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Valentine’s Day in Toronto doesn’t always look like candlelit restaurants and prix-fixe menus. In February, it often looks like snow outside the window, thick socks on your feet and the comfort of staying in. The city slows down in winter, and there’s something undeniably romantic about leaning into that rhythm, ordering from the places you love, opening a great bottle of wine and letting the evening unfold at home.
More and more, Valentine’s has become less about performance and more about feeling. Not everyone wants to cook a multi-course meal after a long day, and not everyone wants to brave the cold for a crowded dining room. Takeout can be just as thoughtful, just as delicious and often more relaxing. It’s also a meaningful way to support the restaurants that make Toronto such a vibrant food city, especially during the slower winter months.
With the right wine, takeout becomes an experience that feels cozy, intentional and a little indulgent.
1. Twin Islands Sauvignon Blanc + Miku Toronto Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi
Marlborough, New Zealand, has become synonymous with sauvignon blanc, and wines like Twin Islands show exactly why. The region’s cool climate, long sunshine hours and coastal influence create wines with vivid aromatics and electric acidity. This bottle delivers classic notes of grapefruit, lime, passionfruit and fresh herbs, with a clean, mineral finish that makes it endlessly refreshing.
People love Marlborough sauvignon blanc because it’s reliable, expressive and immediately enjoyable. It’s the kind of wine that doesn’t require explanation to be appreciated. It feels bright and alive in the glass, especially in the middle of winter when fresh flavours feel particularly welcome.
Ordering aburi salmon oshi from Miku Toronto brings out the wine’s best qualities. The lightly torched salmon has richness and umami depth that the wine’s citrus-driven acidity cuts through effortlessly. The pairing feels balanced and elegant, like bringing a little restaurant magic home for the night.
Buy Twin Islands Sauvignon Blanc
2. Kew Rosalie Rosé Sparkling 2019 + The Fry Soy Garlic Korean Fried Chicken
Ontario sparkling wine continues to evolve, and producers like Kew Vineyards on the Niagara Escarpment are helping define its identity. The Rosalie Rosé Sparkling is made using the traditional method, the same technique used in Champagne, resulting in fine bubbles and layered texture. The cool-climate fruit shows bright strawberry, cranberry and citrus alongside subtle brioche notes from time spent on lees.
There’s something especially lovable about Ontario sparkling wine, especially this Gold Medal National Wine Awards winner. It feels local, celebratory and increasingly confident. It reflects the limestone-rich soils and cool growing season of Niagara in a way that feels both fresh and refined.
Paired with soy garlic Korean fried chicken from The Fry, the wine becomes even more expressive. The crisp coating and sticky glaze meet the wine’s acidity and bubbles perfectly, creating contrast and balance. Sparkling wine and fried food have always been a perfect match, and this combination proves why.
Buy Kew Rosalie Rosé Sparkling 2019
3. Jackson-Triggs Sparkling Reserve VQA + Aloette Go Cheeseburger and Fries
Jackson-Triggs Sparkling Reserve has long been one of Ontario’s most recognizable everyday sparkling wines. Made in a fresh, fruit-forward style, it highlights the province’s ability to produce approachable, food-friendly bubbly. Expect green apple, pear and citrus notes with gentle toastiness and soft, persistent bubbles.
Ontario’s cool climate helps preserve acidity in sparkling wines, giving them brightness and versatility. That’s part of why bottles like this remain so popular. They’re easy to enjoy, easy to pair and feel celebratory without being complicated.
A cheeseburger and fries from Aloette Go might not sound like a classic wine pairing, but it works beautifully. The wine’s crisp acidity cuts through the richness of the burger, while the bubbles lift the saltiness of the fries. It’s simple, satisfying and exactly what a winter night at home calls for.
Buy Jackson-Triggs Sparkling Reserve VQA
4. Two Sisters Vineyards Eleventh Post 2019 + The Host Fine Indian Cuisine Lamb Biryani
Niagara’s reputation for structured, age-worthy red blends continues to grow, and Two Sisters Vineyards has become known for polished, Bordeaux-inspired wines. Eleventh Post 2019 is rich and layered, showing dark cherry, cassis, baking spice and velvety tannins supported by careful oak aging.
Niagara’s long growing season allows red grapes to ripen fully while maintaining freshness, creating wines that feel powerful but balanced. That combination of ripeness and structure is part of what makes Ontario reds increasingly compelling.
Lamb biryani from The Host is a natural partner. The fragrant spices, savoury rice and tender meat soften the wine’s tannins while drawing out its fruit and warmth. Together, the dish and the wine create a pairing that feels comforting and slow, perfect for a cold February evening in Toronto.
Buy Two Sisters Vineyards Eleventh Post 2019
Order from The Host Fine Indian Cuisine
5. Nyarai Cellars “The Longing” Cab Franc + Mother’s Dumplings Pork & Chive Dumplings
Cabernet franc is one of Ontario’s signature red grapes, thriving in the province’s cool climate. Nyarai Cellars “The Longing” shows why the variety works so well here, offering red cherry, raspberry, dried herbs and gentle spice with lively acidity and soft tannins.
Cabernet franc often feels especially food-friendly because of that balance between freshness and savoury character. It’s expressive without being heavy, making it ideal for comfort foods that still have brightness and texture.
Pork and chive dumplings from Mother’s Dumplings bring out the wine’s best qualities. The juicy filling and delicate wrapper mirror the wine’s softness, while the vinegar dipping sauce highlights its acidity. The result is a pairing that feels natural, warming and deeply satisfying.
