I think that on this full moon evening I will share with my Valentine a bottle of the world’s most popular Rosé Champagne which is made by Laurent Perrier from 100 percent Pinot Noir grapes. It is one of the few still produced by the historic “saignée” method, which is difficult but rewarding and it consists of letting the clear juice sit with the colour-producing skins until an attractive rosé colour is reached. Most today are made by adding still, red Pinot Noir juice to the final blend. Laurent Perrier, is presented in a bottle that is a reproduction of those used in the 17th century, it is bright, fresh and intense, with notes of raspberries, strawberries and black cherries.

The Connoisseurs Guide rates it 96/100 and says that although their first choice would be to have it with light foods, it is a beauty that can stand alone. It is truly a benchmark for this wine of celebrations and special occasions. $96.85.

If the Champagne did not leave enough in the budget for flowers then may I suggest Schramsberg Mirabelle Rose from the historic town of Calistoga in northern Napa Valley. I will be in this beautiful spot tasting in the Schramsberg Cellars later this month (someone has to do it). It was here in 1880 that Robert Louis Stevenson enjoyed his honeymoon with Fanny Osbourne and wrote of eagles, grizzly bears, rattlesnakes and tasting 18 wines at Schramsberg. He told of the oldest vine grower in the valley a Mr Jacob Schramm, who as an 18-year-old was a penniless barber, who even after planting a vineyard continued long to tramp the valley with his razor.

Schramsberg were the very first American sparkling wines that were made by the traditional and very labour intensive Champagne method and in 1972 President Nixon’s “Toast to Peace” with China’s Premier Zhou Enlai featured their Blanc de Blancs in Beijing. Schramsberg’s sparkling wines have been served at official State functions by every US Presidential administration since. Mirabelle Rosé is a typical blend of 55 percent Chardonnay and 45 percent Pinot Noir that exhibits a big kiss of strawberries with touches of raspberries and currants. It is delightful and good value at $32.95. I wager that it would be a tremendous hit with chocolate covered strawberries.

Occasionally I meet someone who informs me that they do not like sparkling wine and my usual remedy for this affliction is to give them a taste of Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir from the Adelaide Hills of Australia. I believe it true to say that it has cured this condition every single time. It is just one of those wines that is impossible to not enjoy very much.

In 1997 Andrew Nugent planted a vineyard and an olive grove on 100 acres in a region that was scattered with gold mines in the 1880s and today his family wines bear the original names of these mines, such as Nest Egg, Bird in Hand and Two in the Bush. Andrew’s brother Justin has travelled to our Island on a few occasions and we stock a range of their wines, but the most popular is their bubbly that is made 100 percent from Pinot Noir juice. It is the strawberry and cherry aromas and floral lift that creates a wine that scores 100 percent on my “yummy scale” and that is what gets to the unbelievers. It is so delicious with such delicate bubbles and for just $25.30 you can immensely enjoy a bottle.

Michael Robinson is Director of Wine at Burrows, Lightbourn Ltd. He can be contacted at mrobinson@bll.bm or on 295-0176. Burrows, Lightbourn have stores in Hamilton (Front Street East, 295-1554), Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355) and St George’s (York Street, 297-0409). A selection of their wines, beers and spirits are available online at www.wineonline.bm.