The first time Bearded Husband and I spent Valentine's Day together, we'd actually been together for seven years. Different schools (we were fifteen when started 'going out', not that we went anywhere then) followed by different universities meant we weren't in the same place on Valentine's Day until then. And when we finally were, go out we did. To a swish-ish fish restaurant on the Brompton Road. It was awful; tables squashed together in a room heavy with an atmosphere of forced romance, food rushed onto the table to get another sitting in. As we sat across from each other, starters on the table, I knew he was thinking what I was thinking. We made our excuses, paid and left, stopping for a bottle of pink fizz and chocolates on our way home. It was the first and last time we went out on Valentine's Day. Until now, that is. Tomorrow night, we're going for a curry. Hoping we don't leave in such a hurry.
UPDATE: WE WENT TO A GASTROPUB, PEOPLE!
Current white in the fridge: Tesco Finest Tapiwey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2011, £6 on offer, Tesco
Drinking Sauvignon Blanc when it is cold outside doesn't feel quite right. But it is not quite as dark in the mornings anymore so maybe I am coming out of aromatic white wine hibernation. Anyway, this one is a brilliant example of bright, gooseberry fruit-ish Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, and it has a bit more liveliness to it that some of the really cheap stuff being churned out by New Zealand at the moment. Sipping this, I can almost believe there are longer, brighter days around the corner.
Current red on the side: Terra d'Alter Red 2009, £8.99, Solent Cellar and Terra D'Alter
This Portuguese wine was the stand-out red at a wine tasting with a bunch of parents from my middle boy's nursery last week. Made from grapes normally used to make Port (including Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira), here grown in the southern Alentejo region and crafted by Australian born Peter Bright. He has lived in Portugal for years but as one of the world's original flying winemakers, the style and polish of this wine are tellingly New World. Really gorgeous wine, made to go with food, especially sausages and mash.
RIP Whitney xLabels: 2009, 2011, Chile, Portugal, red wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Tesco, Touriga Nacional, white wine