This Sparkling Wine Sampler Is the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift for Wine Lovers

Ahh, Valentine's Day: the sugary pink, Cupid-approved day to celebrate love and romance with a great bottle of sparkling wine. Or, if you're not into romance, you can always celebrate Galentine's Day (February 13th, if you didn't know) and toast to your friends instead—and you get extra points when the wine comes in mini bottles wrapped in adorable packaging. At least that's how my roommates and I felt when The Sip sent me a free sample of its Celebration Box.

Wine and Champagne are often the first thing you think of when you're shopping for Valentine's Day gifts (along with flowers and chocolate, of course), but what if you want to introduce a whole new genre of trendy sparkling wines to your person? That's where The Sip comes in. The brand's co-founders Erica Davis and Catherine Carter created a subscription service that allows you to try curated boxes of sparkling wines at an affordable price. You can sign up for a monthly send, and you can also buy individual gift boxes and full-size bottles, too. So, you can understand my excitement when I knew what was coming in the mail.

To buy: The Sip Celebration Box, $51 at thesip.com

I was greeted by a box that was adorably packaged with a card that explained the backstory behind the brand, two small bottles of sparkling wine, plus a glass shooter. For 21-year-old me, who had mostly only known Barefoot White Moscato until that day, it was a serious upgrade.

To buy: Chandon Rosé, $26 at thesip.com

The first split bottle was the Chandon Rosé: a perfectly bubbly rosé with notes of strawberry, watermelon, and cherry that add a pinch of sweetness to the drier drink. It's made with a mix of 73% Chardonnay, 26% Pinot Noir, and 1% Pinot Meunier grape varietals. By nature, I'm not too much of a fan of rosé, simply because I'm not fond of red wine or mixes with it (I clearly have some maturing to do), but my roommates who love a glass of Cabernet or Merlot were infatuated with this bottle. And how can you not swoon over a fizzy rosé on Valentine's Day? Pink drinks are essential now more than ever.

To buy: Bottega Gold, $36 at thesip.com

I uncorked the next bottle to find my favorite wine yet: the Bottega Gold. As someone who favors white wine, this was the clear winner for me in my Celebration Box. This delectable Prosecco is imported from Northern Italy and comes dressed in the most luxurious golden bottle—which would make a gorgeous gift, if you ask me. This sparkling wine is not so sweet that it's overpowering, but not so dry that a college student (aka me) would be averse to it. With a flavor profile of apple, pear, and spice, there's a cloying and irresistible fullness in every sip.

To buy: Sip Shooter, $30 at thesip.com

My roommates and I had a field day with the funnel-like sip shooter that accompanied the Celebration Box, which is designed for taking sips of champagne like a shot. To use it, you pour a bit of wine into the shooter to create your "shot" and then sip the wine from the spout on the other end. If you've heard of a beer bong, this is basically her much more sophisticated older sister.

For just $51, you can gift that special someone in your life their very own box of two split bottles in a customizable variety with a complementary sip shooter—the gift that keeps on giving. The Sip is making luxurious wines accessible, introducing you to your new favorite flavor before you splurge. And the best part about your purchase is that the brand's initiative, Take A Sip, Give A Sip, pledges to help make clean water available to women and children in need with the East Oakland Community Project (EOCP). So, not only will you be giving a thoughtful gift, but you'll also be giving one that will make a positive impact, too.

I fell in love with The Sip's Celebration Box and stellar wine selections, and I plan to buy full bottles of the splits I was sent. Davis and Carter are trailblazers in the wine industry, and The Sip is definitely a company to follow. Shop a bottle or a curated box, or sign up for a monthly subscription—and if you're looking for a Valentine's Day gift that is sure to strike like Cupid's bow, the Celebration Box is the way to go.