An Occasional Tipple: ​A magical day of love and lovely wine

Speaking of which, my darling wife, the illustrious Madame G., had good reason to chide me over this after having been goaded relentlessly following Ireland’s recent hammering of France in the rugby.

Love is nothing, however, if not forgiving. So, I will accept her pardon and endeavour to be more considerate forthwith. Honest. Now, some Italian wine for all you thirsty lovebirds out there.

I plan to woo my Madame on the 14th with an enticing M&S Dine in Deal (£25 for 2)- luxury prawn cocktail then Beef Wellington and truffle mash with a red wine jus which I shall match with the brooding, sensitively spiced and extravagantly flavoursome 2022 La Cascata Passivento (£12, M&S). This medium-bodied, deep crimson red has pronounced brambly aromas which are nicely complemented by dark, smoky backnotes. Generous mouthfuls of plum, fig and raisin flavours are firmly balanced by gentle tannins before a lingering, tangy finish.

If your loved one, like mine, prefers something white then today’s WINE OF THE WEEK, the fabulously fresh and fragrant 2023 M&S Mystery Bay Sauvignon Blanc (£10) should fit the bill. A theatrically ripe citrussy bouquet welcomes a luscious palate full of gooseberry and pear flavours. Zingy and upbeat, this elegant white will also go wonderfully well with seafood, especially oysters. And you know yourself what oysters lead to, hey?

As you luxuriate in your own intimate soirees, it may interest you to know that while the French may still see themselves as the kingpins of romance, we can teach our garlic-munching cousins a thing or two about that. Let me expand. Whilst studying theology at the Sorbonne many moons ago, I came across the story of Irish Carmelite priest, Fr. John Spratt. So impressed was Pope Gregory XVI with Spratt's teaching on the subject of romantic love that he gifted St. Valentine's remains to his Carmelite order. And they reside to this day in the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Whitefriars St., Dublin.

Naturally, we made a big deal out of this and turned the saint's feast into a celebration of romance. An instinctively secretive and devious people or maybe just fearful of public rejection, we spared our blushes by starting the tradition of sending cards and tokens of love anonymously. The US naturally got in on the act and soon Hallmark took over.

This year when my lovely Madame, after one glass too many, begins to tell me again about how her people invented romance, I could simply correct her. But I think I shall prefer instead to pour her another glass of her beloved Mystery Bay and just nod along, while marvelling at the patience and kindness of love which is never jealous, boastful or conceited.

Till next week, tipplers, sante!