Valentine’s Day made Simple with NS Wines
By Laila North, Go North Tours
So many of us panic to make Valentine’s Day special for the one we love. We scramble to get a reservation at a fancy restaurant only to find it noisy and far from the intimate evening we anticipated. Avoid the crowded restaurants and make a fabulous dinner at home paired with Nova Scotia wines! Here are some ideas to help inspire you!!
Start the evening with Avondale Sky Lady Slipper Rose ($17). This pink wine sets the Valentine’s Day mood and reveals notes of cranberry, cherry, and orange zest, with a refreshing mineral-driven finish. Pair it with a simple plate of some fresh fruit and soft cheeses.
For the main course, I’m sharing my favourite Valentine’s Day recipe – Shrimp in Love Pasta! This delicious dish is super simple to create and pairs beautifully with L’Acadie Vineyards Vintage Cuvée Rosé ($27.99). This sparkling wine is a blend of Marechal Foch, Seyval, and L’Acadie and displays juicy strawberry and cherry notes and is perfect with creamy rose pastas.
For dessert, I have two great choices. If you’re going with a simple yet elegant spread of gourmet chocolate, try Grand Pre Wines Leon Millot ($17). This light-bodied, dry red wine is all brought together with raspberry and cherry fruit flavours and a round mint chocolate finish – perfect! But if you want to kick it up a notch and have cheesecake or crème brule, then enjoy it with the classic pairing of Devonian Coast Vidal Icewine ($24.99). An intense and concentrated nose creates a heady mix including notes of pear, apple, and grape juice, while defined by expected crisp Nova Scotia acidity. This dessert wine is fantastic on its own but pairs well with most rich desserts or pour it over French vanilla ice cream!
Bon Appetit!!
SHRIMP IN LOVE PASTA RECIPE
1 cup torn fresh spinach leaves
Cook pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile, cook and stir shrimp, tomatoes, and cream cheese product in large skillet on medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until shrimp are done and sauce is well blended. Drain pasta and place in large bowl. Add spinach and shrimp mixture. Toss to coat.
