Elevate Valentine’s Day with upscale recipes, ready-to-prepare meals, sophisticated sauces and lavish desserts from Hy-Vee. Then let Hy-Vee Certified Wine Master Brian Wahlstrom pair your wine and explain the basics of cooking with alcohol.
pro tip:
Identify the main flavor characteristics of your meal and
then decide if you want a wine with a similar flavor profile to complement the flavors in the food, or a wine that will exhibit a contrasting flavor profile. Many times foods with a dominant flavor pair better with a contrasting wine.”
–Brian Wahlstrom
Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits Manager and Certified Wine Master, Austin, MN
Wine selection
Filet Mignon
with Cranberry and Fig Port Wine Sauce
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Sugar Steak
with Bourbon and Green Peppercorn Cream
cooking with alcohol
Get the facts about “spirited” recipes:
Tequila adds smokiness to sauces and marinades for seafood and meat dishes.
Vodka functions as an agent that helps bind oil and water in cream sauces. It also helps create a flaky pie crust.
Gin adds an intense juniper flavor to chutneys or brines for beef or pork.
Smoky, caramel flavors of whiskey and bourbon pair well with an acidic ingredient like lemons but also with heavy meats and glazes.
meal packs make it easy
for an extra-special evening in, order restaurant-quality meals* from hy-vee.
COUPLE’S CUISINE
A classic surf & turf dinner with generously portioned lobster tail and beef tenderloin plus savory sides to complete the meal.
65
$
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Sungleam Sauvignon Blanc
Brian's Wine Pairing
A sparkling wine or the fresh, citrus flavors of Sungleam Sauvignon Blanc are delightful palate-cleansers for this mouth-filling, big-flavor meal.”
HY-VEE DESSERTS
Give the meal a divine finish with desserts from the Hy-Vee.
Ghirardelli Chocolate-covered strawberries from your Hy-Vee Produce Department.
Hy-Vee Bakery Fresh 7-in. German chocolate double layer cake with pecans and chocolate frosting.
Variety pack of 9 mini gourmet cupcakes, including red velvet, salted caramel and more.
Gourmet 6-in. French silk pie with real cocoa and gourmet semisweet chocolate curls.
Cherry cheesecake made with cherry pie filling and whipped topping in 10-oz. and 32-oz. sizes.
Fresh Vine Pinot Noir
Brian's Wine Pairing
The seared beef and bacon flavors in this recipe plus the underlying layer of caramelized vegetal aroma from the asparagus pair well with a subtle wine. Try a white or the understated cherry and dried fig flavors in Fresh Vine Pinot Noir."
SWEETHEART DINNER
Make this sirloin steak dinner even more special by adding grill marks and garnishing with freshly snipped herbs.
30
$
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MATCH A WINE
Whether cooking with wine or pairing it with a meal, follow these basic guidelines:
Cooking:
Opt for white wines in pasta, chicken and seafood dishes.
White wines that balance a meal’s flavors include Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc.
Cook with red wines for heavy dishes and stews. Choose Pinot Noir, Merlot, and for sweet dishes, Malbec.
Don’t get too hung up on choosing the ‘correct’ wine to pair up with your meal. Drink what you and your guests will enjoy,” says Brian.
Reach out to your Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits Department for help pairing your wines.
Reflection Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon
Brian's Wine Pairing
“Whether red or white, look for a smooth, assertive tannic structure that stands up well to the rich and savory flavors of prime rib and buttery potatoes.”
kiss the cook
To customize this intimate dinner for two, cook your prime rib just the way you like and choose your favorite salad dressing.
45
$
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Veuve-Olivier Brut Sparkling WIne
Brian's Wine Pairing
Choose a white or dry sparkling wine with your favorite seafood dishes. For this creamy recipe’s tangy Parmesan and sharp tomato, a fruity, crisp white is the perfect match.”
Avaline Organic Red Wine
Brian's Wine Pairing
This organic French red blend is loaded with bright cherry and a touch of spice—the perfect match for creamy, rich dishes with sweet and spicy flavors.”
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Brian's Wine Pairing
Blackberry, dark cherry and subtle cinnamon and toasty hazelnut flavors with solid tannic backbone stand up to the smoky sweetness of this beef-base recipe.”
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Shrimp Penne
alla Vodka
*Choose from a variety of Hy-Vee Meal Packs for pickup or delivery with a 2-day notice. Meal Packs don't come precooked. Please allow time for cooking.
Pairing:
Tequila
Whiskey & Bourbon
Vodka
GIN
Make It Yourself
Let Hy-Vee Make It
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