Not long before the Super Bowl, I happened across an article that talked about the best wines to drink during a football game.  The person being interviewed suggested two options: a crisp white wine like a Riesling, which is great with food and won’t worry hosts about carpet spillages, or a Syrah, which tends to pair well with barbecued foods.

I have to admit, though, the wine that I brought to my friends’ Super Bowl party was the above-named Pinot Noir, which is neither a crisp white like Riesling nor a heavy red like Syrah.  Still, we did manage to enjoy both the wine and the game… and, I might add, there were no spillages.  With a light body, beautifully complex berry aromas, a sensual mouthfeel and a lingering finish, any wine connoisseur who has tried the 2004 McHenry Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir would say the same thing: that this Pinot is more like an old world version, in its subtlety and gracefulness, than one from California. 

The bottom line for our purposes?  Not a Super Bowl wine, but with football season in the rear-view mirror and Valentine’s Day fast approaching, this wine is ever more relevant for anyone seeking a bottle appropriate for the holiday.  Riesling might be good for keeping carpets clean and Syrah might pair well with barbecue, but there’s no doubt that this wine pairs well with romance.

Take note that only 320 cases of this Pinot Noir were made, so purchasing a bottle might require a little bit of legwork.  One place that had it as of last week is Vintage Berkeley, which ships across the country.  You can also try ordering directly from the winery itself by clicking here.