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Here’s why no amount of money could convince me to work as a couples therapist around Valentine’s Day. According to a large poll, troubled relationships are five times more likely to end in the two weeks surrounding February 14.
I swear this gets lighter and friskier, but there’s so much pressure on Valentine’s Day to be lovey-dovey, to give off the impression that everything is wonderful and to indulge in unrealistically extravagant gestures of gift-giving and receiving. It may be difficult, costly, and emotionally draining, with those who do not get a present experiencing higher symptoms of despair than those who do.
Men, it seems, recover from those sentiments in two weeks, whereas women require three.
Aroused the plus side, red wine includes many of the odours that turn us on and can purportedly change our mood. An Italian study discovered that red wine boosts sexual desire in women, whereas white wine did not.
Musky, earthy, woody, licorice, and cherry-like scents appealed to women. Men also got liquorice, lavender, caramel, butter, orange, baking spice, and vanilla.
As if that weren’t enough, red wine contains a plant-derived component called Quercetin, which inhibits the UGT2B17 enzyme, which the male body employs to flush out testosterone. This indicates that when men take wine in moderation, no more than two glasses per day, they have more testosterone in their blood and a stronger desire.
Oh, and Shiraz has the highest concentration of Quercetin. Just a thought…
Wines for lovers, everywhere
Lost & Found Caladoc, France

Who needs Valentine’s Day in the first place, especially when its beginnings are so gruesome? Emperor Claudius II allegedly murdered two Valentine saints, and there’s also the old tradition of slapping women with a goat’s skin to enhance conception. Instead, curl up with a bottle from Waitrose’s genius collection, which features lesser-known grapes from around the world. Caladoc, a cross between Malbec and Grenache, produces a full-bodied red that is fragrant and very fruity.
The Rose Garden Rosé, South Africa

Why not include a rosé? Heck, I’ve put it in the title and it’s sort of nearly spring. This one is made of Shiraz, Merlot, Pinotage and Cinsault, produced by big-name South African producer Boschendal and named after its historic rose garden, a national treasure housing the oldest collection of roses on the Cape. Lip-smacking with apricot, blood orange and ginger, it gets its coral colour from a couple of hours of grapeskin contact.
‘Passione Sentimiento’ Passimiento Rosso, Italy

This velvety red is the wine equivalent of reclining on a chaise longue being fed grapes by your other half. It’s never happened to me, so I’ll have to use my imagination. Made in ‘appassimento’ style, where the grapes are left out on crates in ventilated lofts until they lose a third of their water content. Wines made like this have ramped-up cherry, spice and tobacco flavours and the texture of silk boxer shorts.
Buy for £11.99 (£8.99 mix 6) from Majestic