Pink Bubbly to Your Heart’s Content

Venus, the Roman goddess of love, has often been painted in pink, and pink has somehow become interwoven with our cultural associations of romance. As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’re here to celebrate the pink—in bubbly form, of course. A few of our pink-ophiles have picked out some in-stock favorites below.

Champagne

It is hard to go wrong on Valentine’s Day with a bottle of Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne $84.99. This Champagne is an icon for a reason, and what makes it great is the small amount of red wine used in the blend. Mathieu Rolland-Billecart and his family only use old-vine Pinot Noir from their home village, Marieul-sur-Aÿ, to make the nectar that gives this rosé its gorgeous color, aroma, and flavor. And when they say old, they mean it—all the vines are old massals from the mid-1970s or earlier, many of them over 80 years old.

It is composed of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Meunier, and 30% Pinot Noir with 62% reserves. The wine has components from 2006 through 2019, and has the depth and elegance to prove it. The pale color, a true salmon pink, the subtle wild strawberry aromas framed by fresh baguette and the perfect bead of tiny bubbles make this wine perfect for your special occasion. While it is great on its own, it is even better with a little bit of lox on crackers or even caviar. Treat yourself this Valentines Day!

A toast to you!
- Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer

The artful label on the Franck Bonville Brut Rosé Champagne $59.99, with a flash of pink and a murmuration of blackbirds, foreshadows the elegance inside. 92% Chardonnay with 8% Pinot Noir. Baskets of juicy Bing cherries and wild strawberries tempered by dry, racy minerality and refreshing hints of blood orange and lemon zest.  Pair this luxurious, finely beaded sipper with potato chips, crème fraîche, and caviar.

- Kerry Kirkham, K&L Writer & Editor

International Sparklers

In no way would we dispute Champagne’s sparkling wine greatness, but there are some who say Limoux in southern France is the actual birthplace of bubbly. We are not picking sides, we like to drink both! Especially when the bubbles are as exquisite and affordable as those made by Françoise Antech, a winemaker at the helm of an estate that has passed from matriarch to matriarch for six generations. She’s also a part of Les Vinifilles, a great organization that works to support female winemakers in southern France. The 2021 Antech "Emotion" Brut Rosé Crémant de Limoux $16.99 is as charming as its winemaker, with a lively effervescence and fresh red fruit flavors underlined by citrus notes. The blend is Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Mauzac—and the price is right.

If your valentine would love nothing more than a romantic picnic, then the dry, spritzy Txakolina will be just up your alley. From northern Spain’s Basque county, the 2022 Zudugarai "Amats" Rosé Getariako Txakolina $15.99 is truly one of a kind, made from local grapes Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarrobo Beltz. It’s a fizzy, juicy, low-alcohol sipper, and perfect for all kinds of picnic fare. Grab some prosciutto, a hunk of Parmesan cheese, some figs, and a few bottles of this fun wine, and you’ll be on your way to a perfect date.

- Kate Soto, K&L Digital Content Specialist