There will be plenty of love in the Wine Country air this Valentine’s Day as couples celebrate not just the most romantic day of the year but a three-day weekend thanks to President’s Day. We’ve rounded up 20 romantic things to do in Wine Country—10 in the Napa Valley and 10 in Sonoma County—so you can get started on your Feb. 14 plans.
NAPA VALLEY
Photo Credit: Meadowood Napa Valley
Meadowood Napa Valley: Not just for Valentine’s Day but for the entire month of February, this lush resort’s Romance Collection allows you to curate your very own Valentine getaway! You’ll select two special touches from a bouquet of a dozen for every night’s lodging you reserve, such as chocolate-dipped strawberries, a heart-shaped cake for two upon arrival, a rose petal bath experience one night and an additional 30 minutes of Suite Time in the new Meadowood Spa when you reserve a treatment for two in one of the Couple’s Spa Suites. Reserve your bespoke Valentine Getaway by calling (866) 753-6662. meadowood.com
Valentine’s Dinner at Cliff Lede Vineyards’ Winery: There are only a few seats left for what promises to be an unforgettable evening, hosted by Winemaker Christopher Tynan, in the heart of Cliff Lede’s Stags Leap District estate in Yountville. You and your sweetheart can indulge in a lavish Valentine’s dinner in the winery on Saturday, Feb. 13. You’ll enjoy delicious passed hors d’oeuvres as you mix and mingle with friends, old and new. Your epicurean adventure continues as you sit down to a decadent, three-course dinner, perfectly paired with wines from Cliff Lede Vineyards’ Winery portfolio, including some special library selections. Live, acoustic music will fill the room as you savor this romantic, candlelight dinner. ($250 per person). ledefamilywines.com
Bottled Poetry with Poet Silvi at St. Supéry: Let everyone’s favorite poet, Silvi Alcivar, from The Poetry Store, create a personalized Valentine’s Day poem for you. Silvi types all of her poems on demand—on her red Royal typewriter—about any subject of your choosing, in three minutes or less. She’s available from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 13 & 14th while St. Supéry, in Rutherford, hosts a winery reception with delicious vino paired with Winery Chef Ari’s special menu highlighting seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Your personalized poem, tasting and pairings are all included for $20 per person. For reservations, contact St. Supéry’s reservations concierge at (707) 963-4507 or at reservations@stsupery.com. stsupery.com
Napa Valley Wine Train: Be transported to another time and focus on your sweetheart as you travel through the picturesque Napa Valley on a three-hour journey where you’ll enjoy a multi-course gourmet meal and complimentary welcome glass of sparkling wine. Share the moment, plan to ask an important question, or just enjoy each other’s familiar company as you celebrate this intimate day in a most memorable setting. This special train is being offered on dinner on Sat., Feb. 13, and both lunch and dinner on Sunday, Feb. 14. On the dinner trains, you and your loved one will be serenaded by a strolling violinist. You’ll want to act quickly because the trains often sell out well in advance of V-Day! winetrain.com
Wine Tasting in The Romantic Caldwell Cave: Double your pleasure when you book back-to-back wine tastings in a romantic cave at Caldwell Vineyards, where Neiman Cellars also does its tastings. You’ll fall in love—with vintner/winemaker Drew Neiman‘s mind-blowing Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Proprietary Red and Caldwell’s Signature and Varietal Collections, made by winemaker Marbue Marke. neimancellars.com caldwellvineyard.com
Woodhouse Chocolates: Sweets for the sweet are available at this St. Helena chocolatier, which offers chocolate handmade in the Napa Valley in a variety of assortments in heart-shaped boxes. woodhousechocolate.com
JCB Tasting Salon and Atelier by JCB: The flamboyant Frenchman Jean-Charles Boisset opens the door to his new sure-to-be haute spot in Yountville on Feb. 13 with an Open House from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., including a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 3 p.m. The JCB Tasting Salon is a new premier destination that unites wine with fashion and lifestyle decadence. Here you will experience wine tasting entirely re-imagined and explore the art of joie de vivre – the joy of life! Sit at the innovative JCB Touch table – the first-of-its-kind wine tasting experience developed exclusively for the JCB Tasting Salon. Next door you’ll find Atelier by JCB, a gourmet epicurean paradise featuring a curated assortment of artisanal products from the best purveyors in the world offering everything imaginable to entice your inner culinaire. You can shop exquisite cheeses, caviar, local delicacies and more! RSVP: www.jcbcollection.com/events or call 707.934.8237. If you can’t get in on the 13th, there’s always the 14th and beyond!
Quilling Card Handmade Valentine’s Day Card: Stop by the gift shop at Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville to purchase a handmade greeting card by Qulling Card. Quilling Card, rooted in Vietnam, has been incredibly fortunate to assemble a team of women who have become passionate about the art of quilling. All of its cards are handcrafted, every card taking one hour to complete. Each artist is assigned one design for the most efficient workflow, so she can get to know the design and create a consistency in her work and our final product. While at the gift shop you can stick with the Vietnamese theme and purchase a beautiful Napa Valley landscape photograph by local fine arts photographer Vi Bottaro, who hails from Vietnam. Bottaro’s art is like taking a bit of the Napa Valley home with you and the perfect way to remember your romantic time in the Valley. quillingcard.com vibottaro.com robertmondaviwinery.com
Castello di Amorosa: The Royal Hearts Gala: Head to the Castle of Love for an evening of opulence, elegance, opera and romance! You’ll arrive to a red carpet greeting with sparkling wine; enjoy fresh shucked oysters, sample sumptuous chocolates and hors d’oeuvres during an elegant wine reception; indulge in an elegant four-course dinner of sumptuous cuisine paired with Italian-style wines in the beautifully vaulted Grand Barrel Room and take delight in a night of romance and surprises with live opera performances. There are complimentary shuttles to Downtown Calistoga. Saturday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. Castello di Amorosa, 4045 St Helena Hwy,
Cost: Tickets $195/Wine Club Members, $245/Guests; http://www.castellodiamorosa.com/Events/Wine-Club-Events
Love Potion Paradiso: A Wine Blending Seminar: Concoct a “Love Potion Paradiso” at V. Sattui Winery. You and your Valentine can play winemaker for the day, mixing and blending five Bordeaux varietals and creating your own magical version of our Paradiso wine. This hands-on experience will awaken all of your senses, and set the stage for a romantic weekend! Saturday, Feb. 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; $85 for members, $95 for non-members; https://www.vsattui.com/BlendingSeminar
SONOMA COUNTY
Photo Credit: Farmhouse Inn
Farmhouse Inn: Sonoma County’s most romantic hotel is celebrating romance the whole month of February with half off the Romance Package. The package includes a spa treatment, flowers and champagne. In addition, now through March 31, this fabulous Forestville property hotel is offering a free night when you stay. farmhouseinn.com
Keller Estate Winery – Valentine’s Day Brunch: Guests can delight in a mushroom-inspired Valentine’s Day brunch at Keller Estate Winery in Petaluma, paired with a flight of wines. Seatings will be at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13 and Sunday, Feb. 14. Tickets are $40 per person. kellerestate.com
Dutton Goldfield Winery – Cheese Making and Wine Pairing Class: This Valentine’s Day, Dutton-Goldfield is offering a romantic cheese-making and wine pairing class with local cheesemaker and expert Sheana Davis of Epicurean Connection. Guests will craft and take home their own cheese, while also learning how and why it pairs well with wine, with the help of sommelier Nicole Kosta. Pricing is $120 per person or $200 per couple on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. duttongoldfield.com
Muscardini Cellars – Sweets & Treats w/ Desserts and Wines: Visitors can join the cellar for a day of savory wines and sweet treats including bubbles and Bellini’s, wines paired with hand-crafted cupcakes and indulge in a chocolate fondue fountain with an assortment of fruit and dessert dippers. The event will occur on Saturday, Feb. 13 and Sunday, Feb. 14. Tickets are $20 per person or complimentary for club members. muscardinicellars.com
Wine County Walking Tours – Taste of Romance: Start your Valentine’s night on the town with this two-and-a-half-hour tasting adventure, while indulging in award-winning wines paired with decadent chocolates, sweets and other delicious savory bites. Participants will explore the romantic and historical wine country town of Healdsburg on foot and stroll to each delicious destination. Tours begin in the Plaza gazebo at 4:30 p.m. on February 12, 13 and 14. Tickets are $49 per person. winecountrywalkingtours.com
Jack London State Historic Park – Piano Concert: The Jack London Piano Club will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special romantic concert on Sunday, Feb. 14 at Jack London State Historic Park. The Piano Club presents their recitals while playing the beautiful Steinway Grand Piano that belonged to Jack London’s wife and mate-woman. Performance features will include love songs sung by vocalists Ralph Hoyal and Rubina Mazurka as well as a diverse repertoire of piano solos ranging from classical to popular music. The concert will occur from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Museum at Jack London State Historic Park. In 2016, Jack London State Park celebrates its centennial anniversary, 100 years after author, adventurer and social Jack London died. jacklondonpark.com
Paradise Ridge Winery – Winter Herb, Wine & Chocolate Tasting Experience: Paradise Ridge’s Culinary Specialist Annette McDonnell will romance couples with sensory tasting experience. Annette carefully selects herb and fruit flavors, which are infused into the handcrafted, local chocolates made by Wine Country Chocolates. The chocolates are then paired with Paradise Ridge’s artisan wines. This pairing is offered daily in Kenwood during the winter months and for Valentine’s Day the experience will also be available to enjoy at the Russian River Estate Tasting Room. The seated tasting, including five wines and five chocolates, is $25 per person. For reservations, prwinery.com
Virginia Dare Winery – 2014 Release of The Lost Colony: Stop by Francis Ford Coppola’s Virginia Dare Winery, which is releasing the 2014 vintage of The Lost Colony over Valentine’s weekend. How apropos considering Valentine’s weekend lends itself to the VDW story, an American myth of a love that could never be. An added treat is jewelry makers J & J Burton Silversmithing will be doing demonstrations for guests. virginiadarewinery.com
Cabaret de Caliente – Whole Lotta Love Burlesque Valentine to Led Zeppelin: On Sunday, February 14 the Cabaret de Caliente presents a Valentine’s Day event like no other: a Burlesque show set to the music of rock icon Led Zeppelin. All Cabaret de Caliente shows include a raffle fund raiser for the Russian River Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. General admission tickets start at $20 and admission is restricted to those 21 and over. To purchase tickets, visit ticketf.ly/1mAmXJW.
Green Music Center –Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra with Susan Graham: “America’s favorite mezzo,” opera star Susan Graham, Nicholas McGegan and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra come together to sing ariea for a lively afternoon of music on Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. in Weill Hall. Guests will receive a free glass of J Cuvée sparkling wine in the lobby. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased online or at the box office. gmc.sonoma.edu
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