SAFEWAY TOASTS VALENTINE'S WITH LOW-PRICE WINE PROMO

RICHARD TURCSIK

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Safeway's Seattle division here toasted true love when it featured eight brands of wine in a Valentine's Day promotion.

Under the headline, "Romance the Moment with Your Favorite Wine...Direct from the Safeway Wine Cellar," wines were pictured on the back page of a special four-page pullout of Valentine's Day specials.

The sale featured an array of inexpensive wines and champagnes in 750-ml bottles. Cook's Champagne was three bottles for $10; selected varieties of Turning Leaf wines, $6.29 a bottle; cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay from Chateau St. Michelle, $8.99 a bottle; and Ballatore Gran Spumante, $4.29.

Columbia Crest wines in chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon were featured at $6.29 a bottle, while dry Johannisberg, Riesling, Johannisberg Riesling or Late Harvest White Riesling wines from Hogue Cellars were $3.89 each.

Officials at Safeway did not return calls seeking comment about the promotion.