When it comes to spoiling everyone who fills your life with love, no excuses are necessary, but February is full of extra opportunities to show your loved ones how much they mean to you. Whether you celebrate Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or Palentine’s Day, here are some sweet suggestions sure to be a hit with the wine lovers in your squad.
La Goulue Wine-Filled Chocolate Bars
Photo courtesy of La Goulue Chocolatier
Just think how much your pals who like to get down with a little wine and chocolate will love a little wine in chocolate! La Goulue’s chocolate bars are filled with a wine reduction filling, putting a fresh twist on a Valentine’s Day staple. The Malbec Rosé bar, for example, is a rich Belgian dark chocolate packed with a pleasing malbec rosé wine reduction punch. The breakaway bars are easy to separate into pieces to share or save for later, but, hey, the name of the company, La Goulue, is French for glutton, so feel free to devour the whole thing in one sitting. For chocolate lovers who don’t like their candies super sweet, the Cabernet Sauvignon bar could easily become a new go-to. Though these bars have a full-bodied flavor, they are, indeed, alcohol-free, making them a safe-for-work option to gift your co-workers.
Kopper’s Sparkling Rosé Cordials not only come in an aesthetically pleasing pink package, but the chocolates are also oh-so-pretty. Each pouch contains different-sized chocolate spheres, so they would make a lovely offering at a Galentine’s Day party when poured into charming glass bowls or by playing a part in a dessert board for the more ambitious party-throwers. Admittedly, I thought the shiny purple coating on the cordials was foil at first and even tried to remove it before realizing my mistake (with a little embarrassment and perhaps some unfortunate chocolate under my fingernails). But, here’s the really fun part: the dark chocolate candies are filled with varying amounts of rosé-flavored liquid, adding a tasty surprise when you bite into them. And, while the poppable confections do not actually contain any alcohol, they are addictingly sweet. As the label suggests, you may want to warn your Valentine to “bite responsibly”!
What wine-themed gift guide would be complete without – you guessed it – wine? One good option to share with your Palentine is Lubanzi Rosé Bubbles, a sparkling rosé made from South African Cinsault grapes. Lubanzi has partnered with the Pebbles Project, an organization providing health and education resources to children of families who work on South Africa’s wine farms – meaning this wine is a gift you can feel good about giving. Rosé Bubbles’ attractive label also makes it a great bottle for gifting, and the wine tastes dry and bubbly with a citrusy appeal. The crisp wine would make for a good pairing to a seafood meal if you are lucky enough to be invited to a home-cooked meal. (If you are doing the cooking, we have some tips on How to Elevate Your Dinner Parties.) If you have an adventure planned, on the other hand, Rosé Bubbles is also available in cans that can easily be transported to wherever your Valentine’s Day may take you!
