Valentine’s Day calls for surprising Italian rose

Occasion: The perfect Valentine's Day wine is naturally going to have to be something pink and sparkling. What better and more romantic choice than a bottle of Prosecco from Italy? Nothing says "Be my valentine" more than a bottle of pink bubbly to go along with the chocolates, hearts and all the other traditions belonging to this Hallmark-inspired celebration of romance. This, like all other bubblies, needs to be consumed at 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember, never serve it out of a glass "flute," rather use a white wineglass for maximum pleasure with this sparkling rose.

Wine: Syltbar Il Concerto Prosecco Rose

Grape: Merlot

Region: San Simone, Friuli, Northern Italy

Vintage: Nonvintage

In the glass: Syltbar Prosecco is an antique rose to salmon-pink color with a clear appearance going out into a very faint almost glass-clear meniscus with medium-high viscosity.

On the nose: The immediate burst of strawberry and raspberry fruit is lively but layered on top of seriously interesting strawberry cream pie notes, fresh hay, almost sweet rose-hip crush with hints of red currants, light cranberry juice, yeast, brandy-filled milk chocolate and good, firm minerality.

On the palate: It is one of the most interesting sparkling wines in that one thinks it will taste sweet, but it is actually dry, yet has these most curious red fruits, rose-hip soup, pomegranate seeds, bitter almond milk and then sparkliness with red ripe currants taking it into a full and structured midpalate with yeast components and minerality, leading to a red and white fruit finish with serious zest.

Price: $19.99

Availability: Lee's Discount Liquor

— Gil Lempert-Schwarz's wine column appears on Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89106-0749, or email him at gil@winevegas.com.