French-inspired Valentine's Dinner Pairing

Valentines Day is just around the corner and whether you're celebrating with a special someone or toasting life with your lovely self- here is a tasty pairing to try.

It all starts with the wine! My absolute favorite white wine is Gewürztraminer from the Alsace region in northeast France. This very German-sounding, popularly French-grown wine is one even the red wine lovers should give a chance.

This wine is a primarily produced as a single-variety and labeled by the grape varietal rather than region. It's one of four noble grapes in this region including Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Muscat. Most wines in this region are white, however, pinot noir is also grown here and makes excellent rose wine.

Gewürztraminer wine is typically:

Medium alcohol

Medium bodied

Low tannin

Low acidity

Off-dry

Notes of lychee, rose and ginger

I chose a 2017 Vin D' Alsace Laugel Gewürztraminer Cuvèe Selectionnee which had strong yet delicate notes of honey, tropical fruit like papaya and florals like orange blossom and rose. The smell and taste of this wine created the perfect start to this Valentine's meal.

For dinner, try pairing this wine with:

Crab cakes with a side of spicy, paprika aioli

Arugula, heirloom tomato and avocado salad

Roasted petite potatoes tossed with olive oil, cracked pepper and salt

To create balance, white wines pair well with contrasting flavors. Aromatic wine, such as this, also pairs well with flavorful shellfish. Since I personally don't like a lot of spice (bring on the tissues!) this pairing focuses on the rich flavors of crab and is complimented with a spicy aioli to the side. If you do like spice, other options include Indian or Chinese cuisines or go for a hearty, French cuisine such as duck or foie gras.

I hope you get the chance to try this or a similar pairing combination and let me know how it goes in the comments below!

Salut et bon appetite!