6 Red Wines to Wow Your Valentine

Valentine's Day is sneaking up, but never fear - red wine is here! Whether you're looking to romance your sweetie or go out with friends on an anti-V-day excursion, EDGE has you covered.

Depending on your personal preference there are many different styles of red wine to choose from, along with a range of price points to appeal to any wallet. Here are a few styles to consider along with our picks for each category. Of course, there are always exceptions to the general rules of these categories. There are lots of body styles (just like people) out there. Pick what you want and drink it!

Light and Easy

This style of wine should lead you toward selecting a Pinot Noir from the U.S. or Gamay from France. These wines tend to have a light, clear reddish hue in their appearance and generally have more fresh red fruit, such as cherries and strawberries, on the nose and palate. A lovely food pairing for this style is salmon or duck.

From the Willamette Valley, specifically Dundee Hills comes the 2013 Legacy Helen's Pinot Noir from Stoller Family Estate ($70). This highly aromatic wine has layers upon layers to discuss and ponder over as you bask in its quality.

The Stoller Family Estate was the first LEED Gold certified vineyard in the world, so if you want to support sustainability and how the land is treated, this is your pick. There's no way your Valentine won't give you a little extra something, something for sharing this beauty.

If you want something a bit easier on the wallet at around $12, try the Gamay grape variety from the Touraine region of the Loire Valley in France. This bottle from Domaine Jacky Marteau will be easy on the palate as well. Bright red fruit is balanced, juicy, and a delicious pairing with crudit� and mild cheeses.

Moderate and Manageable

The wines in this category are often what you might call "Crowd Pleasers"... not too light, not too big... just right. Varieties like Merlot from Washington or Long Island, as well as many Italian blends, tend to fit the bill. A little less restrained on the fruits, which can be more full, juicy and ripe. The color can be more purple in the glass, especially if it's a young wine. Flexible on food pairings, Merlot can go from lasagna to a lamb stew.

The 2013 Tommasi Viticoltori Valpolicella Ripasso ($33) is a classic traditional blend of indigenous varieties of Corvina and Rondinella from the Veneto wine region. Done in "ripasso" style means that the grapes have been dried and "passed" over in the Amarone style but without the intensity. However, there are layers of flavor in this wine while still staying medium bodied. Think mushroom risotto for a food pairing.

2014 Decoy Merlot ($20) from Sonoma, California, is bringing Merlot back (not that it really went anywhere). There has been such a push towards planting Pinot Noir to satisfy the public for so many years; Merlot was in the shadows. Merlot always delivers an easygoing, medium bodied taste, with red and blue fruits that pair with many styles of dishes.

Big and Bold

Shiraz from Australia and Cabernet Sauvignon from anywhere around the world will have more intensity than the previous two categories. These wines might be a touch higher in alcohol content, matching the deep concentration and full dark fruit flavors. That also translates into the color you see in the glass. This juice is dark and generally opaque. It's great when paired with matching powerful flavors such as red meats.

Poggio al Tufo Rompicollo is an immense value at around $18. It is a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon from Tommasi that carries the beauty of the former with the power of the latter. This "Modern Super -Tuscan" is grown in volcanic soils and brings deep rich, dark fruit to the table. Try pairing with food that is also from Tuscany, as a sharp pecorino cheese.

When you taste Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier L Block Shiraz ($52), the bold black and blue fruit will be apparent on the nose of this big boy. This wine-making marriage of Chapoutier, one of the most respected producers in the Rhone Valley in France, along with Terlato, who's known for quality California wines, results in a top notch mix of old and new world styles. Matching mouth drying tannins make this intense beauty a perfect match for steak.

Prices may vary depending on point of purchase.