Wine adventures for an incredible experience

So, you’ve found the perfect partner for this lovely time of year and want to create an unforgettable romantic experience. California’s wine regions have everything needed for a great time.

Whether you’re a long-time couple or enjoying that first spark, there’s no better place to dial up the romance. From fun getaways and events to unique wine country activities and enticing meals paired with delicious California wines, you’ll find the perfect way to connect with that special someone from among these winery events listed below:

 

Sierra Foothills

In El Dorado County, make the weekend sweeter by pairing art with wine with a special Valentine’s edition of the Pinot and Paint Art Class Series on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Grace Patriot Wines, 2701 Carson Road in Placerville. The artist in everyone can participate in a three hour guided painting class with local artist Vicki Hough while enjoying Grace Patriot’s award-winning wines. Pinot and Paint: Valentine’s Edition is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information or to register call or e-mail Breanna at 530-642-8424 or breanna.gracepatriotwines@gmail.com. Cost is $40.

Get to your lover’s heart through their stomach by treating them to a Valentine’s Weekend Food and Wine Pairing Saturday, Feb. 16 and Sunday, Feb. 17, at Holly’s Hill Winery, 3680 Leisure Lane in the Pleasant Valley area. This event features an elaborate four-course menu paired with wines and with romantic Spanish and classical music by Nicholas Lefler. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. there will be four courses featuring cod with cumin scented quinoa, tortilla soup, filet mignon with lemon and pepper on frittata and a cheese course. To attend call 530-344-0227 or contact winery@hollyshill.com. Cost is $25 per person in advance.

Northern California

Treat your sweetie like a king or queen at the “Royal Hearts Gala” on Saturday, Feb. 16, at Castello di Amarosa in Napa Valley. Beginning with hors d’oeuvres in the tasting room, the event next offers a four-course meal in the grand barrel room prepared by Fox TV’s Master Chef Season two finalist Alejandra Schrader. During dinner, savor the Shakespeare in the Vines troupe performing selected scenes from the legendary bard’s most romantic plays and sonnets. Tickets are $225.

At Charbay Distillery and Winery in Napa Valley, enjoy a Valentine-Kiss Cocktail and appetizers while relaxing beside the warm Alembic Pot Still and watch Charbay’s 13th generation distiller create artisan brandies for the family’s ports and aperitifs. This event is through Feb. 17. Cost is $38 per person and includes tasting flight of Charbay wines and ports.

Beau Wine Tours in Sonoma County, Napa Valley, is offering a special 25 percent discount on its “Romantic Private Wine Tour” package, a private six-hour custom wine tour, Sunday through Thursday. The tour offering, which includes stops at wineries such as Buena Vista Carneros Winery, DeLoach Vineyards, Cakebread Cellars and Duckhorn Vineyards, is good through April 30.

Wine lovers craving seafood and offbeat romance can check out the “Quivira Crab boil” at Quivira Vineyards & Winery, Sonoma County on Saturday, Feb. 16. Savor a glass of wine and get serenaded by solo guitarist Brandon Hassur. Venture into the cellar for mood music and crab crackin’ and take home a commemorative Quivira glass. Tickets are $125.

Couples can take “A Trolley Ride Through Paradise” through March 31 and get a special $75 per person rate on the Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley in Sonoma County. This six-hour guided group wine tour visits several wineries-such as B.R. Cohn Winery, Benziger Family Winery and Ravenswood Winery- and includes a family-style picnic lunch. Use discount code “Valentine Trolley” when booking online.

To celebrate the most romantic weekend of the year, several wineries along the Taste Route 116, Highway 116 near Sebastopol — such as Balletto Vineyards and Winery — are hosting “Sweet 116″ on Saturday, Feb. 16. Guests get to choose their logo glasses hand-painted by local artists, many of whom will be at the wineries displaying their art. Wine and art lovers can enjoy decadent dessert treats and delicious wines at seven wineries. Tickets cost $30 per person and $10 for designated drivers, glass not included for DDs.

 

Information

Find out more about California’s wine and wine regions by checking out Wine Institute’s wine and food Website at discovercaliforniawines.com. There, you can also get inspired to make a date with a California Wines Food Tour video.