ravelli Prosecco Raboso (£6.99 at Tesco). Here a small amount of red Raboso gives a blushing pink to one of Italy's favourite fun wines.

And a smooth suitor comes from South Africa in the shape of Graham Beck Sparkling Rose (£10.99 at sawinesonline.co.uk). It is made from 80 per cent Pinot Noir and 20 per cent Chardonay and has a delicate onion skin in colour with a frothy, soft foam of bubbles and red summer fruits and cream.

Staying pink, but without the bubbles, a Spanish stunner should not disappoint. Stork's Tower Tempranillo/Shiraz 2006, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon (£5.99 at Tesco) - the name may be quite a mouthfull but so is the wine, a brilliant dark rhubarb in colour with a deliciously quaffable, ripe strawberry and lively redcurrant flavours and a hint of toffee sweetness. It's destined to be a star of the summer.