WINE LOVERS’ DELIGHT
Local wineries pour their hearts out for Valentine’s Day.
With Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday and tasting rooms open for outdoor enjoyment, oenophiles have plenty of reasons to indulge in their love of the grape.
Whether on the tasting deck at Burrell School overlooking the vineyards, in the courtyard at Regale, at Wine Bar 107 at Testarossa or the patio on at Cinnabar in Saratoga, it’s time to drink in the sunshine after much deprivation.
On Valentine’s weekend Loma Prieta Winery is offering its sparkling pinotage and 2013 cabernet sauvignon for 20% off, which can be sipped while enjoying views of Monterey Bay from the tasting room grounds. Wine-lovers might appreciate a vertical of Amorosa pinotage (2013-15), also for 20% off. No reservations needed for tasting. https:// lomaprietawinery.com
Silver Mountain Vineyard has a Valentine gift pack for $90, available at its tasting rooms in Los Gatos and Santa Cruz or for shipping. http://silver-mountain.squarespace.com
Also on the Summit, Wrights Station Vineyard is celebrating Valentines/ Presidents Day weekend
with a “Sweetheart Deal”— 20% off all wine purchases today through Sunday. All tastings are by reservation only. Their Valentine’s dinner with Colectivo Felix sold out in an hour. http://www. wrightsstation.com
Los Gatos residents Janice and Joseph Gali farm a lovely vineyard in Corralitos from which winemaker Tony Craig crafts amazing chardonnay, pinot noir, tempranillo and syrah under the Gali Vineyards label.
Although they don’t have a tasting room at present, you can purchase their wines for 20% off at https:// www.galivineyards.com, using LOVE20 for the discount. Free local delivery.
Meniketti Wines is looking to open a tasting room in Campbell sometime this year. The brand, which sources grapes from Monterey and the SLH, is owned by Dave Meniketti, lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Y&T, and his wife
Jill, who manages the band. They are offering their Forever pinot noir, Temptation rosé and their Contagious chardonnay for this holiday of hearts and flowers. Order at https://menikettiwines.com for shipping to 43 states.
Perrucci Vineyard in Los Gatos is offering a Valentine’s Day three-pack of Perrucci Family Vineyard 2019 rosato, 2017 malbec and 2016 cabernet sauvignon for $99, before any member or case discounts. Perrucci welcomes club members to make appointments for private tastings. https://www. perruccifamily.com
In downtown Los Gatos, Left Bend happens to be offering special pricing on the 2018 Gali Vineyard chardonnay ($29, normally $36) and 2017 Gali Vineyard pinot noir ($34, normally $42). Available at the tasting room only. Leftbend.com
Cooper-garrod Vineyards in Saratoga has library vintages of cabernet sauvignon from 2014, 2007, and 2000, plus an Ah-so opener, the best wine opener to use with older wines. https://www.cgv.com
For those who like to taste at home, a unique gift for Valentine’s Day would be a membership in a special wine club. The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association offers three clubs: the Pinot Collection, the Classic Collection (one chardonnay, two pinot noirs and one Bordeaux-style wine per shipment), and the Mountain Bordeaux Collection.
Membership includes three four-bottle shipments per year. Each shipment is $140-$200, based on club choice and current offerings. https://winesofthesantacruzmountains.com