As the country eases its way into February, couples in every corner of the U.S. are racking their brains for original ideas on how to surprise and indulge their loved ones come this Valentine’s Day. While flowers and chocolate may serve as an old standby for what I like to call the slackers “eleventh-hour romantics” of the world, I find that most couples want to celebrate the holiday by doing something together that they can both enjoy. Enter American wineries with their intimate and often extravagant Valentine’s dinners and wine tastings.
Over here at Wineries.net, we’ve researched and accumulated a list of winery events and dinners taking place over the next few weeks to commemorate the special day. Tickets for most of these events are selling quickly, so if any of the wineries or vineyards that I mention are located in your area (and you’re guilty of buying your significant other a bouquet of flowers from the local grocery store—more than once), look into snagging a pair of tickets before it’s too late. Trust me…it could be one of the best investments you’ll ever make.
First up is Moon Dancer Winery’s Valentine’s Dinner in Wrightsville, PA. Scheduled to take place on February 14 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., the event costs $65 per person and includes a five-course meal, a wine tasting, and complimentary dessert wine. Highlights include a Surf and Turf entrée and a White Chocolate Crème Brulee dessert. (And already I’m regretting my decision to write this post directly before lunch time…)
Next we have Pinnacle Ridge Winery’s “Chocolate & Wine is Your Valentine” wine tasting event. This winery provides couples with a creative, less expensive way to celebrate the holiday. If you’ll be in the vicinity of Pennsylvania Dutch Country this upcoming weekend, be sure to stop by Pinnacle Ridge on the 9th or the 10th for some white and dark chocolate fondue, which will be paired with the winery’s 2007 Traminette and 2006 Chambourcin wines. Events like this appeal to a wider range of wine enthusiasts…not just the patrons who are willing to shell out $200 or more for a Valentine’s dinner.
Chateau Thomas Winery is hosting a Valentine’s Dinner on the 14th at its Plainfield, IN location, complete with Mediterranean Spiced Shrimp Salad, Chicken Oscar with Risotto Parmigiana, and 3-D Chocolate Cake with Berry Coulis.
St. Francis Winery in Santa Rosa, CA; Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill, CA; DelFosse Vineyards and Winery in Faber, VA; Landon Winery in McKinney, TX; and Hillebrand Winery in Ontario are all hosting comparable dinners. Think Beef Wellington, Fundy Bay Filet of Salmon, Spiced Seared Sea Scallops, Roasted Cornish Game Hen, Oysters Three Ways, and Chocolate Ménage à Trois. In other words, pricey but delicious.
If you are searching for more of a cultural treat, Tarara Winery in Leesburg, VA has planned a fireside discussion of wines and food pairings with its winemaker Jordan Harris for Saturday, February 16. Entitled “For the Love of Wine,” there are three available seating times for this event, but you will need to reserve your tickets ($100 per couple) by February 8. The cost includes sweetheart seating for two, a pianist, two glasses of wine, a Tarara Valentine’s gift, an extensive tasting of premium Tarara wines, and a variety of paired appetizers. Thousand Islands Winery in Alexandria Bay, NY is hosting a similar food and wine pairing on the 9th.
For those of you who’d prefer a daytime event, Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard, CA is offering a Valentine’s Day lunch at its Tierra Sur Restaurant. Mastropiétro Winery in Berlin Center, OH also hosts a Valentine’s Day buffet that’s currently sold out, but it’s something to consider for next year if you live in the area.
That’s about all that I’ve got to post about on this subject, but feel free to leave a comment about any Valentine’s winery events that I might have missed. If the five-course feasts are a little too heavy for your tastes, the wine tastings with appetizers serve as a less overwhelming alternative. And if none of the wineries I’ve mentioned above are located near where you live, why not create a wine-inspired Valentine’s menu of your own? Almost all of the links include a featured menu and wine selection, so use the pairings as insight into the minds of talented professional chefs.
I know that Valentine’s Day often ends up being about pleasing the female in the relationship, and although I don’t necessarily agree with that sentiment, I can tell you that I’d be much more happy indulging with some of the gourmet foods and wines listed above than a box of Russell Stover chocolates. Valentine’s Day may be overrated, but luckily for us girls, a glass of red wine rarely is.
Kim on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 in News, Special Events, Wine Tasting.
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