Here at the Wine Bottega we’ve got all your Valentine’s Day needs taken care of. Reenacting the spaghetti and meatballs scene from Lady and the Tramp? That’s amore! Here’s a nice Chianti. Having a bit of trouble knowing whether your date is The One or not? Have some rosé- it’s not red, it’s not white! But if you’re looking for some heat… If you’re looking to add some sultriness… Well, have we got a line-up for you! From the Basque country and a rustic cider to the rich, heady sweetness of a nearly bygone specialty from Malaga, these are all wines with stories behind them. These wines have personalities that can serve a host of foods- and occasions other than V-Day. But for know, let us spin you some tales and set the mood. So put on the Andrés Segovia, or cue up some flamenco. Good luck, romantics. These are for you.

2007 Isastegi Sagardo Naturala, Basque Region $14

Sagardo naturala, or natural cider, has been produced in the Basque Country for over 2,000 years and as you’ll see, completely unique. Isastegi is an old family estate located in the town of Tolosa in the Basque country of Spain. The estate was originally covered by pastures for cattle, with only a few apple trees for the family to make a small amount of cider for itself. In 1983 they decided to switch from livestock to cider and started selling their cider to the public. Orchards replaced pastures, and a small part of the house became dedicated to cider production. Every spring the people of Tolosa gather at Isastegi to celebrate txotx (spring tasting) season with the new vintage of cider while enjoying the traditional meal of cod omelets, fried cod and grilled steak. We think it would be a great pairing with roasted vegetables, a fiery chili, or a creamy soup. And if you’re trying to impress, this is supposed to be poured from high above the glass- just don’t spill it all over your date!

2007 Bodegas Campante,  Vina Reboreda Blanco, Ribeiro, Galicia $12

Founded in the 1940’s by D. Manuel Mendez Villanueva Bodegas Campante has become associated with the quality standard for wines coming from the Ribeiro region of Spain.  Located in the northwest corner of Spain, the Mino River valley is the backbone of  the oldest denominated wine zone in Spain.  Unlike other parts of interior Spain, the Mino valley is very green and lush with cool winds buffering the vines from the nearby Atlantic.  The area is steeped in tradition but Spain as a whole is undergoing its own type of quality revolution.  Today the Reboreda blanco is a blend of common but also “up and coming” grape varieties.  30% of the wine is the common Palomino with the rest being a blend of Treixadura, Torrontes, which adds aromatic qualities and Godello, the region’s specialty, which is responsible for the structure and glycerol feel of the wine.  Fermentation is done in temperature-controlled stainless steel and a brief bottle aging goes on at the Bodega before release.  Light and crisp this is quintessential tapas wine and perfect for light seafood.

2007 Arbanta Rioja $14

I have to start off by saying that this wine is made using sexual confusion techniques, does that sound like some Valentine’s Days you might have experienced?  Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, this is not as kinky as it might come across.  The Llorens family practices biodynamic viticulture and the sexual confusion is used to prevent pests from reproducing instead of using harsh chemicals.  Anyway, the wine itself is a ridiculous steal of a Rioja made with 100% tempranillo.  The estate is located in Bargota, a small town on the slopes of Mt. Yoar, which is part of the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria mountain range, Rioja’s natural Northern border.  The combination of high-altitude, poor chalky soils, low yields and the family’s painstaking attention to the earth result in a concentrated and complex Rioja that definitely over delivers at its price point.  This will know your socks (and hopefully more!) off.

2005 Anima Negra AN/2, Mallorca $25

This wine began as a project for personal consumption by three friends.  This young trio realized that the indigenous grapes of Mallorca (the beautiful Bealeric Island, known for its sandy beaches) were capable of producing better wine than had been realized. They partnered with 135 tiny local growers and converted an ancient stone farmhouse into a winery.  The native grapes are callet (65%) and mantonegre-fogoneu (20%) as well as syrah (15%).  The vines are all from 50-85 years of age on dry-farmed, fertilizer free vineyards.  The wine is hand-harvested, fermented on natural yeasts and aged in both French and America oak, 70% of which is new.  The result is a unique wine from this unique place!  Lovely silky texture, black and red berry fruit and dark spice will seduce your palate. The wine is also featured at Neptune Oyster Bar, one of our favorite spots in the North End, if you are looking to enjoy this special wine out and about.

2006 D. Ventura, Vina Caneiro, Ribeira Sacra, Galicia $32

The insanely steep terraces of the Ribeira Sacra (Sacred Banks) create one of the most suggestive landscapes in all of Spain.  Located in the heart of the ancient Galicia region of north-west Spain the banks of the Sil River have been under vine since the Romans cut these rugged terraces over 2000 years ago.  The local grape is called Mencia (pronounced “men-th-ia”) and if there is a region in Spain that can be paralleled to Burgundy, the Ribeira Sacra is it.  The cool winds that flow down the Sil River help to moderate temperatures and the soil is mostly Lousa slate, giving the wines a distinct minerality.  Ramon Losada and his family have lived in the Ribeira for generations and they are on the forefront of the regions winemaking scene.  With the help of natural wine making expert Gerardo Mendez of Do Ferreiro a very neo-modern traditionalism has been incorporated into the winery.  Using only native yeasts for fermentation as well as never filtering or cold stabilizing the wine allows the natural aromas and characteristics of the Ribeira Sacra to shine.  This is the flagship wine of the family and comes from the oldest vines (80+ years) in the best and steepest terraces of the Amandi single vineyard site.

2007 Cellars Can Blau, Montsant $22

Catalunya is an intriguing area of Spain, many of it characteristics are more similar to southwest France than the rest of Spain as a whole.  This is a relatively coastal area and the climate is much more Mediterranean than interior Spain such as the Rioja.  The high altitudes of the vineyard sites are one of the key components to the nuances of Catalonian and more specifically Montsant wines.  In 2001 the high, western slopes of Tarragona received its own DO (appellation), which pretty much encircles the mighty and more well know Priorat DOC.  The grapes of Montsant are not unlike those of the Priorat, often a blend of Carinena (Carignan), Garnacha, Manzuelo, and more modernly Syrah, Cabernet, and Merlot.  But it is the distinct soil, called “llicorella” that makes the areas wines so unique.  This type of dark brown slate mixed with quartzite and clay that sparkles in the sun allows this extremely dry region to remain relatively cool and damp at the ground level.  Another distinction between Montsant and Priorat is quite important, price.  Often the best value wines with many of the same concentrated characteristics can be found in Monsant without the hefty price tag of the big guns from Priorat.  Seductively dark spicy and bold, this is a wine to sweep you off your feet.

2005 Jorge Ordonez & Co. Moscatel Seleccion Especial #1, Malaga $20

Ordonez is without question the most important force in Spanish wine today. He grew up in Malaga (where this wine hails from), met his wife when she was a foreign exchange student, moved here to Boston, and started his import company in 1987. Through incredibly hard work, Jorge has revived a moribund industry- seeking out superior producers and vineyards across Spain. This rich wine exemplifies how lucky we are to have Jorge. Malaga is a region that has an incredibly storied past going back to 600BC, but in the mid-19th century was nearly wiped out. If not for Jorge, we might never have had the opportunity to sip such delicious history. The wine is made in partnership with Austrian dessert wine god Alois Kracher, who tragically passed away this past year.  Made from 100% moscatel, the grapes are allowed to dry naturally on the vine and the most perfect of berries are then pressed for a surprisingly refreshing dessert wine that is perfect with panna cotta or cuddling on the couch.  A sweetie for your sweetie!