Wine Box Experience - Karen Joiner

Curl up and Get Cozy with Vino

February is a month of transitions—winter is still in full swing, but spring is peeking around the corner. It’s also a time for indulgence, whether you’re embracing cozy nights indoors, celebrating Valentine’s Day, or finding the perfect bottle for a hearty meal. This month calls for wines that bring warmth, richness, and a touch of romance to your glass.

For those lingering winter nights, bold reds like Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon offer deep, dark fruit flavors and warming spice. If you’re looking for a red with a touch of elegance, a Pinot Noir or a Nebbiolo delivers silky tannins and layers of complexity. For white wine lovers, February is the perfect time to enjoy richer, more textured options like a Viognier, a Chardonnay, or a white Rhône blend. Their creamy textures and warm spice notes make them ideal. If you’re feeling something lighter yet winter-friendly, a dry Riesling or a Chenin Blanc offers bright acidity with hints of honeyed citrus. Of course, no February wine selection is complete without sparkling wines! Whether it’s a Brut Rosé Champagne for a special Valentine’s toast or a Lambrusco for something fun and slightly fizzy.

To me, the focus for this month will also take us to the “Lands of Love” where bolder styles set the mood. We’ll be focusing on countries like France, Argentina, Spain & Italy. Nothing says loving like these countries that spark the inner fires within us. Let’s look at what you’ll be curling up to this month.

Let’s get the passions fired up with the Champalou Vouvray. No better way to ignite your taste buds than with the vibrancy of a Chenin Blanc from the Vouvray of the Loire Valley, known as the “Garden of France”. You’ll think you’ve stepped back into the Garden of Eden about to take a bite of the forbidden fruit as this wine bursts open with a fruit explosion. It all gets balanced with a bright acidity that develops in the grape from the limestone soils its grown in. The result is an elegant beauty starring right back at you in the glass enchanting you to bring your lips back for another taste. Don’t be shy though, with its intense profile, this wine can hold up to flavors like very few whites can. Treat yourself to some herb crusted meats or some flavor-packed cheeses like goat, roquefort or stilton.

Keeping the warm and fuzzy feels front and center we move on the Domaine Nico Grand Mère Pinot Noir. Like any illicit activities this wine should never have happened. Pinot Noir was never planted in the Mendoza region before, this was typically reserved to the southern Patagonia region in Argentina. Thanks to the relentless pursuits of a passionate woman, Laura Catena not only endured, but executed with expert precision a triumph in the glass. Just like the feminine energy which drove this project, the wine is named “Grand Mère” which refers to the softer, more delicate style of Pinot Noir, inspired by the elegance and warmth of a mother’s touch. Allow this wine to get a hold of you as you pair it with slow roasted dishes like pork tenderloin or citrus-herb salmon. Simply put… indulge.

Whatever your plans this February, there’s a perfect wine to match the moment—so pour a glass, get cozy, and enjoy! Cheers!