Feb 10, 2015 – The sweetheart of all wine tastings is back and this year it lands squarely on the target of cupid’s own arrow. It doesn’t get sweeter than the chance to celebrate a day of love with like-minded wine lovers who know how to cozy up to a good time. If you’ve never attended the River Road Wine Trail’s Valentine’s Passport Day, come wearing your heart on your sleeve, your chest, your fingers and ears—it’s a full on display of Valentine art, with lots of red, pink and scarlet to get everyone in a matching mood.
On Saturday, February 14, from 11am to 4pm, ten vintners along Monterey’s River Road Wine Trail welcome you with food and wine pairings, special wine sales and all manner of entertainment, along with a souvenir glass and chocolates to take home.
Here’s what’s in store for this holiday outing designed especially for wine lovers:
Boekenoogen will welcome you with new releases of their 2013 estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, accompanied by mouthwatering delectables from local legends, Paradise Catering.
Chef Dyon Foster at Hahn is cooking up some homemade treats to pair with Hahn wines, and Butch from Cowboy Sausage will be serving up specially crafted sausages and chili to complement the Hahn GSM.
Odonata will be pouring four wines, including a new sparkling Sangiovese, and will offer meatball sauce pizza and focaccia from Uncie Ro’s. They’ll be introducing their “Bubbles Club” that day.
Pessagno will be serving up their tasty polenta and stew made by the Pessagno boys. Yum!
Manzoni will offer their famous sausages and cheese fondue.
At Ventana Vineyards enjoy BBQ tri tip sliders, with potato salad and caramel/chocolate apple slices to complement their award-winning estate wines.
Scheid is planning to serve New Jersey deli style mini sandwiches: think Philly cheesesteak and the like.
Talbott will be hosting a “That’s Amore!” themed soirée, complete with pasta and homemade meatballs, a vegetarian pesto pasta, green salad, garlic bread and sweet treats. Enjoy sips of Kali Hart, Logan and Sleepy Hollow wines, with a special Valentine’s Day “Sweet Deal” on the 2012 Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay & Pinot Noir. Stop into the “selfie” photo booth and share your good times with the mediaverse.
Paraiso will offer wine specials and small bites catered by Portobello’s, along with their Port paired with chocolates.
Check-in starts at any of the 10 participating wineries including Boekenoogen, Hahn, Manzoni, Odonata, Paraiso, Pessagno, Puma Road, Talbott, Scheid and Ventana. Bring your ticket to the first winery for check in, where you’ll get your wristband, a souvenir glass and passport booklet. Your ticket includes complimentary wine and food tastings at each winery. Some wineries may have additional fees for special flights.
Bubbles At Odonata
Denis Hoey is really jazzed about everything he has in barrel and tank from the 2014 vintage, including a promising sparkling or two. Odonata is launching their “Bubbles Club” on Valentine’s Day, with a debut of their Sparkling Rose of Sangiovese. The first 100 members of the Bubbles Club will have exclusive access to some limited production sparkling wines (including a sparkling Riesling he sourced from Stephanie and Kelly McFarland) and events. Hoey figured Valentine’s Day was the perfect time to release a pink sparkler.
New Consulting Winemaker at Pessagno
One of the region’s true treasures, Pessagno Winery, is feeling the love this year with the appointment of Anna Marie dos Robios as consulting winemaker to the brand. For the busy gal who already has two of her own locations to look after, it’s a chance to give a little something back. “Steve was a really good friend who really helped me out a lot when I was first getting started,” she reminisces. “He always made my life easier. This is a great opportunity to work with Anthony and keep alive the work Steve put into this brand.” She admits her style and Steve’s are markedly different, but it’s given her the chance to make Bordeaux varieties, as well as Chardonnay, from two different AVAs, in different lots. Chardonnay is not part of her IdleHour portfolio, which serves up a righteous mix of Rhones, Pinot Noir and Spanish varieties. She’s excited about how vintage 2014 is coming along, and says, “It’s bittersweet to be here.”
Tickets are $45 per person and just $15 for designated drivers. To buy tickets online click here.
About the author
Laura Ness is a longtime wine journalist, columnist and judge who contributes regularly to Edible Monterey Bay, Spirited, WineOh.Tv, Los Gatos Magazine and Wine Industry Network, and a variety of consumer publications. Her passion is telling stories about the intriguing characters who inhabit the fascinating world of wine and food.
