You’re already thinking smart if you’re planning a wine date. Choosing the right date night wines sets the tone without the pressure of a crowded bar.
And let’s be honest, there’s nothing sexier than sharing a bottle of wine together.
Regardless of your date’s level of wine smarts, there’s something indescribably sexy about the following nine wines. They appeal to *nearly* all wine lovers.
Since exact bottles might not be available in your area, this list is organized by wine style and variety.
Sparkling Rosé
Flavors: strawberry, white cherry, citrus, cream, and honeysuckle
Why? If you thought sparkling wine was a good idea, you’d be right! We all get nervous during a date, and that feeling can turn your mouth into the Sahara. The cool thing about carbonation is that it stimulates the salivary glands without causing you to literally drool over your date.
Oh, and that rosy color isn’t just a pretty shade of red: studies have shown that the color red actually increases arousal in men. While we’re at it, maybe those red shoes are a good idea too!
But when you get down to brass tacks, rosé is a nearly universal crowd pleaser. It’s refreshing, easy to drink, and engaging without distracting you from your date.
What to seek out: Crémant d’Alsace, Rosé of Cava, Lambrusco di Sorbara, etc.
Extra-Brut Sparkling
Flavors: citrus, yellow apple, almond, cream, and toast
Why? An evening of dancing and Champagne has been considered the ideal way to spend a date since the time of powdered wigs and tri-corner hats. And those fops might have been up to something: beyond the carbonation’s effect of keeping you stimulated, extra brut sparkling wine is required to have less than 6 grams per liter of residual sugar.
That means very low residual sugar (generally fewer carbs per glass than most sparkling wines), which will keep you from getting annihilated by a sugar crash when midnight hits.
And frankly, if you open up a bottle of Champagne or Cava in any country in the world, the message will always be the same: we’re about to celebrate. It’s refreshing, it’s classy, and what date isn’t impressed by the pop of a sparkler’s cork? Make sure you know how to open the bottle properly first, of course…
What to seek out: Champagne, Cava Reserva, Franciacorta, Cap Classique, etc.
Viognier
Flavors: tangerine, peach, mango, honeysuckle, and rose
Why? The connection of love and roses has been a cultural touchstone for a long time, so why not bring a wine that reflects that? Along with its rich fruit flavors, Viognier’s sensual perfumed style also features a distinct aroma of flowers.
Not only do roses stand out as a token of affection, but studies also show that their unique scent can have a calming effect, which is perfect for relaxing and getting to know each other.
What to seek out: Look to the richer, oak-aged styles of the New World, particularly California’s Central Coast, Argentina, or even Chile.
French Rosé
Côtes de Provence or Tavel Rosé
Flavors: strawberry, cherry, rhubarb (Tavel); strawberry, watermelon, rose, sea salt (Provence)
Why? More of that classic rosé style: it really does provide something that almost everyone can enjoy. Provence makes super pale rosés, with a light, delicate quality to match. If you’re looking for something a little more bold, Tavel is known for a deep pink color, along with a savory and rich flavor.
Like the sparkling rosés we’ve already mentioned, the color is key. The color red stirs up something in our brains, causing a heightened state of arousal.
While both of them pair incredibly well with a wide variety of date night foods, Tavel might be the secret to a date night success due to its deep color and unique flavors. But either one of them is delicious and seriously easy to drink.
Grenache
Flavors: strawberry, plum, leather, herbs, and blood orange
Why? There’s something so compelling about a glass of Grenache. It starts with that ruby red color (and we all know what that means). Every sip is bursting with red berry flavors that will make your mouth water. It’s complex enough to keep you interested, yet unintimidating and really easy to drink.
And if that wasn’t enough, the subtle sage and lavender aromas in these reds are also known as sexual olfactory stimuli in men. (It turns out there are a fair number of those, in Grenache!)
What to seek out: Look to Roussillon (Sud de France), Côtes du Rhône, California, and Washington for the best.
Zinfandel
Flavors: blackberry, strawberry, peach preserves, cinnamon, and sweet tobacco
Why? Want something red and complex, but don’t want your date to see your tannin face? Zinfandel combines zingy berry flavors and smoky, baking spice characteristics with softer tannins that make it easy to enjoy.
If that isn’t enough, Zinfandel often reaches higher alcohol levels than many classic table wines, without being fortified. And if you’re just having a glass or two, a little extra alcohol can mellow you out and lower your inhibitions. Just don’t overdo it: drunkenly waving your shirt over your head is really more of a 3rd-date kind of thing.
What to seek out: Look for wines with 14.5% ABV or more. Check out Primitivo di Manduria from Puglia, classic California Zinfandel from Paso Robles, Lodi, or North Coast (including Napa and Sonoma).
Carménère
Flavors: raspberry, bell pepper, black plum, vanilla, and mint
Why? With its sophisticated peppery-minty notes, there’s a lot more to Carménère than the stereotypical fruit bomb of other reds. This is a great way of signaling to your date that you enjoy the more complex things in life.
Every date runs the risk of grinding to a screeching halt when you’ve got nothing left to talk about (or can’t find something to even start with)! Carménère’s rich, vegetal aromas and flavors make for a terrific conversation starter.
What to seek out: This is one of those wines with vintage variability. Look for well-reviewed Chilean Carménère from cooler regions or balanced vintages, such as 2018, 2021, or 2022. (This is also a fun way to impress your date with your wine smarts.)
Super Tuscan
Flavors: cherry, plum, tobacco, tomato, and herbs
Why? Italy is consistently singled out as one of the most romantic places in the world, and if that’s true, then this list would be incomplete without one of their luscious reds. Because they often include more familiar grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Super Tuscans have mass appeal that even wine amateurs can appreciate, with the added benefit of complex, Italian characteristics.
With their deep red color, romance is built into the heart of Super Tuscan wines, and the combination of French and Italian grapes can lead to meaningful conversations about travel (and perhaps even lead to future plans). Some of these blends have distinct notes of lavender and baking spices: those all-too-familiar arousal aromas.
What to seek out: If you’re looking for something with a little more widespread appeal, look for Super Tuscans that are heavy on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. For a real-world tour, however, try the blends that are a little more liberal with their use of Sangiovese.
Sweet Frizzante
Moscato d’Asti or the red bubbly, Brachetto d’Acqui
Flavors: lemon, orange, pear, orange blossom, and honeysuckle (Moscato); strawberry, orange zest, black currant, apricot, and cream (Brachetto)
Why? So dinner’s over, and you and your date are toying with the idea of dessert. Ditch the heavy cakes and puddings and go for a Moscato d’Asti or Brachetto d’Acqui. Their super perfumed aromatics can keep you occupied for hours, while the light “frizzante” bubbles will keep you stimulated and engaged even as the night draws to a close.
These sparklers are both delightfully sweet, as any dessert ought to be. Plus, there’s the added benefit of their low alcohol content, so you’ve got a much smaller risk of getting a little too tipsy while you’re trying to impress your date.