You've waited too long, and all of the Valentine's Day dinner reservations have been secured in your town.

     What to do?

     While your first inclination may be to take a long walk on a short pier, do not despair. We are here to help get you off the hook.

     The answer: Prepare a romantic meal at home, and serve some romantic wines with it.

     And the best part of all is that you don't need to wait until the dessert course to uncork a bottle of sweet dessert wine. On this day, the food-and-wine pairings are not so much about culinary correctness as they are about romance.

     Here are some pairing possibilities for you to consider...

     * Blue cheese with a sweet white wine.

     * Lobster with a sweet white wine. (Really - it works.)

     * Dark chocolate with Port.

     * Assorted salted nuts with Cream Sherry.

     * Strawberry shortcake with Moscato d'Asti.

     * Oysters with a white or rose sparkling wine.

     Just the fact that you're taking time to prepare a meal for your S.O. should be worth a lot of points.

     Serve the right wines with the right dishes, and your point total will soar.

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     Coming this Sunday - that would be Valentine's Day for you gentlemen who need a reminder: the most romantic cities in America.