Happy Wine Wednesday everyone! Thank you so much for visiting my page! If you saw my recent Instagram post then you know this edition of Winery Wednesday is all about my list of recommendations for spending this upcoming Valentine’s Day in beautiful wine country.  In t-minus 10 days it will officially be the holiday all about celebrating love! There are so many Valentine’s events and special offers throughout the entire weekend you do not want to miss out on.

One of my favorite things to do is plan and coordinate wine tasting trips to Napa and all of wine country. So when I decided to road trip up to Northern California for the long holiday weekend, I knew I had to make a Napa trip out of it (of course!). The key to planning a great wine country trip includes the four following points: food, special events/activities, lodging, and wine! Now let’s get to some recommendations:

Bon appetite! We all know Napa is home to some world renowned restaurants. My recommendation is to of course make a reservation in advance…honestly as soon as possible. Getting prime dinner time reservations is already a challenging task in Napa, so Valentine’s Day will be even more hard to come by.

Depending on where you are staying there are some amazing restaurants right in downtown Napa. Some of my favorites for a romantic date night include Oenotri (Italian), Gran Electrica (Mexican), Morimoto (Japanese/sushi), Zuzu (Spanish Tapas), and honestly so many more that I haven’t had the opportunity to dine at yet. 

If you are looking to venture up valley and food is your love language, why not visit the small town of Yountville where there are more Michelin Star rated restaurant per capita than anywhere in the world! See Yountville’s full list of amazing restaurants here!

Restaurants all over the valley are having special Valentine’s Day courses and events.

Take your love to new heights Why not create unforgettable memories during your romantic weekend getaway with an iconic Napa Valley hot air balloon ride? When I was living in Napa I had the unbelievable opportunity to experience two hot air ballon rides and each was truly breathtaking. My friends at Balloons Above the Valley are featuring a special discount on gift cards for Valentine’s Day. Reserve your spots now!

Wine & friends make a great blend! Get your best wine loving friends and head on over to Raymond Vineyards to be apart of their Winemaker for a day special experience. In this unique tasting you will have the opportunity to be the Winemaker and create your own one of a kind blend and custom label. A perfect way to spend Valentine’s with friends.

Where to kick back and put your feet up after a long day? Featured all throughout the valley are unique and beautiful places to stay during your romantic wine country getaway. From chic downtown boutiques to luxurious vineyard resorts, Napa has plenty of exciting options for you to choose from. Many hotels are also running special promotions and packages right now. My favorite website to search through is the Visit Napa Valley hotel section.

Cheers to love! Avoid the stress of planning and setting up each wine tasting by experiencing a wine tour. You and your loved one can jump on board the wine tasting tour bus and visit a handful of renowned Napa wineries all in one day without having to coordinate the wine tasting reservations. Leave it to the pros at Platypus Tours to create a full day of fun sipping on some great wine.

If you would like to take the reins into your own hands and plan your wine tasting itinerary I have some helpful tips. Always make a reservation at the winery and ask how long long the expected tasting should take. Map out the distance from winery to winery that way it will help prevent being late or missing a wine tasting reservation. Reservations are created to help the tasting rooms guarantee your spot for a visit. Research Napa wineries and pick what wine tasting experience you are envisioning to best create the wine country itinerary of your dreams!

I will be sharing all about the wineries I am visiting during the trip. I have some exciting plans in store for the weekend that I can’t wait to show you guys!