Valentine Gifts from the Wine Country

Picking out the perfect Valentine’s gift can be a difficult task. Don’t stress! We have affordable gift ideas for you and your loved one to share.

WINE

1.) SWEETHEART TASTING PACK from RANCHO SISQUOC

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, our Sweetheart Tasting Pack is the perfect treat for your loved one. It includes the following favorites:

1 bottle Riesling
1 bottle Syrah
1 bottle Chardonnay
This tasting pack is priced at $45.60 – a 20% savings. Visit their online Winestore to order or call the tasting room at 805-934-4332.

2.) Wine-inspired jewelry and fashion at COSTA DE ORO:
Choose from a variety of grape and wine inspired jewelry and women’s fashion at Costa de Oro. If that doesn’t do the trick, there are always many other gift choices in their tasting room ranging from chocolate sauce to brittle to wine stoppers. Costa de Oro is also having a sale (while supplies last) on the following wines:
2007 Sauvignon Blanc $8/btl, $80/cs
2006 Vintage Red $10/btl, $100/cs (Blend of Tempranillo, Syrah, Cab, Petite Sirah)

3.) Sparkling Chardonnay from RIVERBENCH
Riverbench is releasing their brand new sparkling wine on February 13th–just in time for Valentine’s Day!

HOTELS

1.) ROMANCE PACKAGE from the RADISSON HOTEL
The Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria is offering a “Romance Package” at $249, which includes room, dinner for two, turndown service with chocolates, breakfast for two and evening entertainment throughout the weekend with a live jazz band “The Storm” and “Carole McNeil” on Valentine’s Night! Call 866-292-4676 to book this incredible deal.

2.) A SUITE DEAL from BEST WESTERN BIG AMERICA
• A two room mini suite with a king size bed
• Deluxe continental breakfast served in our beautiful lobby
from 6am – 10am
• Heated outdoor pool & spa
• Early check in at 10am and late check out at 3pm
• A certificate for $30 from A.J. Spurs Saloon & Dining Hall
Enjoy this incredible hotel package for only $99 (plus tax) any day throughout the month of February. Call 1-800-426-3213 to reserve this deal today.

3.) VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND at THE HISTORIC SANTA MARIA INN:

The rate of $229 is valid Friday, February 12, Saturday, February 13 or Sunday, February 14. The package includes an overnight stay in a deluxe Original Inn room, a chilled bottle of champagne and box of chocolates upon check-in, $75 dinner voucher toward our featured menu in the Garden Room Restaurant, Full American Breakfast Buffet for two in the morning, late checkout at 2 p.m., and complimentary entrance to the Tap Room featuring live music by Steppin’ Out. Rate includes all taxes and gratuities. Guests may upgrade to our Champagne Sunday Brunch for an additional $30. The Historic Santa Maria Inn is located at 801 S. Broadway in Santa Maria. (805) 928-7777. www.santamariainn.com

Luxury Wine Gifts for the Holidays

While I was getting together photos and links for the last post about wine gift baskets I came across the most fascinating gift of all: luxury gifts. I was on Cambria’s website and came across these two luxury gift items:

1.) A Barrel of Wine
You’re invited out to the winery to make your own blend of Pinot Noir from our award winning Julia’s Vineyard. Winemaker Denise Shurtleff will lead you and up to ten friends through your own private blending. It will be your taste buds that determine the final blend. At the end of barrel aging, you will receive your barrel of wine. During the aging process we will send you notes from the winery with details about your wine at each stage of development. The blending seminar includes a luncheon at the winery for 10.

These 23 cases of wine will feature your own personalized label (legally approved) and will be shipped directly to your house.

Offer available to CA residents only.
$6,000 | 2 barrels available

Call 805-938-7335 for more information or to reserve your barrel.

2.) A Helicopter Ride Over Cambria
Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the beautiful Santa Maria Bench with a helicopter ride for up to four people. Experience Cambria’s gorgeous landscape from the coast to the mountains. We will serve as your guide as you soar hundreds of feet above the vines. You will learn about the uniqueness of the mountain ranges and weather patterns that make the Santa Maria Valley one of the best places on the planet to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

After the aerial tour you will touch down on the helicopter pad at the Cambria Estate to enjoy a winemaker’s lunch featuring Cambria wines.

$2,000 per package | 4 packages available
Rules and restrictions apply

Call 805-938-7335 for more information or to order.

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How much would you love either of those gifts? Now I’m curious–what other luxury wine gifts are out there? I would love to hear about what you’ve found. Post your comments about the most divine (or absurd) luxury wine gifts you’ve seen in your search for the perfect gift this season.

Kady Fleckenstein, Executive Director of the Santa Maria Valley Wine Country (smvwines.com) and owner of marketing/events company, kadydid.

A Tisket, A Tasket, A Green and..Red Basket

I bought a basket for my mommy
And on the way I dropped it.

Good idea: buying a gift basket for your mom for the holidays.
Bad idea: dropping it.

Pick up a wine basket filled with wine and goodies for your mother, your father, your boss, or anyone else in your life. Gift baskets are especially useful when you cannot-for-the-life-of-you figure out what to get that special person. Order them already made or customize your own. Better yet, don’t worry about dropping your basket; have the winery ship it direct.

As mentioned in a previous post, there are wine gift packs that come in great reusable containers and there are gift baskets that contain gifts and food in addition to wine. Here are a few:

Cambria’s Canine Extravaganza ($49): Perfect for the dog lover in your life, this package features a bottle each of Katherine’s Chardonnay and Julia’s Pinot Noir, as well as wine grape-shaped biscuits and a cozy black scarf for our four-legged friends. www.cambriawine.com

Cambria’s Santa Maria BBQ Package ($38): Santa Maria is famous for its BBQ. Ideal for the grill lover on your list, this package comes with a Cambria chef’s apron, spicy Suzie Q beans, fresh salsa and, the ultimate BBQ wine, our 2006 Tepusquet Syrah. As a special treat we’re including an official guide of “How to Throw a Santa Maria-Style BBQ.” www.cambriawines.com

Flying Goat Cellars:
The “Holiday Gift Pack” includes a bottle of the 2005 YNOT Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the new second label produced by winemaker Norm Yost of Flying Goat Cellars. Also tucked into the box is a 1/2 lb. box of Dark Chocolate Almond Bark from chocolatier Cindy Ruda of Sweet Creations Chocolate Shoppe. What a perfect match for the holidays – Cabernet Sauvignon and Chocolate. $24.99 plus tax & shipping. This sounds like a great gift for Valetine’s Day, too!www.flyinggoatcellars.com

Lucas & Lewellen: 1.) Send a bottle of Cabernet or Chardonnay, a logo bottle opener, and 2 L&L logo glasses in a lovely gift box and pay only $50 total, including freight. Or create your own 1-3 bottle gift box and we will charge you accordingly. 2.) Ship a bottle of Lucas & Lewellen Silver King Port with a beautiful gold logo box of 12 dark chocolate Port glasses to a continental U.S. resident for $40. 3.) Talk to Andy at the Tasting Room about adding a personalized message or family photo to your gift of wine. Only $5/label with a 6-bottle minimum (non-sale wine only). www.llwine.com

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For those who just want wine, take advantage of the special savings a gift pack can offer and the convenience of shipping. Some examples are below:

Core’s Holiday 6 Packs: For $95 with UPS ground shipping included in California (other states pay the difference) receive 2006 CORE red (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre), 2007 Grenache, 2006 Kuyam 13 Moons (Merlot, Cab, Cab Franc, Malbec), 2007 Turchi Cab, 2006 C3 Tempranillo and 2006 Kuyam Petite Sirah. For $195 with UPS ground shipping included in California (other states pay the difference) receive 2006 Hard Core, 2006 Ground Around (Grenache, Tempranillo, Syrah), 2006 Mister Moreved, 2007 Turchi Cab Reserve, 2006 Crazy 8’s (Tempranillo, Merlot, Cab) and 2006 Kuyam Cuvee Nolan (Cab, Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petite Verdot). www.corewine.com

Rancho Sisquoc:
At $52.00 this pack is a great value and includes three bottles of wine at 20% off the regular price. The pack includes three favorites: 1 bottle Chardonnay, 1 bottle Syrah, 1 bottle Merlot. Please visit our Wine Store to order or call the tasting room at 805-934-4332. www.ranchosisquoc.com

Riverbench:
For the holiday season we bottled our 2006 Reserve Chardonnay in 1.5 Liter ($50), 3 Liter ($75) and 5 Liter ($125) bottles. Each bottle’s label is beautifully etched in the glass. www.riverbench.com