Wine + Chocolate (Or Wine + Beer + Food)
February may be the month that fetes a groundhog and past Presidents, but we like to think of it as a month-long celebration of love. We’ve compiled our favorite ways to enjoy Valentine’s Day. If you’ve not yet got plans… then definitely read on!
Like all memorable duos (think Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin, Steve Young & Jerry Rice, Sonny & Cher), wine and chocolate make magic when they come together. Local favorite Annabelle’s Chocolates has chocolate and wine flights that you can customize, picking your own pairings from the menu!
So one of you prefers beer, and the other likes sparkling libations? You can have both (and great food) at Solid Ground Brewing. Specializing in lagers, dry ciders, and sparkling wines, Solid Ground’s menu and outdoor patio are a perfect backdrop for a casual celebration.
Take your Valentine to a weekend of sipping, tasting, and shopping at Everhart Cellars. Their Valentine’s Weekend Sip and Shop, February 10, features an array of local vendors, along with food offered by Cousins Lobster.
Prefer something a bit more robust? Consider the Pairs and Pairing five-course dinner at Fenton Herriott on February 10 in their romantically lit wine cellar. The event has limited seating, so be sure to reserve early.
More of a daytime person? Narrow Gate Vineyards will feature a three-course lunch with wine pairings during its “Love is in the Air” event on February 10.
Or if you’re not ready to commit (to a single winery, that is), check out Amore on Omo, a free wine festival featuring four wineries: Skinner Vineyards, Golden Leaves Vineyard & Winery, Mellowood Vineyard, and Mirador Winery.
Want to really impress your Valentine? Why not take them on a private winery tour or private tasting? Several wineries offer private tours, and many more offer private tastings. See more >>
If your language of love is French, be sure to check out the French cuisine pairings by Allez! at Holly’s Hill on February 3-4. It will include paté, sausages, tapenade, cheeses, and French-inspired desserts, all paired with Holly’s Hill wines. Think picnic a la Francaise! Details>>
Brunch It!
If you believe that brunch is the most important meal of the day, you’re in luck. There are plenty of choices for you and your Valentine.
Try Something New
Looking to break out of the mold of classic Valentine’s Day celebrations? Why not go on a hike or hit the slopes together? Better yet, make it a weekend glamping getaway at Coloma Resort and enjoy beautiful views from the hiking and biking trails during the day, then cozy up around a campfire under the stars at night.
And if you’re really ambitious, then, by all means, try them all!
