Whether you’re planning an intimate wine tasting at home, or a romantic candlelit dinner at a restaurant with your hot date, a great way to double down on the sensuous effects of wine is by pairing it with classic aphrodisiac foods. Much has been said for fresh flowers, sweet treats, and moonlight strolls to inspire romance… but seduction is an art, and a delicious glass of wine or two is an essential tool for the perfect date night!
These sommelier-approved pairings are filled with ingredients that boost your libido for a seductive date night! The good news is that you don’t need to book a flight to Napa Valley or Tuscany to enjoy these fabulous bottles of wine and fantastic food pairings— and spend quality time together.
Oysters + Prosecco
Legend has it that Casanova, Italy’s most famous lover, ate fifty oysters daily to stoke the flames of his romantic stamina. You don’t have to take it that far— but experts say that whether it’s your first date or your hundredth, these bewitching bivalves are an excellent choice to kick off a romantic evening. Not only are they sexy to eat, but they’re filled with zinc and amino acids that scientists attest can contribute to vitality in the bedroom. If you’re an oyster lover, you know many different types of oysters to try. From the East Coast to the West Coast and all points in between, oysters are a great way to enjoy the ocean without ever setting foot in it! Look for Blue Point Oysters from New York, Kumamoto Oysters from California, or Olympia Oysters from Washington.
Prosecco is a sparkling wine that pairs well with oysters because it has an effervescent quality that cuts through the saltiness of the sea creature and brings out its natural sweetness. The lightness of this type of wine also allows you to enjoy all the flavors and textures of your oyster without feeling weighed down by heavier wines like Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon. Pro tip: it’s also an excellent value with various styles available at different price points. If you’re on a budget, Prosecco DOC is usually priced between $12-$15. If you want to spend a bit more, look for a Prosecco Superiore DOCG. And wine lovers who favor sparkling rosés will be happy to know that as of 2020, Prosecco is now available as rosé wine.
You can eat raw, baked, fried, or even grilled oysters—but I think the best way to accentuate their sweet, creamy, and briny flavors is to dress them with a simple mignonette laced with pink peppercorns and Prosecco. And since you popped the cork on a Prosecco to add a fizzy zing to your mignonette, how could you resist toasting with it?
As for picking the right bottle? Mionetto Brut Prosecco ($14.99), with crisp golden apple flavors and floral aromas, is a perfect wine pairing for oysters.
Truffles + Champagne
Shaved truffles are the ultimate treat for a romantic dinner date: they’re extremely rare, with a famously earthy, heady perfume that has made them one of the most expensive gastronomic treats in the world. They’re a great idea for a romantic date night: luxurious, indulgent, and sensual. Try them in a beautiful pasta like this sublime Gnocchi, Crab, and Truffle dish.
As for the wine? Complete the luxe theme by serving the original elixir of love: Champagne! Champagne is a sparkling wine from the Champagne wine region of France… and French wine is just automatically a bit elevated and chic without trying too hard (a great vibe to strive for!). It’s known for its vibrant acidity, and it’s a great date night wine because it’s light (avoiding wines with high levels of alcohol for a date is a good idea: you’ll avoid getting drowsy).
If you’re prepared to go over the top for your love, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the crème de la crème: Champagne Krug Grand Cuvee ($160).
Chili Peppers + Lightly Sweet White Wine
Said to make you flush, increase your heart rate, and also release endorphins, chili peppers are a pleasure-inducing wonder for a romantic night. Turn up the heat with one of the best recipes for spicy food: Lobster Linguine With Chiles. And while the chilis get the credit for being the true aphrodisiac superpower, lobster has aphrodisiac qualities, too- because it has high levels of zinc and magnesium, which are said to increase libido. Plus, it makes the person eating it feel special and luxurious.
The trick to pairing spicy foods with wine is to select a wine with a hint of sweetness that will balance the heat in the dish– and keep all the flavors in balance. Delicate wines that are lightly sweet are the ideal choice. Look for an off-dry white wine like a Riesling from Germany’s Mosel region that shimmers with pure fresh minerality, a touch of apple, and white peach. It’s a harmonious pairing for spicy dishes. Try Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese Trocken 2012 ($25).
Coffee + Vin Santo
The caffeine in coffee is a stimulant, increasing your energy and urging blood flow to all the… um…. right places. For date night, indulge in an espresso-spiked dessert like Tiramisu rather than simply drinking coffee straight. Translated as ‘Pick Me Up,’ legend has it that Italian housewives would prepare the layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers, rum, and creamy custard if their husbands were too tired from a hard day’s work to perform their, er, ‘conjugal duties.’ Pick me up, indeed!
Tiramisu is often paired with the famous dessert wine Vin Santo in Tuscany. Vin Santo literally translates to ‘holy wine,’ traditionally made with grape varieties Trebbiano and Malvasia (sometimes with the addition of Sangiovese). The grapes are harvested and dried on straw mats, which concentrate their sugars as the water content in the grapes evaporates. Badia a Coltibuono Vin Santo 2013 ($48.99/half bottle) is semisweet, offering a range of luscious walnut, caramel, toasted almond, candied fruit, and vanilla notes. If you’re new to dessert wines, this is a total treat!
Chocolate + Primitivo
Sinful, sweet, and connected to the goddess of fertility by the Aztecs, Chocolate has been an essential part of seduction rituals throughout history… possibly because chocolate contains phenylethylamine, which is the same chemical that’s released in the brain when we fall in love! Chocolate also has a lot of health benefits that make it attractive to your body. Chocolate can lower your blood pressure and reduce your stroke and heart disease risk. It’s also full of antioxidants which are good for your skin and brain health! Plus, chocolate contains magnesium which helps us sleep better at night.
Dark chocolate is irresistible when it enrobes ripe strawberries and cherries: pair simple, perfect chocolate dipped fruit with Tormaresca Torcicoda Primitivo 2019 ($22.99), a luscious, berry-filled red with a touch of mocha and balsamic, from Italy’s Puglia region. Primitivo is a great option with chocolate because it’s low in tannins– and tannins can clash with the natural bitterness in cacao. Ending your evening with a full-bodied, juicy, and velvety bottle of red wine is a perfect way to transition into whatever your evening holds next (wink, wink).
