Wine is synonymous with love, sophistication and romance. As a novice wine drinker, 15 years ago, I would peruse the aisles of Blanchards liquor store in Boston’s Jamaica Plain neighborhood and stock up on Yellowtail, Arbor Mist and on occasion Alize. My palate has since evolved. What made me fall in love with wine was my time living abroad in the Caribbean and the connections I made so many years ago. My flat mates were two French women, Bea and Marie-Hélène. One from Paris and the other from Bordeaux. They had family visiting and we decided to rent a house in the countryside and cook a family style dinner. My flat mates family brought delicious pastries and bottles upon bottles of wines I had never heard of at that time.
The first dish was a roasted chicken with root vegetables and potatoes. Their family friend, Brian, brought a merlot by J.P. Chenet to the table. The bottle had a slanted, curved neck, called Joséphine, which caught my attention.

The iconic wine bottle was designed by artist and entrepreneur Joseph Helfrich in 1984. I recall my first sip of the J.P. Chenet Merlot and being completely captured by the flavor of the wine as it danced across my palate during dinner. It was smooth, full bodied and delightful. I reached for the bottle to examine which estate and region in France this bottle was produced. Months later, I returned home to Boston to purchase a bottle of J.P. Chenet but never found that bottle of merlot. And over a decade later, I remember that dinner as if it were yesterday. That was over 10 years ago and my love for wine has grown even more. Living in Portugal has been an absolute treat as I dive deeper into learning about wine and exploring the deep connection between culinary traditions and wine production in my new home.
Last year, on one of my regular visits to my favorite wine bar in Lisbon, A Viagem Das Horas, the owner Ricardo introduced me to Gilda by Tiago Teles, a wine producer from Portugal’s Bairrada region. Tiago Teles is a wine writer turned wine producer. His family has roots in the Bairrada region. Teles started his vineyard in 2012 and takes great care to manually harvest his grapes; and no herbicides or other chemicals are used. The proximity to the Atlantic Ocean gives the wine a minerality while the limestone enriches the complexity of the wine. Gilda is an expressive wine emblematic of its terroir. This dynamic wine is a personal favorite thanks to my friends over at A Viagem Das Horas. I am a creature of habit and typically go for something funky like a pet nat or something crisp and light like a vinho verde. It was a late evening, and Ricardo asked if I wanted to try something new. I obliged and was pleasantly surprised by the smooth finish and delicate texture. I enjoy this bottle with friends and it also makes for a great gift at dinner parties.

This article would not be complete without hearing from restaurateurs, oenophiles, sisters and business partners, Julie and Jenny Marteleira. Together, they own Alta Restaurante, a seaside restaurant with a seasonal menu that highlights the best produce in the Lourinhã region – just an hour north of Lisbon.

“Love, like wine, is about discovery, depth, and connection. As two Canadian sisters who made Portugal our home, we’ve embraced the incredible diversity of its wines—especially those from the Lisbon region, a hidden gem often overshadowed by its famous neighbors. From the bright minerality of a coastal Arinto to the velvety richness of a Touriga Nacional blend, Lisbon wines have a vibrancy and complexity that remind us why we fell in love with this country. This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate the beauty of the unexpected—whether in love, in life, or in a perfectly poured glass of wine.”

Nicky Marcelin is a sommelier, chef, event curator and pop-up dinner series host in New York City. A true gourmand, she’s built a vibrant career as a culinarian and her client list includes Bacardi, Tropicana, and LVMH. “Wines that convey love, connection and community to me are wines with remarkable stories shared amongst friends and loved ones. I sold a young lady a bottle of Mary Taylor Filipe Ferreira Douro 2022 at the shop the other day. She then told me and my colleagues all about her walking tour with her mom.” Marcelin has a knack for connecting people whether that is over food or wine. “They made friends with an industry professional whose wife is an importer who later invited them both after they finished the Camino de Santiago, yes that’s a great bottle of wine I sold her but accompanied by that story amongst those she loves will make it even more special.”
Marcelin shares her philosophy around her curated dining experiences and what her guests can anticipate. “The wine pairings for the dinner series are inspired by first the ingredients and the dish than by the feelings I want to invoke like why start the first course with a flower wine or a dessert wine because it’s untraditional and I want to keep my guests inquisitive and curious and welcome them to be ok with the feeling to experiment beyond the traditional and theory, the wine experience is not monolithic nor linear and it’s about time it’s stops being marketed that way.”
Whether you are on the hunt for an elegant bottle of wine or something new. Consider trying something outside of your comfort zone or any of the recommendations in this article.

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