Add Spice To Your Valentines Day With This Trio Of Wines

These three Portuguese wines from Silk & Spice are just what you need to make your Valentine’s Day one to remember.

Silk & Spice wines are perfect
for Valentine's Day.

We first discovered Silk & Spice wines four years ago, tasting the 2018 vintage of their original red wine. Today it is the best-selling red Portuguese blend in the US. The wine made such an impression that when we learned three new wines were available, we jumped at the chance to taste them.

Silk & Spice is a tribute to the adventurous spirit of the Portuguese navigators who explored the world in the 15th century and opened up the silk and spice trade routes. The wines combine native Portuguese grapes in mouthwatering combinations at very reasonable prices.

If you are searching for a spark for Valentine’s Day, check out these three wines. One (or more) may be perfect. 

Silk Route Red 2021

Playing off the brand name, this wine delivers a smooth ride that begins with the aromas of red fruit and chocolate. On the palate, there are fresh red cherries and plum plus some savory notes and a touch of pepper. 

The blend is 40% Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo), 40% Baga, and 20% Merlot. The wine is very well-balanced. The Tinto Roriz and Merlot contribute to an ultra-plush finish while the Baga provides the tannins for a nice structure. 

This is ideal with snacks, salads, meat, or grilled vegetables

White Blend 2023

This was a surprise for me. Outside of Vinho Verde and Alvarinho, I am used to sipping red wines from Portugal. In my own journey of discovery, I found this to be a fresh and bright white wine – perfect for casual dining or chilling out.

Silk Route smooth red blend.

Blended in this wine are 35% Arinto, 15% Alvarinho (Albarino), and 50% Bical. Peach and melon flavors dominate with touches of white blossom. The mouthfeel is rounded rather than acidic. The wine is fermented in stainless steel but does spend some time in American oak on fine lees.

 

A lower ABV (12.5%) means this is a food-friendly wine. This will be perfect with grilled vegetables, sushi, grilled chicken, or pasta with cream sauce.

Spice Road Red 2021

Spice Road indeed! This wine takes its name seriously. A blend of 20% Touriga Nacional, 50% Alicante Bouschet, and 30% Shiraz, this wine is a salute to the most important spices traded during the Portuguese voyages of exploration, which are now found around the world.

The Alicante Bouschet makes this wine big and bold. Flavors of blackberries and blueberries mingle with notes of chocolate and profound spices. To taste this is to experience the exotic spices of the Silk Route in a glass.

This wine is made with their finest grapes, which undergo additional maceration after fermentation. The result is a deep, beautiful purple. This wine is for the adventurous. 

It is a chance to break out of the bubble of conventional wines and enjoy unfamiliar but delicious grapes. Another tasty aspect is that each bottle costs only $13.99. At this price, you can afford to get all three to go big this Valentine’s Day.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.