The Perfect (Valentine's Day) Gift: No Regrets

Whether you are a Keynesian or not, you may agree that most things in life go better with champagne.

And so when the folks at Madison Wine Shop recommended champagne as the perfect Valentine's Day gift, we had to agree.

Michael LeCompte, a mainstay at the store for more than 16 years, went to the shelves and retrieved a bottle of N.V. Jean Laurent Champagne Brut Rosé. He said it would be his top choice because the Pinot Noir has been a longtime favorite with store regulars. "It's a classic," LeCompte said. "It's made by a small grower. It's not made in a factory somewhere." 

Whitney Algieri, who owns the store with her husband, John, said the Jean Laurent is priced at about $59.95. That's a decent price for a good champagne. But she said the store offers other options as well for those who are looking for a lower price point.

For those who might have champagne tastes, but a beer budget, David Snow, another longtime employee, recommended some beers that drew praise at the store's recently instituted beer tastings. Wolaver's Fine Organic Wines Oatmeal Stout, Otter Creek's Winter Red Ale, and Peak Organic Brewing Co.'s Nut Brown Ale all were favorites and are priced at about $8.99 for a six, with a ten percent discount when you buy a whole case.

And if beer isn't your thing, David recommends Cuba Vieja, a Spanish red blend, also for about $8.99.

If none of those suit your fancy, stop by Thursday afternoons from about 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a beer tasting, or Friday and Saturday afternoons, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., for wine tastings. The store offers a variety, generally ranging in price from about $12.99 to $39.99. "If you're interested in trying something, ask us," says Whitney. "We'll put it in the next tasting the next week, or the next day, or even right then."

So, regardless of how you feel about aggregate demand, if you're in the market for a Valentine's Day gift, you might want to stop by and check it out.