But when all is said and done, the winner is (drum roll, please): Paso Robles, California!

I can’t wait to check out the low-key charm that voters cited again and again. Unfortunately, it looks like I have to wait a little longer than expected. You may remember that this was supposed to be a Valentine’s/anniversary trip, but now my better half can’t get away from work that weekend.

Really? In a firm with 15 lawyers, they can’t spare just one for a long weekend? This is precisely why I warned against law school in the first place. Romance isn’t dead, but lawyers are standing by with their “Do Not Resuscitate” orders.

Still, I promise not to say “I told you so” … it is Valentine’s after all.

Paso Robles, we’ll see you in the spring!

With Valentine’s Day coming up, every lover over the age of 21 will be thinking about choosing the perfect bottle to say “I love you.” But what makes a wine romantic, exactly? Is it the flavor? The nose? The label? Maybe a special pairing?

I asked  a simple question of a half-dozen winemaking experts: What is your most romantic wine? The answers were just as varied and personal as love itself. Here are the 6 responses, to help you get focused on your own quest for liquid romance.

John Garlich, BookCliff Vineyards:

I think of our 2007 Cabernet Franc Reserve as being our most romantic wine. It is smooth like satin and goes quite nicely with a dark chocolate truffle. Just add a candle and you are good to go.

Kitri McGuire, Sokol Blosser Winery:

Our “most romantic” wine is our Meditrina.  Named after the Roman goddess of Wine & Health, Meditrina is a blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel that is round, soft, and juicy.  This blend is extraordinarily food-friendly, and will pair well with many romantic meals.  Plus, it’s a perfect gift for the “goddess” in anyone’s life!

Susan Sueiro, Gundlach Bundschu Winery:

The most romantic wine we produce at Gundlach Bundschu has to be the Estate Pinot Noir. With aromas of dried roses and sandalwood, the texture of silk and flavors of berries and spice, this is a sultry, beguiling wine. It pairs beautifully with salmon, pork and other lighter fare, and really, no one wants to eat anything too heavy on Valentine’s Day.

Valerie Andrews, Oak Mountain Winery:

Our Frisson Sparkling Wine is a great Valentine’s beverage. It has a romantic Victorian label and frisson means “an Intense Moment Of Excitement”. It is 100% Sauvignon Blanc.

Hennie Bosman, Sandihurst Winery:

Which wine is the most romantic? The dark, spicy, complex and intoxicating Pinot Noir? Or is it the refreshing, aromatic and intriguing Riesling? Maybe as far as Valentine’s Day goes, it is both. To me, these two wines represent the Yin Yang of the wine world — “complementary opposites within a greater whole” (Wikipedia).

Stuart T Smith, Torea Wines:

Fairhall Downs Sauvignon Blanc is our most romantic wine as it has many layers. Just as you think you have got to the bottom of the wines mysteries another layer comes into view — as it is with true love.

So there you have it: Romance tips from 6 wine experts. If you have a favorite romantic wine, please weigh in with your own expert opinion below. After all, you’re an expert on love, aren’t you?

Prost!

]]> http://prostproductions.com/what-makes-a-wine-romantic/feed/ 0 http://prostproductions.com/california-on-my-mind/ http://prostproductions.com/california-on-my-mind/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:08:05 +0000 prost http://prostproductions.com/?p=371

Temecula, Calif.

Just four days until I book my Valentine’s trip to “North America’s most romantic wine region,” and the votes are still trickling in.  (Mostly via email, which begs the question: In the age of social media, why do people still prefer email? But that’s another post.)

California has seen a surge in votes, but with more than a dozen distinct wine regions, the voting is pretty diffuse. Sonoma County is in the lead, followed by Paso Robles and Temecula.

Those last two are new to me, at least from a wine-tasting standpoint. I’ve been studying up on them, and I’m excited about the possibility of visiting either one. Still, I have a couple of questions:

• Paso Robles is described as “rural and unpretentious,” the kind of area where “wearing a cowboy hat doesn’t seem out of place.” Sounds relaxing and fun, but is it romantic? If you know the area, feel free to weigh in.
• As for Temecula, it seems to be a desert dotted with small, family-owned wineries. Again, a delightful and interesting place to visit, but is it right for Valentine’s Day?

Please feel free to keep casting your votes. I’m seeing a late surge for Texas, so I’d better start researching that too, just in case.

Prost!

Someone in the Willamette Valley must be organizing a campaign, because I keep getting emails insisting that this swath of Western Oregon is “North America’s most romantic wine region.” Since it leads in the voting so far — and since I’ve never visited before — I thought I should do a little research into the Willamette Valley.

I have to say, it sounds amazing. They claim 250 wineries, and organic viticulture seems to be very popular here. As a big fan of Pinot Noir, I’ve enjoyed this region’s wine for many years — especially Emerson, Erath, and Sokol Blosser — so I can’t imagine why I never got around to visiting.

So the wines are great, but is the area romantic? With rolling hills, covered bridges and sparkling streams, it looks like just the kind of place to reconnect with the one you love. I’m currently researching a 3-day itinerary they call “The Relaxer,” just in case the Willamette Valley hangs on to win the vote.

But who knows? By tomorrow everything could change, and I might be researching someplace entirely different. I’m at your mercy … and I love it.

Prost!

Oregon's Willamette Valley

]]> http://prostproductions.com/gone-to-oregon/feed/ 0 http://prostproductions.com/romancing-the-vines/ http://prostproductions.com/romancing-the-vines/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:02:53 +0000 prost http://prostproductions.com/?p=363 Now that I’ve started this online vote for “North America’s most romantic wine region,” I’m having trouble thinking about anything else. It’s got me thinking back on two of my most romantic wine getaways ever.

Gaige House Inn

No. 1 would have to be the Gaige House Inn in Glen Ellen, Calif. When I was there about 10 years ago, it was a labor of love for its owners — a couple of guys from NYC, as I recall. The place had a style like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. I’m still not sure what to call it: “Country Zen” or maybe “Romantic Minimalism”? Whatever the label, it was the kind of place that reminded you how lucky you were to be in love.

No. 2 is on the other side of the world: Old St. Mary’s Convent in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. I’ll never forget waking up in the morning in our big antique bed and looking out across miles of vines — shrouded in a purplish haze — all the way to the mountains rising in the distance. I can’t understand how anyone could maintain a vow of celibacy while living in such a romantic environment — yet the place was a working convent for almost 100 years.

Old St. Mary's

And No. 3? Hard to say. Maybe I’ll come back from my Valentine’s Day trip with a clear No. 3 in mind. If you haven’t voted yet, please do. I can’t wait to get packing.

Prost!

So, I’m asking for your help — not just a suggestion but a command. In two weeks, on Jan. 27, I’m going to book two tickets wherever you tell me to go. It has to be a wine region (for tax reasons) and it has to be in North America (for economic reasons), but those are the only two stipulations. Whatever North American wine region gets the most votes, that’s where I’m headed.

Call it crowd-sourced romance. I’m trusting you to steer me in the right direction. If the trip isn’t romantic, I’ll probably end up on the sofa when we get home!

How to vote? Three options:

1. Leave your suggestion in the “Comments” area below.
2. Tweet your suggestion to @prostcards. (And please follow us, while you’re at it!)
3. Email your suggestion to mail@prostproductions.com.

I’ll write periodic updates on how the voting is going — and once the wine region has been decided, I’ll be back to ask about specific wineries, restaurants, inns, etc.

Thanks for your input. I’m sure this will be a Valentine’s Day to remember!

Prost!

Sister72 on flickr.com