Mark your calendars — February is almost here and love is already in the air on the North Fork. From romantic dinners to chocolate and wine tastings, there’s no shortage of local Valentine’s Day festivities to warm your heart this winter.
Here are seven ways to celebrate:
♡ Get crafty with your valentine
For a creative date, head to Pindar Vineyards on Sunday, Feb. 12 for a paint and sip session with Maggie from Wine of a Kind. For $40, participants will be given two glasses to paint with an option to purchase wine by the glass or bottle. Reservations are required and space is limited for this 1 p.m. class, so be sure to purchase tickets soon at pindar.net.
Melissa Hyatt, a local water-color artist, will also be hosting a crafty date night. On Thursday, Feb. 9 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Hyatt will be leading a relaxed, Valentine’s-themed painting workshop at Chronicle’s tasting room lounge. Tickets are available here.
Pindar Vineyards, 37645 Main Road, Peconic, 631-734-6200
Chronicle Wines, 2885 Peconic Lane, Peconic, 631-488-0046
♡ Indulge in a wine and sweets pairing
Whether you’re looking for a traditional wine and chocolate night or something new, there are several Valentine’s Day tastings sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sparkling Pointe is once again hosting its popular wine and cupcake pairing on Saturday, Feb. 11 and Sunday, Feb. 12. For $30, guests will be served a flight of three bubbly wines paired with speciality mini cupcakes made by the North Fork Flour Shoppe. Reservations are required and can be made here.
There will also be a wine and doughnut pairing at Sannino Vineyard on Sunday, Feb. 12 with reservations starting at 11 a.m. The tasting includes two specially crafted donuts from the North Fork Donut Company and three Sannino estate wines. Tickets are $40 per person ($34 for wine club members) and can be purchased at sanninovineyard.com.
Suhru Wines is offering a more traditional V-Day duo, hosting a Valentine’s Day-inspired wine and chocolate tasting on Friday, Feb. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. For $48 per person, guests will sample four wines — a sparkling, a rosé, and two reds — paired with a selection of four of Chocology Unlimited’s truffles and award-winning fudges. Reservations are recommended and can be made at suhruwines.com.
Sparkling Pointe, 39750 County Road 48, Southold, 631-765-0200
Sannino Vineyard, 15975 County Road 48, Cutchogue, 631-734-8282
Suhru Wines Tasting House, 28735 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-603-8127.
♡ Bring your date to a chocolate and wine tasting “under the sea”
The Long Island Aquarium is back with its annual Chocovino dinner. Enjoy a chef-inspired, gourmet meal with wine pairings from Raphael Vineyards on Feb. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. Surrounded by the aquarium’s vibrant aquatic displays, guests will delight in a five-course meal featuring an element of chocolate in every dish.
Long Island Aquarium, 431 East Main Street, Riverhead, 631-208-9200 (Select ext. 426 to make a reservation.)
♡ Celebrate a day of love with the little ones
Who says Valentine’s Day is just for grownups? Head to A Bloom Approach for an afternoon of kid-friendly, Valentine’s Day fun on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 4:30 p.m. Ideal for little ones ages 1 and up, the event will include cookie decorating, “Love Birdhouse” building, photo kissing booths and more. Reservations can be made at abloomapproach.com.
A Bloom Approach, 5768 NY-25A Suite S, Wading River, 631-905-2575
♡ Celebrate Galentine’s Day at a jewelry pop-up
Greenport-based jeweler Sasha Samuel is kicking off a nine-day pop-up at Chronicle Wines with an event geared just for the girls. On Saturday, Feb. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m., Samuel, whose jewelry has been donned by stars including Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Beyonce and Blake Lively, invites guests to browse her signature pieces while sipping on wine paired with Bluebird Chocolate’s heart-shaped bonbons. The event is free, though reservations can be made here.
Chronicle Wines, 2885 Peconic Lane, Peconic, 631-488-0046
♡ Sport your favorite flannel and hoist some brews at this alternative Valentine’s Day event
Are roses and candlelit dinners not your thing? Head to Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. on Saturday, Feb. 11 from noon to 4 p.m. for a Valentine’s Day celebration filled with beer, live music and lots of flannel. Sticky treats including s’mores will be on hand along with a new “Love Beer” exclusively crafted for this “Flanneltine’s Day” fete. Guests will also be able to peruse holiday gifts made by local artisans and choose from one of many pre-loved flannels patched with a GHBC logo. Entry is free and no reservation is required.
Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., 42155 NY-25, Peconic, 631-477-1100
♡ Ramp up the romance with this aphrodisiac-inspired dinner (UPDATE: This event has been canceled.)
RGNY is hosting a cena del amor (dinner of love) on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 7 to 11 p.m. Guests will be serenaded by the sultry music of Garrett & Tamara while enjoying aphrodisiac-inspired courses with stimulating ingredients such as fresh figs and oysters. The event also includes a relationship talk from sex and couples therapist Wildilisa Silverman. Tickets are $175 per person plus tax and gratuity and can be purchased at rgnywine.com.
RGNY, 6025 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-298-0075
