California Resorts offering Valentine’s Weekend Specials

For those itching to getaway and celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend, the following resorts in California are offering romantic dinners, wine tasting, relaxing massages for couples and some chocolates to sweeten the mood.

Carter Estate Winery and Resort in Temecula is offering a delicious chocolate and wine pairing starting on Friday, Feb. 11 through Monday, Feb. 14. Enter the Carter Estate Winery Tasting Room to be guided by experts on how to complement fine chocolate with fine wine. For $32 per person, participants will enjoy a curated tasting of the winery’s selections paired with four special chocolate tastes from local VeneCacao.

Carter Estate Winery & Resort

Stay overnight to escape and rejuvenate during Valentine’s month. The resort is offering a Romance Package that includes one-night luxurious accommodations in a spacious bungalow, a welcome bottle of wine, a plate of chocolate covered strawberries, a bottle of Carter Estate Sparkling Wine, rose petals for love and continental breakfast the next morning. This package starts at $321 plus tax for one night. Click for reservations or call 951-587-9463.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

Across the street at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, couples can enjoy a relaxing massage at the resort’s GrapeSeed Spa. Stroll through the vineyards and luxuriate with a 50-minute classic couples massage in the private couples’ room. At the end couples will receive a glass of award-winning sparkling wine from the winery paired with chocolate truffles. This decadent experience is $350 a couple. Call 877-552-1731 for reservations.

Red wine lovers will be one of the first to taste a glass of the winery’s newly released 7 Siblings Red Blend. Released on Friday, Feb. 11, 7 Siblings is a blend of several grape varietals, from cabernet to zinfandel, and alicante to tempranillo, all aged for 24 months in American oak whiskey barrels to produce a dramatic red wine. The warm bourbon character marries the intense berry fruit, laced with rich, smoky overtones, vanilla spice and caramel. The bold flavors and bourbon smoothness elevates this very elegant red wine. The South Coast Winery tasting room, guests can taste this and four other wines for $22 per person.

Wine tasting at South Coast Winery

Dine at the Tuscan-inspired The Vineyard Rose Restaurant to enjoy the customary menu or some Valentine specials that include a spinach and strawberry salad with poppyseed dressing or seared tuna salad with soy ginger vinaigrette. Entree choices include surf-and turf with a petite filet and scallops; pork Osso Buco with cheddar polenta; or San Francisco cioppino in a lobster broth. Finish with a Belgian chocolate tarte with raspberries and strawberry sponge cake with chantilly cream. Reservations available at www.OpenTable.com.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa is offering an overnight getaway that includes one-night accommodations, a welcome bottle of wine, plate of chocolate covered strawberries, strewn rose petals and a bottle of South Coast sparkling wine starting at $290. To book Romance Package, click visit or call 951-587-9463.

Vespera Resort

Pet-friendly oceanfront fun at Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, along the Central California coast is encouraging guests to bring their four legged pal. Sign up for the Pismo Pup Club to receive a Club-branded dog tag and directions of where there are 26-square-miles of dog-friendly beach to roam. There are wine country tours of dog-friendly Edna Valley wineries, and Somerset Grill offers the best canine socialization on the outdoor deck for dogs and their owners to enjoy drinks and treats.

Pismo Pup Club

During Valentine’s weekend, Executive chef Frank Barajas is preparing a romantic three-course dinner. Sit outside with your pup and dine on broiled oysters or grilled endive and poached pears. Entree choices include filet beef tenderloin with crab salad; pan seared scallops with a blood orange sauce or polenta with foraged scallops and winter greens. Finish with a raspberry chocolate mousse or pistachio panna cotta for $89 per person. Add a crafted cocktail, along with wines and beers from Edna Valley and San Luis Obispo. Reservations on Friday, Feb. 11 through Monday, Feb. 14 are available at opentable.com and somersetgrillpismo.com.

Yoga at Vespera Resort

The next morning partake in the daily well-being yoga and beach walk classes to de-stress and rejuvenate. For dreamy stargazing, guests receive small hand-held telescopes and an accompanying map in their guestroom. Venture outside for a walk after sunset and dinner to gaze up and capture a starry night.