The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Riverside County
Valentine’s Day lends itself to wineries, and several wineries and vineyards in Southern California are responding with special dinners or events on or near the holiday. Feb. 14 is Tuesday.
Offerings range from steak to charcuterie boards, with entertainment from soft guitars to belly dancers.
The highest concentration of wineries is in the Temecula Valley near the southern border of Riverside County, but tasting rooms can be found throughout the region.
Most wineries prefer or require reservations for Valentine’s Day meals. Be sure to check the details before you commit.
Most prices don’t include taxes, fees or tips and are for one person, although some places charge by the couple.
Many wineries include wine pairings with their meals, but at some it’s an addon.
Some menus don’t include vegan or vegetarian options, but some prix fixe menus only list one entree. Consult with the venue on your dietary needs.
Here are some of the Valentine’s Day events wineries have promoted on their websites or on social media.
ALTISIMA WINERY >> Gaspar’s Restaurant will be serving a four-course dinner with pairings. The evening also includes live music and a photo station. The cost is $145 per person for members, $175 for nonmembers, plus tax and 20% service fee, according to a Facebook post. Today is the last day to RSVP. 37440 De Portola Road, Temecula; events@altisimawinery. com, altisimawinery.com
AVENSOLE WINERY >> Three-course Valentine’s menu will be available 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday at $165 per couple. Choice of four entrees includes surf and turf. 34567 Rancho California Road, Temecula; avensolewinery.com
CALLAWAY VINEYARD & WINERY >> A fourcourse dinner Tuesday features an entree of branzino or steak. The price is $108 for wine club members and $120 for others, plus tax and gratuity. An optional wine pairing is available. 32720 Rancho California Road, Temecula; callawaywinery. com, exploretock.com/callawaywinery
CARTER ESTATE WINERY & RESORT >> A dessert and wine pairing is $40 per person in its tasting room Tuesday. 34450 Rancho California Road, Temecula; carterestatewinery.com
COUGAR VINEYARD AND WINERY >> The “Sweetheart Special” on Tuesday is lunch for two with heart-shaped pizzas, Caesar salad, brownies and wine or beer. $65 for members, $75 for nonmembers with reservation. 39870 De Portola Road, Temecula; cougarwinery.com
DOFFO WINERY >> Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinner takes place 6-9 p.m. Saturday. It’s a four-course meal with filet mignon, wine pairings and live entertainment. Tickets are $165 per person for members, $175 for nonmembers. 36083 Summitville St., Temecula; doffowines.com
EUROPA VILLAGE WINERIES & RESORT >>
A Valentine’s Day menu at the property’s Bolero Restaurante will be served 4-9 p.m. Tuesday. Several items, such as seafood paella and tomahawk steak, serve two-four people. 41150 Via Europa, Temecula; europavillage.com
INN AT CHURON WINERY >> This hotel offers a five-course, wine-paired dinner Saturday and Tuesday. The cost is $99 per person for members and $119 for nonmembers. Entree is rib-eye steak and Cajun shrimp. Two-day advance booking is required. 33233 Rancho California Road, Temecula; innatchuronwinery.com
LEONESS CELLARS >> A three-course “Delightful Dinner” will be offered today, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. Entrees include beef Wellington and Chilean sea bass. The cost is $110 per person for members, $125 for nonmembers. Wine pairings are available for $29. 38311 De Portola Road, Temecula; leonesscellars. com
MONTE DE ORO WINERY >> A four-course dinner takes place in the main tasting room 6-9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Entree is grilled rib-eye cap steak. The evening features a bottle of wine and live entertainment with singer and guitarist Brian Stodart. The cost is $125 for members, $135 for nonmembers. 35820 Rancho California Road, Temecula; montedeoro.com
PONTE WINERY >> The restaurant is usually closed Tuesdays but will be open for lunch and dinner Feb. 14, according to the winery’s website. 35053 Rancho California Road, Temecula; pontewinery.com
SOUTH COAST WINERY >> The resort is offering a dessert and wine pairing in its tasting room from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. The cost is $50 per person. 34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula; southcoastwinery.com
THORNTON WINERY >> A three-course Valentine’s Day meal will be offered 5-9 p.m. Tuesday. Entrees include New York steak, spinach- and goat cheese-stuffed chicken and Bolognese sauce made with Impossible Beef over zucchini pasta. The price is $94 with a 10% discount for members. Reservations are required. 32575 Rancho California Road, Temecula; thorntonwine.com
WILSON CREEK WINERY >> A three-hour, four-course meal with filet mignon begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The evening includes live music. The cost is $112.50 per person for members, $125 for nonmembers.
35960 Rancho
California Road,
Temecula; wilsoncreekwinery.com
Los Angeles County
MALIBU WINES & BEER GARDEN >> Valentine’s Day Wine Tasting for Two runs through Feb. 19. It includes a two-hour table reservation, wine tasting, charcuterie board for two and chocolates. The cost is $65 for two. 23130 Sherman Way, West Hills; malibuwines.com
PALI WINE CO. >> A “lover’s flight” of wines with food pairings will be available Tuesday, according to this winery in Los Angeles’ downtown Arts District. 811 Traction Ave., Unit 1A, Los Angeles; paliwineco.com
ROSENTHAL —THE MALIBU ESTATE >> Rosé wine flight for two, including cheese board, costs $95 plus tax and gratuity. 18741 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu; rosenthalestatewines.com
SAN ANTONIO WINERY >> This winery, which traces its history back to the 1830s, will put on a five-course wine pairings dinner through Tuesday at its 1917 Wine Bar & Bistro. The entree is a choice of salmon or beef filet. Cost is $100 per person. 737 Lamar St., Los Angeles; sanantoniowinery.com
URBAN PRESS WINERY & RESTAURANT
>> This Burbank restaurant is offering two options Tuesday: a candlelight dinner with a harpist and a patio dinner with a belly dancer.
Both feature a four-course dinner with choice of braised short ribs or grilled swordfish.
The cost is $125. 316
N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank; urbanpresswinery.com
Orange County
GIRACCI VINEYARDS & FARMS >> & Valentines,” wine pairings
“Vines meal with live music, will take place 6-9 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $175 per person with 15%-20% discounts for members. 16162 Jackson Ranch Road, Silverado; giracci.com
LAGUNA CANYON WINERY >> A Valentine’s Day party at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday will feature wine and snacks with live music. The cost is $75 with a 15% discount for members. 2133 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach; lagunacanyonwinery.com PALI WINE CO. >> This place in the Anaheim Packing District is taking reservations Tuesday, when the offering will be “a curated lover’s flight” with food pairings, according to its website. 500 S. Anaheim Blvd., Unit C, Anaheim; paliwineco.com
San Bernardino County
NORTH CORK VINEYARD & WINERY >> A Valentine Charcuterie & Wine Experience takes place 4-9 p.m. Tuesday and costs $30-$60. 9677 Yucaipa Ridge Road, Yucaipa; north-cork-vineyard-winery. square.site