Valentine’s Day has a way of turning even the most casual wine drinker into a romantic strategist. Whether you’re planning a sunset picnic, a seafood feast, or simply hoping your culinary skills hold up under candlelight, the right bottle can elevate the moment. Rosé, with its spectrum of styles and food-friendly charm, is a particularly savvy choice. Here are a few standout pinks that deliver both flavour and flair – along with the perfect pairings to make February 14 a little more memorable.

  • De Grendel Proposal Hill Cap Classique: As with so much of modern rosé, don’t be fooled by the colour – there’s nothing sweet here. Dry to the point of being parched, but still with swirls of strawberry and a nudge of darker fruit, this 100% pinot noir is a lovely wine. It’s also versatile in its food options, from salads at brunch to a range of deserts – or a teeming sushi platter led by salmon sashimi for the wine’s acidity to cut through beautifully. Warning if you’re not married and serving this to your Valentine: the name might deliver certain expectations.
  • Holden Manz Rothko: Proprietor Gerard Holden is a big fan of a glass of rosé over a lazy breakfast to kick off the day – and given he makes two of them (named after his two children, Hiro and Rothko), he’s clearly a devotee. Try the easy savoury appeal of the grenache-led Rothko, which sits alongside eggs Benedict very happily (but go salmon with the eggs) – or in the spirit of romance, a pile of fresh oysters, the salinity of which lifts the wine’s fruit beautifully.
  • McFarlane Capitoline Wolf: One of my favourite food and wine combinations is also one of the simplest: a piece of tuna coated in olive oil, seared just enough to colour the edges, and swept down by either pinot noir or cinsault. A slightly different spin here: Alexander McFarlane’s Capitoline Wolf rosé is mostly cinsault (with a dash of grenache) and works delightfully alongside the seared tuna steak. Ideal for the chef with modest capability.
  • Pink Valley: Pink Valley winemaker Petri Venter’s other great passion is diving for crayfish, and the freshly caught shellfish thrown straight onto the braai and straight off again make for simple culinary hedonism. But add in a Sangiovese-led rosé from the estate that only makes one wine – and does so extremely well – and the firm, rich, sweet/salty signature of the crayfish, and Petri’s wine has a sensational partner.
  • Anthonij Rupert Jean Roi: Glorious colour, a striking bottle produced just for this wine, and a strong South African tribute to the rosé of Provence, there’s much to commend the Jean Roi. Made for summer days (of which February 14 is hopefully one), it has enough substance and character to go beyond just sunshine by the pool and can handle food with a little heat. Valentine’s Day picnic with a bottle of Jean Roi and some mild Nando’s? I’m in.

Whether your Valentine’s Day involves oysters, sushi, seared tuna, or a cheeky Nando’s picnic, there’s a rosé here ready to play Cupid. Each bottle brings its own personality – some elegant, some playful, all delicious – and paired well, they turn a simple meal into a small celebration. Whatever you open on the 14th, may it come with good company, great food, and a story worth toasting.

Dan Nicholl is the founder and host of Dan Really Likes Wine, South Africa’s leading digital wine vodcast. Dan holds a WSET Level Three (Merit) wine qualification and has graduated from the Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy with distinction.