The world of marketing has long tried to make Valentine’s Day a very big deal. While this has been a boon for the greeting card, chocolate, floral and restaurant industries, it’s been an unwelcome reminder for many single individuals who might prefer not to be single.

Tawse Winery, however, is addressing February 14 in a creative manner. The multi-award-winning winery in Vineland, Ontario, is offering a Valentine’s Day Blind Tasting & Speed Dating event.

From 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 14, there will be a unique opportunity for “like-minded locals to connect over the finest wines Tawse has to offer,” they note. “While the finish on the wines might be long, the dates will be short. Spark up a conversation over the wines you’ll be tasting. Even if you can’t guess the wines right, you might meet someone special.”

Each $35 ticket includes four complimentary wine samples, charcuterie and 20% off any retail purchases, and guests can mingle in the cellar afterward and enjoy a light snack. Wines by the glass will be offered at that point.

Those interested can email Helena McKinney at h.mckinney@tawsewinery.ca to register.

In the interim, whether you’re single or not, here’s a trio of hot reds you might want to hang out with.

Wakefield 2021 Estate Pinot Noir — South Australia ($19.95)
My favourite edition to date of this Wakefield Pinot. Balanced black cherry, cranberry and raspberry fruit. Not too tart, medium-bodied with subtle tannins. Aging it for nine months in a combination of one- and two-year-old French hogshead barrels has added a little oak spice and body. The subtle menthol and oak-infused spice might not make it for every Pinot lover, but it’s certainly a flavourful, easy-drinking version of this grape. 89

Farina Ripasso Valpolicella Classico 2020 — Veneto, Italy ($17.95 on sale for $15.95 beginning Monday)
Here’s a strong vintage for this well-priced Corvina-dominated Valpolicella, a new addition to the LCBO Essentials lineup. It’s not a full-on Ripasso, as far as depth, weight and alcohol level (13.5%) go, although the residual sugar content is pretty much on form at 8 g/L. It pops with a fulfilling, clean, rounded, bright tart cherry through and through, with the addition of forest floor accents on the nose and a much longer finish than the price might indicate. Super-safe buy, be it as a gift or to please every red wine lover at a party. And the value gets even better on Monday at the LCBO, with the sale price trimming the cost by a toonie! 89+

Lungarotti San Giorgio 2018 — Umbria, Italy ($62.95)
You can tell that this wine—a Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangiovese blend—has been maturing for more than four years, the first of which was in oak barriques, with the remainder in the bottle. Dark cherry, plums, dark chocolate, balsamic vinegar and wet forest trail combine on the complex nose. Anchored by a solid framing of tannins, it absolutely coats the palate and wraps around the tongue like a warm blanket of dense, dark red fruit and dried herbs, before moving on to a lush mid-palate and long finish. Nice aging potential. Pair it up with steak or venison, and serve in a large, stemmed glass at 16-18C. 92