Many couples prefer to have an intimate event at home on Valentine’s Day. Here is a guide to wines that will make your evening extra special, on any budget. —Anita Skogland

SPARKLING & CHAMPAGNE
Serving Champagne makes a statement: the person you are toasting with is extra special. A quality Champagne will cost between $50 and $75, but sparkling wines from other regions are a great bargain.

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé ($74.99, winestore)
This wine can be enjoyed as an aperitif, but it is also a serious food wine. It has the aroma of roses and citrus, raspberry, and a bright, fresh, elegant palate. It is also beautiful in a glass, a salmon color with white mousse

Louis de Grenelle Rosé Brut ($14.99, winestore)
Cremant is the name used by many other French regions for their sparkling wines. This lovely sparkling rosé from the Saumur region of Loire has the aroma of raspberry and a hint of orange. It’s great wine to serve with a triple cream brie or chocolate dipped strawberries.

Gerard Bertrand Cuvee Thomas Jefferson ($21.99, Arthur’s Wine Shop)
Another Cremant style wine, this bottle comes from the Mediterranean region of Limoux in Lanquedoc. This is the region where sparkling wine was “discovered” in the 1500s. And, yes, Thomas Jefferson was a big fan of wines from this region.

RED WINE
2015 Chateau Grand Montagne Moulin Macquin ($19.99, Arthur’s Wine Shop)
Wines from Bordeaux can be highly tannic and structured (think Cabernet Sauvignon-based) or full-bodied with softer tannins and less structure (Merlot-based). For a romantic evening to pair with whatever you serve, or as a gift to someone special, this merlot-based wine drinks well with a variety of proteins, and has a supple finish that works with robust small plates. Bordeaux is one of the most admired wine regions of the world, meaning this gift that has caché and style.

WHITE WINE
Rafael Palacios Louro Do Bolo Godello ($25.99, Foxcroft Wine Co.)
Godello is a popular grape in the northwest area of Valdeorras, Spain. Producer Rafael Palacios has cultivated this ancient Spanish grape for generations. Deep gold in color with a full body and balanced acidity, this is a wine for the anti- chardonnay consumer. Most white wines are not well-suited to meat, but this wine would pair well with pork, roasted chicken, and full-flavored fish.

Domaine Serge Laloue 2017 Sancerre Cuvee Silex ($34, Bond Street Wines)
Sauvignon Blanc is the base of this wine from the Loire Valley. This white has a balanced acidity offset by soft green fruit and a fresh herb nose. Pair it with shellfish, cod, vegetarian dishes, or spicy food.

ROSÉ WINE
Lieu Dit Rosé ($24, Black Chicken Wine Cellar)
Rose wines are popular all year, with their fresh acidity and beautiful color. You can make a great impression with a rose at a reasonable price. This producer is in Santa Barbara, California, and is known for excellent rosés. This one is dry, floral, and made for food.

DESSERT WINE
You may want to forgo any dinner and just have an evening of lovely charcuterie and dessert, which is easy to prep — leaving time for more romance.

Saracco Moscato d’Asti ($16, Black Chicken Wine Cellar)
Sparkling wines with dessert are very palate cleansing. This bottle from Italy is a great finish to a dinner as it is slightly sweet, refreshing, and only 5 percent alcohol. Delicate with the aroma of apricots, it pairs well with many dessert selections.

Kopke 10 Years Old Tawny Port ($37.50, Black Chicken Wine Cellar)
If you are serving a chocolate dessert, cheese and fruit, or rum cake, consider a tawny port. Delicately sweet, these ports have the aroma of honey and flavor of almond. A note about port: once you open it, re-cork it and keep it in a cool, dry place and it will stay for years, unlike table wine. Port is fortified with grape spirits so it has lasting power. Enjoy one bottle five or six Valentine’s Days!

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