As the clock struck wine o’clock on a planned Galentine’s Day (typically Feb. 13, but can be observed anytime between Feb. 1-14), my neighbors and I christened my newly designed wine-tasting room for a whimsical oenophile adventure. Next to a California wine barrel, a long wooden table awaited us with tasting placements designed with four wine-stained circles for each of the wine-specific glasses we would taste. Our tasting began with a topaz/salmon pour of sparkling wine, followed by a colorful array of white and reds.

With laughter as our guide, we began our tasting journey that transported us through Burgundy, France.

#1 – Albert Bichot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé, France

Our aperitif for the evening sent our palates to Burgundy, France, for a sparkling rosé of mostly Pinot Noir of Côte Chalonnaise – a subregion of Burgundy, with a touch of Alsatian Chardonnay and Bourgogne Gamay varietals blended to perfection.

Bourgogne (French for Burgundy) wines are often labeled as such, due to harvesting from a vineyard or vineyards without their own district-, village-, or vineyard-specific appellation title. A standard Bourgogne wine may have one or more grapes from 300 communes across Burgundy.

To further explain Crémant ("creamy"), this designation was based on the wine’s lower carbon dioxide pressures, thought to give them a creamy rather than fizzy mouthfeel. France holds eight appellations for sparkling wine that include the designation Crémant de Bourgogne.

This Crémant de Bourgogne proved to be a sparkling masterpiece that expertly captured the essence of celebration. The effervescence danced playfully in a burst of tiny bubbles that opened to a bouquet of bright red berries and brioche leading to a symphony of raspberries and strawberries on the palate. Although the tastings throughout the evening varied -- each one unique -- this tasting was the overall favored one. “It’s not sweet, which I liked,” said Suzanne, who enjoyed taking her time ‘swishing’ her sips on her palate to enjoy the creamy mouthfeel and bright berry finish.

If you decide to serve with food, try it with Mediterranean or Asian cuisine. Bottle price: $25

#2 – Albert Bichot 2021 Pouilly~Fuissé, AOC, Bourgogne, France

Pouilly-Fuissé wines are known for their rich, full-bodied character and notes of ripe fruits and good balance of acidity. Amidst swirls and sips, my neighbors discovered their hidden talent for describing flavors. Alison detected Chardonnay in this tasting, and she was correct. This Chardonnay was harvested from the hillside slopes in Southern Burgundy, in Beaune.

Suzanne tasted grapefruit and peaches and wanted to pair this wine with fish; we agreed. While this wine was produced with a bit of oak aging, it was not oaked enough to overpower its minerality and vivacious lemony-grapefruit notes. Bottle price: $41.99

#3 – Terre di Balbia 2018 Fervore, Calabria, Italy

By the third tasting, my neighbors found themselves rating wines with elaborate scores, accompanied by whimsical doodles on a personalized placemat. For this red table wine of Calabria, located in Southern Italy, we learned it was made with 100% Magliocco Dolce grapes. Alison commented on a taste she had not detected before, and it was soon deciphered to be a tertiary flavor of forest floor. We were all in agreement that this wine had aged in the bottle quite a bit.

Suzanne, a graphic designer, noticed the bottle’s label art – a heart-shaped design with a blue swoosh. The design is a brushstroke as blue as the sky and the sea of Calabria. The heart symbolizes the passion put into the making of this wine, and the kite unites the sea and the sky. Aside from the label, she loved the body and bouquet of this wine but was not as impressed as Alison and I were with its taste. If we had paired it with pizza, there is no doubt this would have changed Suzanne’s mind. With notes of tobacco and ripe plum, and a touch of almond and walnuts in its bouquet, Fervore was deemed a winner. Bottle price: $19

#4 – El Coto de Imaz 2016 Gran Reserva Rioja, Spain

As the evening unfolded, our newfound wine connoisseurship turned into fits of laughter as we attempted to identify each wine’s distinct characteristics. Upon pouring this Rioja, it became clear it needed decanting. Within 10 minutes, the wine was perfect – with balanced tannin structure and oak nuances of vanilla, and on the palate, cocoa, and dark berries. Suzanne commented on its velvety mouthfeel and rated this wine with five stars.

El Coto is a winery in the heart of Rioja, founded in 1970. The Tempranillo grapes, the land, sustainability, and the diversity of this unique place are as important -- or more important than traditional blending and oak aging practices. Bottle price: $36.99

Two more wines tasted prior to the neighborhood tasting:

#5 - Coto de Imaz 2018 Rioja Reserva, Spain

On El Coto’s Cenicero estate vineyards in Rioja Alta, the clay and alluvial soils are attributed to grapes that produce wines of great longevity. Aged for 18 months in oak casks before bottle aging for another 18 months, this garnet hued wine is made with 100% Tempranillo and is one of the best values; it tastes like a bottle should cost over $50, but it does not cost that much – and it has been rated 92 Decanter points.

On the nose, the bouquet is a blend of ripe red fruits, with notes of black cherries and plums. There is a hint of tobacco, telltale of the wine’s aging in oak, which only adds to the layers of complexity in this wine’s profile. On the palate, a velvety texture of ripe berries is complemented by a core of vibrant acidity – an interplay between fruitiness and structure. A hint of leather and vanilla play well together before a lingering finish reveals the tannins in action. This wine tastes of tradition and modern elegance. Enjoy with grilled meats, aged cheeses, or on its own.

Interesting fact: El Coto was granted the 'Winery for Climate Protection' certification by the Spanish Wine Federation (Federación Española del Vino - FEV), the first and only specific certification of environmental sustainability for the wine sector and an international benchmark in winemaking and the environment for seeking out solutions and best practices for wineries. Bottle price: $22.99

#6 – Ron Yates 2019 Tempranillo, Texas High Plains

In the vast expanse of the Texas High Plains, where the sun kisses the earth with a relentless warmth, the Freisen vineyards abut Highway 290 in Hye, Texas, growing four acres of Tempranillo grapevines. The dry, hot days and cool nights of the high plains create the perfect conditions for Tempranillo, a thick-skinned grape known to thrive in challenging environments. Ron Yates is considered a specialist in Tempranillo, and this 2019 Tempranillo proves his talent. This wine expresses intense flavors mirroring the spirit of Texas – bold, robust, and unapologetically distinct. On the palate, a burst of dark berries – blackberries and black cherries, offer a luscious and fruit-forward experience. A subtle hint of clove adds to its depth and complexity. This wine has structure without overwhelming the palate. Best paired with hearty dishes. Bottle price: ~$48

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Galentine’s Day transformed into a celebration of friendship, laughter, and the delightful art of wine tasting. The evening ended with a unanimous decision – every wine, regardless of its origin or vintage, was a winner when shared with the best of neighbors.

Charlene Peters is a wine writer and author of “Travel Makes Me Hungry.”