The history of Valentine’s Day is as long as it is ambiguous. Whether you believe it’s rooted in the ancient Roman fertility festival called Lupercalia; the Christian Saint Valentine who performed marriages in secret; or Cupid, the Greek god of love, the idea is the same: it’s a holiday where we get to celebrate our loved ones. And in our book, that means to wine and dine them—whether its your gal pals for Galentine’s Day or your sweetheart.

We’ve compiled a lineup of wines you can look to no matter how you want to celebrate. Romantic table for two at home? Try the Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Xavier Vignon, the perfect accompaniment to a juicy steak. Aperitif before a night on the town? Try some classy Italian bubbly made in the méthode champenoise, Franciacorta. Want to gift a bottle? Try a bottle of Burgundy from our Direct Import winemaker Jean-Michel Giboulot. Cozy night at home with your friends? Pop open a bottle of luscious Meunier-based Champagne and let the good times roll.

Showstopping Steak Pairing: Rare, Aged Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Xavier Vignon

Xavier Vignon is one of our favorite winemakers in the Rhône. He’s a well-known winemaking consultant who works with other producers around France; but when he sets his skills on his own wine projects, the results are dazzling. While we're always thrilled with his portfolio top to bottom, today we're highlighting his rare and extraordinary library Châteaneuf releases. Click here to read more about this visionary winemaker and his intriguing approach to the wines of the region.

2000 Xavier Vignon "2000" Châteauneuf-du-Pape $89.99
1999 Xavier Vignon "1999" Châteauneuf-du-Pape $89.99
1998 Xavier Vignon "1998" Châteauneuf-du-Pape $109.99
1991 Xavier Vignon "1991" Châteauneuf-du-Pape $119.99

- Keith Mabry, K&L Rhône Wine Buyer

Franciacorta: Italy’s Answer to Luxury Bubbly

Franciacorta is Italy’s premier sparkling wine from Lombardy. It draws upon centuries of history, culture, and winemaking tradition. Its name dates back to the 11th century when Cluniac and Cistercian monks reclaimed the lands, which became known as Francae Curtes—lands free of taxes. It then became "Franzakurta" in 1277. Franciacorta's legacy dates back even earlier than Dom Perignon, with a mention in the Libellus de Vino Mordaci, a groundbreaking book on bottle-fermented wines published in 1570 by Brescia physician Girolamo Conforti. Conforti described Franciacorta’s bubbly wines as "lively and tangy," noting their therapeutic benefits and unique fermentation techniques. More than 1,000 hectares in Franciacorta were used for the production of "Mordasi" wines. This laid the foundation for the modern era, when Franco Giliani created the first vintage of Pinot di Franciacorta in the 1960s. Franciacorta pioneered the production of high-quality sparkling wine in Italy. The current wine received DOC status in 1967 and became the first Italian sparkling wine to be recognized by DOCG in 1995 to bottles produced by secondary fermentation.

Berlucchi "61" Franciacorta Extra Brut $27.99 91DC 90WE 90WS
2015 Berlucchi "61" Franciacorta Nature $64.99
Monte Rossa "Prima Cuvée" Franciacorta Brut $24.99 (Elsewhere $45) 91WE
Ca’ del Bosco "Cuvée Prestige" Franciacorta $42.99 94JS 93WE
Ca’ del Bosco "Cuvée Prestige" Franciacorta Rosé $54.99 93JS
2015 Ca’ del Bosco "Annamaria Clementi" Cuvée Franciacorta Riserva $109.99 95JS 94WS
2015 Ca’ del Bosco "Annamaria Clementi" Cuvée Franciacorta Rosé Riserva $124.99 97JS
2019 Ca’ del Bosco "Vintage Collection" Dosage Zero Franciacorta Riserva $79.99 95JS
2019 Ca’ del Bosco "Vintage Collection" Satèn Franciacorta Riserva $79.99 95JS

- Orazio Campoli, K&L Italian Wine Buyer

Premier Cru Burgundy Under $50 Is an Affordably Extravagant Gift

We have been working with Domaine Jean-Michel Giboulot for a long time, and one of the most rewarding parts of this relationship has been watching the wines get better-and-better with each vintage. These bottles shine a light on the emerging quality and diversity of vineyards in Savigny-lès-Beaune all the while offering an incredible value proposition. His wines come from an impressive list of vineyard holdings, and we currently carry four fantastic 2022 1er Cru Savigny-lès-Beaunes that and Burgundy lover will not want to miss.

2022 Domaine Jean-Michel Giboulot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru "Aux Gravains" $44.99
2022 Domaine Jean-Michel Giboulot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru "Les Peuillets" $44.99
2022 Domaine Jean-Michel Giboulot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru "Aux Serpentières" $44.99

- Alex Pross, K&L Burgundy Buyer

Champagne Never Fails: Meunier at All Price Points

Even though the grape variety Meunier covers about one-third of the Champagne region, it is still little understood by most wine lovers. Unlike Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Meunier is indigenous to the Champagne region. Perhaps the fact that it is not from Burgundy (like the other two) is part of the reason for this lack of understanding. After all, no wine region in the world is more studied than Burgundy. I am certain that even more Meunier would be planted if it were not for the fact that most growers sell their harvest every year to the big houses and get a higher price for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Growers in the Marne Valley who keep their grapes to make wine for themselves often find Meunier to make the best wine, and thus plant more of it than their neighbors who sell all of their grapes. It is very well adapted to the region, and the last of the three to bud out, which means it will avoid the worst of the spring frosts so common and dangerous in this region. Although many of the big houses disregard Meunier, it is interesting to me that two of the very best prize it: Billecart and Krug. At Billecart they ferment it cold and slow to emphasize its fruit, while at Krug it is often aged for many years in tank as reserve wine and used to add savor to their famed Champagnes.

Dérot-Delugny "Milieu Naturel" Blanc de Noirs Brut $34.99
2016 Thierry Thibault Vintage Brut Champagne $49.99
2019 Alexandre Le Brun "Cuvée Revelation" Brut Champagne $58.99
Laherte Frères Extra Brut "Rosé de Meunier" Champagne $54.99
Billecart-Salmon "Brut Réserve" Champagne $59.99
Krug "Grande Cuvée" 172ème Édition Brut Champagne $259.99

- Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer

California Collector’s Bottles: Incredible Offerings for a Collector Near and Dear to You

A stunning selection of iconic California cult wines, currently in stock. These bottles represent some of the most pioneering and brilliant projects to ever come out of California and have helped pave the way for the market today. Embodying a love and passion for their respective terroirs, and striving to achieve perfection at every step, these pinnacle California collectibles make for a truly jaw-dropping gift—whether for a loved one or for yourself. Beautiful and sumptuous, these rare finds likely won’t stick around for long.

2019 Sine Qua Non "Distenta I" California Syrah $299.99 100WA 100TWI 98JD 98VN
2020 Sine Qua Non "Distenta II" California Syrah $329.99 99JD 99TWI 98WA 98VN
2021 Sine Qua Non "Distenta III" California Syrah $329.99 100TWI 98-100WA 98VN 97JD
2020 Screaming Eagle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $2,799.99 99DC 99JS 96VN
2021 Screaming Eagle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $2,999.99 100DC 100JS 100VN 98TWI