Perfect Drinks and Serves for Valentine’s Day

Whether you're creating a romantic atmosphere in your venue or hosting a Valentine's Day event, February 14th is another key date in the diary for hospitality businesses to draw the crowds in  

Around a third of Brits are planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, with 27% saying that being taken out for food and drink is the gift they most want to receive. (Source: YouGov, 2024). 

Whether you’re looking for which wines to pair with your Valentine’s dishes or want to inject a touch of romance in your cocktail menu, check out our top drink picks that will help you create unforgettable experiences for your customers as they celebrate with loved ones.  

Champagne 

Champagne and Valentine’s Day are a match made in heaven. Beyond its effervescent allure, Champagne is a go-to for celebratory occasions. Pop the cork on the iconic Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut, a timeless champagne that customers know and love. Its bright fruitiness, beautiful palate and elegant maturity make it the perfect luxurious companion to a range of dishes, especially cheese, fish and seafood.   

For those customers that are looking for something with a little more visual appeal, having a good line up of rosé Champagne’s will certainly impress. Another icon from the Moët & Chandon range is their perfectly pink Rosé Imperial Brut. Its intense aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry and peach create a symphony of flavours that perfectly complement the spirit of Valentine’s Day.  

Another luxury icon from the Champagne world, Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé is rich, elegant and complex with fresh citrus and red berry character, and soft creamy texture. Thanks to its aromatic depth, this rosé Champagne perfectly pairs with marinated raw fish, grilled prawns, exotic dishes, Parma ham and red fruit desserts. It also pairs well with dishes from Asian or Indian cuisine.   

Wine and Sparkling Wine 

Still and sparkling wine are often sought after for Valentine’s Day celebrations. CGA data recently revealed that 30% of customers will drink still wine on special occasions, while 20% will choose sparkling wine.  

Rosé wine, with its inviting pink colour, versatility and refreshing nature, is often a top pick for those heading out for Valentine’s Day. Propelled by the Provence style, the rosé category is growing across the on-trade, both in value at 6.8% and volume at 1.6%.  

In recent years, Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé has grown to become one of the most popular rosés of choice with a pleasing pale pink colour and a taste profile that is full and lush, yet bone dry with a smooth finish.  

Many customers are adventuring beyond Champagne to explore sparkling wines from across the world. Boasting a delicious blend of elegance and vivacity, with an enchanting pink hue, Fantinel Spumante ‘One & Only’ Rosato Brut is an Italian sparkling wine that is perfect for toasting and adding a touch of sophistication to Valentine’s Day celebrations. 

Spirits & Liqueurs  

A great way to engage with those who are out to treat themselves on Valentine’s Day is to shine the spotlight your cocktail serves or even create bespoke ones that are only available on the night. Much like sparkling wine, spirits do typically gain share during Valentine’s, with CGA revealing that on Valentine’s Day 2022 spirits sales in the on-trade were 67% ahead, with cocktails showing a rate of sale that was 135% higher than the average day.  

There’s a vast array of flavoured spirits out there these days. They can be perfect for injecting a bit of fun into your simple serves or to allow more creativity with your cocktails. Beefeater Pink Strawberry Gin, infused with natural strawberry flavours for a fruity twist, will delight your customers seeking a fun pink drink. Combine with prosecco, tonic and elderflower cordial, and voila, you have a Pink Gin Spritz that’s a perfect sipper for customers to enjoy as they catch up with friends and loved ones. 

If gin isn’t your customers’ thing, Absolut Raspberri offers a symphony of richness and intensity while capturing the essence of ripened raspberries from the Swedish hillsides. Try serving as an Absolut Raspberri Collins – just mix with syrup, lemon juice, soda water and raspberries. 

Our final Valentine’s Day drink pick is the deliciously pink Tequila Rose. Tequila is the preferred drink of choice among a third of customers heading out on the 14th February, according to CGA. This strawberry-flavoured tequila-based liqueur with a creamy not-too-sweet taste can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in a range of cocktails, such as a Frozen Strawberry Margarita or a Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri. 

Whether your customers are celebrating Valentine's, Galentine's, or Pal-entine's, keeping the fun element to your serves will be sure to delight all tastes. You can find all the products mentioned in this article online at Matthew Clark Live.