Plan a 2018 Valentine’s Day Getaway to Napa Valley

Few places epitomize romance like Napa Valley, making Wine Country the perfect destination for a Valentine’s Day getaway. From luxury hotel packages and intimate dinners to glamourous winery events and playful cooking classes, Napa Valley is the place to visit and fall in love this Valentine’s Day.

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Be Wine

Is there a more romantic place to spend Valentine’s Day than an actual winery? We can’t think of one.

Courtesy of Merryvale Vineyards

Cliff Lede Vineyards

1473 Yountville Cross Road, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 944-8643
Saturday, February 10, 2018, 6pm
Cost: $250

Cliff Lede Vineyards will set up a unique and romantic Valentine’s dinner in the middle of the tank room at their state-of-the-art winemaking facility. They had us at the words “mozzarella pulling demos,” but a multi-course meal will also be served alongside live music, good company – including Jason Lede, son of proprietor Cliff Lede and the winemaking team – plus of course, lots of wine. There’s even the promise of breaking out some library selections, like the 2005 Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon.

Castello di Amorosa

4045 Saint Helena Hwy, Calistoga, CA 94515, (707) 967-6272
Friday, February 16, 2018, 7-11pm
Cost: $245

If you’re the type to celebrate Valentine’s Week, not just Valentine’s Day, cap off the annual celebration of love inside the the fairytale embodiment of romance: a castle. Castello di Amorosa, renamed Château d’Amour for just one evening, is throwing a Parisian and cabaret-themed event, complete with live music, an ensemble of entertainers, and a four-course French meal with wine tastings hosted in the Grand Barrel Room. L’amour attend!

Merryvale Vineyards

1000 Main St., St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 963-7777
Saturday, February 10, 2018, 6:30-10pm
Cost: $225

Merryvale Vineyards’ cask room – lined with enormous and beautiful, redwood cask fermenters – is one of the most romantic event venues in all of Wine Country and perfect for a Valentine’s Day party. Start the evening with sparkling wine and hors d’oeuvres, then sit down for a gourmet dinner, and dance the night away to local cover band, N2L. We’d bet all the wine at Merryvale that Love Shack makes the set list.

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Sweet Stays

These Napa Valley hotels bring the romance with Valentine’s Day specials.

Courtesy of Facebook: River Terrace Inn

Meritage Resort & Spa

875 Bordeaux Way, Napa, CA 95558, (844) 283-4588

Napa’s luxurious Meritage Resort & Spa is offering special Valentine’s rates starting at $160 per night (with a $25 spa credit) and has arranged several romantic celebrations on site for the ultimate romantic getaway. Join in for candlelight yoga in the estate wine cave on February 11, enjoy a six-course, gourmet meal paired with Veuve Clicquot champagne on Valentine’s Day night, and treat yourself or your love to a Valentine’s-inspired spa treatment, like a Chocolate & Rosehip Facial or a Chocolate Truffle and Rosehip Scrub Body Wrap.

Calistoga Motor Lodge

1880 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga, CA 94515, (707) 942-0991

A former 1950s roadside motel, the Calistoga Motor Lodge opened last year after an uber-hip, mid-century modern facelift to the property, which included their three spring-fed mineral pools. Book their Hot, Steamy, and Dreamy Valentine’s Day package, and you won’t even want to leave the grounds. The romantic getaway includes two nights in one of their retro-chic rooms, a Mudnage à Trois (get it?) spa experience for two at their MoonAcre Spa and Baths – featuring a DIY Mud Bar, two private bathing sessions, and two 50-minute massages – a wine tasting with chocolate pairing at Clif Family Winery, and a naughty dice-and-board game to get things going back in your room, if you know what we mean. The package is also available for the entire month of February, so you can also celebrate your V-day vacation early or belated.

River Terrace Inn

1600 Soscol Ave., Napa, CA 94559, (707) 320-6911

The River Terrace Inn is a perfect spot to base yourself during your Valentine’s weekend. It’s set quietly along the Napa River, yet conveniently located within walking distance of all that downtown Napa has to offer. Their special Valentine’s Day package includes a stay in one of their new, upgraded luxury rooms with a balcony (wake up to the sunrise over the river), breakfast for two at the new, on-site ALBA Restaurant, and welcome amenities, like a bottle of sparkling wine with fresh berries for garnish and an intimate “couples kit” that’ll ignite the mood. Book now through February 14 to take advantage with code NAPAROM.

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Table for Two

Why cook when a top chef can prepare a special, multi-course Valentine’s Day meal at one of of Napa Valley’s top fine dining establishments?

Courtesy of Facebook: Kitchen Collective

Charlie Palmer Steak Napa

1260 First St., Napa, CA, 94559, (707) 819-2500
Cost: $145 or $225 with wine pairings

The first California location for the acclaimed Charlie Palmer Steak landed in downtown Napa at the new Archer Hotel just a few months ago. For Valentine’s Day, they’re curating an incredible six-course prix-fixe menu featuring Kumamoto oyster, roasted cauliflower soup, chorizo-crusted diver scallop, slow-braised pork shank, Wagyu Beef Wellington, and a dark chocolate panna cotta.

Two Birds/One Stone

3020 Saint Helena Hwy N., St. Helena, CA 94574, (707) 302-3777
Cost: $95

One of Napa Valley’s hottest, new restaurants, Two Birds/One Stone serves up creative, yakitori-inspired dishes with a California flair in a 19th century stone building that’s been retrofitted with modern and industrial elements. Their special Valentine’s Day prix-fixe menu will include black truffle miso soup, Dungeness crab fried rice, truffled Wagyu pot roast, and a passion fruit panna cotta for dessert.

Kitchen Collective

1650 Soscol Ave., Napa, CA, 94559, (707) 690-9381
Cost: $150

Like a country club for foodies, Napa’s Kitchen Collective is the first cooking club in the United States, and on Valentine’s Day, the members-only venue is opening up to the public for a My Funny Valentine party. This Rat Pack-themed affair (only 40 tickets available and themed attire encouraged) features live jazz and a five-course meal of oysters, curried squash soup shooters, baby kale salad, filet mignon, and vanilla and chocolate mille-feuille for dessert. As a bonus, bring your own bottle of wine and drink it without having to pay a corkage fee – something you would have to do at virtually every other restaurant in the area.

If you happen to be in town earlier, the club is also hosting DEVOURED, an “experiential dinner adventure” for couples on Saturday, February 10, 2018. The evening includes a five-course lunch, blindfolded wine tasting portion, and mini-lessons like “Creating Playful Meals with Aphrodisiacs.” Proceeds go towards North Bay Fire Relief.

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Romantic Rendezvous

Of course you’ll want to go wine tasting on your vacation, but these unique, Valentine’s Day-themed Wine Country activities are fit for two.

Courtesy of Napa Valley Balloons, Inc.

Hot Air Balloon Flight for Two with Napa Valley Balloons

(800) 253-2224
Cost: $2,200

There’s a reason that a lot of engagement proposals go down in a hot air balloon: they’re incredibly romantic! You don’t have to propose (unless you want to), but you and your honey will never forget the morning you flew above the clouds while looking down at the Napa Valley in all of its glory. Valentine’s Day is the ideal time to splurge on a private flight so that you’re not sharing your special moment with a bunch of strangers. Napa Valley Balloons offers one of these per day, and it includes a post-flight champagne breakfast at Domaine Chandon and in-flight photo. Afterwards, you’ll have the entire day free for wine tasting around Wine Country or just hanging out in your room for some Netflix and Chill.

Couple’s Dinner at the Silverado Cooking School

552 Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94559, (707) 927-3591
Wednesday, February 14, 2018, 6-9pm
Cost: $275 per couple

Most couples would likely prefer to let a professional handle the cooking on Valentine’s evening, but if you’re looking for a fun, non-traditional way to celebrate, why not make dinner together? This unique experience begins with a hands-on cooking class, where you and your date will work together (under the supervision of a highly-trained chef) to prepare a three-course, seasonal menu all while learning savvy, new kitchen techniques along the way. Afterwards, you’ll sit down to enjoy the delectable results of your hard work paired with a couple glasses of vino.

If this option doesn’t work, there are three other cooking and wine classes to look into during your Valentine’s Day vacation. The Silverado Cooking School is also offering an All Things Chocolate class on February 9, 2018, and The CIA at Copia will be hosting a Valentine’s Day-themed, interactive dinner event on February 10, 2018, in addition to a Valentine’s Day Bubbles for Every Occasion class on all things sparkling wine.

The Art of Chocolate at the Napa Valley Museum

55 President’s Circle, Yountville, CA 94599, (707) 944-0500
Saturday, February 10, 2018, 5:30-7:30pm
Cost: Free

It’s not Valentine’s Day without chocolate, and Napa Valley’s finest and most talented local chocolatiers have taken on the challenge of creating seriously-sweet works of art to put on display for a special event at the Napa Valley Museum. At the Art of Chocolate celebration you’ll learn about the history, process, and artistry involved in chocolatiering and indulge in wine and chocolate tastings (for purchase). We promise it’ll taste 100 times better than anything you’ll find in a store-bought, heart-shaped box. Head over to Yountville early and visit a couple of the many downtown wine tasting rooms, like Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley and Stewart Cellars.

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Author

Jess Lander

Jess Lander is a freelance wine, food and travel writer based in Napa Valley and exploring all things California wine country. Follow her on Instagram at @willwrite4wine to get Napa and Sonoma #travelinspo.