Last minute Valentine’s fun in southern Napa

I’m not crazy about Valentine’s Day. It’s one of those holidays where I don’t want to get caught in the hype, yet there are underlying expectations I admit to. I want my hubby to do something special even though I don’t want a pile of made-in-China teddy bears or something materialistically Valentine’s-y. Spending time with him away from our computers is the best present I can think of, and a nice meal and flowers wouldn’t hurt either.

Southern Napa County is an ideal spot for our alternative Valentine’s celebration. It isn’t far from Oakland and San Francisco and doesn’t require that we get caught in the traffic net that Route 29 can so easily become. Some of my very favorite Napa things are in it’s lower half, and many of them still have reservations for those of us who know our S.O.s haven’t planned far in advance. Whether you’re staying over night or just going up for the day, here are my picks for Valentine’s week:

Silverado Resort and Spa

Situated at the rural gateway of Napa Valley, this comfortable spot isn’t so over the top that you feel you’re walking on eggshells. The rooms are updated yet casual and the one I most recently overnighted in had a kitchenette so we could stow away left overs and make morning tea without having to venture out into the real world. The beds were plush as ever and we were also steps from the pool and hot tub. Silverado is much more than a place to hang your coat, however. The restaurant is headed by Chef Jeffery Jake – the culinary character behind famed Carneros Inn restaurants FARM and Boonfly Cafe – who’s designed a seasonal menu with romantic fare. Beginning tonight you can order a four-course menu that starts with asparagus soup dolloped with house made creme fraiche. Next come manilla clams and chorizo in a bay leaf broth, leading to classic surf and turf of a petit filet mignon and lobster tail with creamy celery root gratin. Dessert is red velvet cake showered with passion fruit sauce, of course. Additionally there will be an opulent Husband and Wife Winemaker’s Dinner served on the 14th only with Tres Sabores wines. Call Brooke to reserve at 707-257-5431.

Robert Sinskey Vineyards

One of my very favorite winery stops is just up Silverado Trail from the Silverado Resort. There are three ways to taste – all available throughout this weekend and next, and Valentine’s Day itself. Walk in for the traditional tasting, which includes my pick for Valentine’s Day, the vin gris of pinot noir, plus the pinot noir and cabernet for which Sinskey is famous. For a more lavish visit call ahead and reserve a Cave Raider Tour or a Farm-to-Table Experience, where you can taste the bounty from the on-site kitchen garden after strolling through it. Each course is perfectly paired with a Sinskey wine.

Hoffman Farm

Last time I dropped by this gorgeous 23-acre farm with my friend from Napa Valley Life Magazine we sadly discovered that Mr. Hoffman had passed away. But I’ve heard from a number of folks that Mrs. Hoffman is still running things and you can drop by to pick fruit and honor the well-known arborist by peeking into his Bonsai Garden. He planted many varieties of stone fruit, some quite rare, wrote copiously on trees and agriculture, and was known for maintaining one of the last patches of farmed land in Napa with walnuts rather than grapes. Stop by to see some of the magic he created on your way along Silverado Trail. Although nothing is in season now, it is still worth a quick stop to see a few of the bonsai. 2125 Silverado Trail, 707-226-8938

Quintessa

This is probably the best American wine I’ve ever tasted. The vintages I’ve tried were simply subliminal. Although the reservations-only tasting costs $65 a person it is quite an experience and an ideal treat if you’ve been pocketing away for a romantic occasion. Call to make your reservation and you can specify your dietary preferences, and also request that your tasting include a trip up to the top of the winery – a hilltop view you are not likely to forget. Quintessa is one of those places that makes one wine a year from its variety of grapes planted on the estate. The owners come from Chile wine-making royalty, and are committed to strict biodynamic growing practices, including letting the soil breath for a season or two before planting again. The insectarium – a bird and bee-friendly pond overgrown with flowery plants – is also something you can request to see on your visit. The tasting itself is of several Quintessa vintages, paired with fine food from a rotating chef (they work with a different chef or restaurant each month). The gravity-smart wine making area is also fun to see – the grapes are dropped from above near the floor-to-ceiling glass blending room where each vintage is perfected.

Lawler’s Liquors

For the truly laid-back Valentine’s Day dinner I can recommend none better than the ravioli and malfatti from Lawler’s Liquors. It may sound funny to send people to this liquor store, complete with cigarette ads and neon Bud signs, but trust me – there’s good reason. I recommend bringing your own clayware container and ordering some of each of these handmade Italian delights. The malfatti are the pride of Napa locals, named “mistake” for their funny rolled shape. Sauces are made from scratch every day and the main man behind the counter is an avid reader so if you’re bookish don’t be shy – start up a conversation. Take back your hot meal to your hotel or home and enjoy in casual comfort. I think casual can be quite romantic. 2232 Jefferson Street, Napa, 707-226-9311