Valentine’s Day is a time when men and women express their love and affection for one another, which can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For many celebrants, food and beverages are part of the festivities. According to the USDA and Gallup, in the United States Valentine’s Day is the bubbliest occasion after New Year’s Eve and Thanksgiving. That’s because around $9 million is spent on sparkling wine products. What pairs well with that bubbly? Why chocolate, of course. Fifty-eight million pounds of chocolate candy is purchased during the week of Valentine’s Day, when the National Confectioners Association says 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold.