Valentine’s Day:
A Hallmark holiday for some, but for others, this date is defined as the female Super Bowl.
V-day, can also equal D-day.
We all have dreams of this day.
Mine, was to go wine tasting.
It became a reality, when my boyfriend told me he booked the hotel I kept bringing up as “up and coming” in Santa Ynez.
I almost made a cheesy joke referencing that I heard about our hotel through the grapevine, but the cheesiness will stay in Solvang.
Staying in the town of Solvang was like being stuck on the Pinocchio ride at Disneyland, and not being able to get off.
The hotel and room were fantastic, but the town…
Why didn’t anyone tell me this?
The morning started off pleasant with flowers, Alfred coffee, and scenic views as we drove through Ventura and Santa Barbara.
After we drove up a winding road, we entered green pastures, and a picturesque nature setting.
Then we entered the town of Solvang.
Cue, “It’s a Small World” music.
It was Disneyland, but not an updated Disneyland.
A Disneyland frozen in the 80’s that remained untouched.
Bizarre.
“Should we get drunk today?” my boyfriend asked as we enjoyed pork sandwiches.
I think we know what my answer was…
We found an UBER and visited the first winery, Sunstone.
Loved it.
Spanish/Italian style architecture, with a beautiful grass field overlooking a vineyard.
Oh, and there was wine.
Rosé was necessary, after the first tasting with the 80 degree weather we were #blessed with.
Do I blame the rosé, UBER, or myself for the series of events which unfolded?
My only job for the weekend was to research transportation.
I was told UBER existed.
It probably does on a normal weekend, but on V-day/D-day it did not.
We weren’t necessarily stranded at the vineyard because there was wine, which may or may not have been a good thing since we started to indulge in a few more glasses as we waited for a cab.
The cab arrived, and there was Christian Grey sitting in the front seat.
Who freaked out?
JK, it was a grey poodle named Christian who served as the co-pilot for our cab driver.
Vineyard dos, (yes Spanish to show my state), was incredible.
We hopped on an ATV with hounds in the back, chard in a glass, and drove around the hills of Pence Ranch.
The wine was fabulous, so much so, Jordan bought 18 bottles.
Casual.
Wine tasting tres, was by accident.
It happened at our dinner at SY Kitchen.
D-day.
Glass turned into a bottle, which turned into me asking the waiter if they served cheesecake at the restaurant.
A normal question?
Not quite, since we had already ordered dessert, paid, and were leaving the restaurant.
V-day, D-day.
JK, D-day was really February 15th, while driving down the once picturesque road to Santa Barbara.
Once we arrived to SB, I ate a cheeseburger.
Enough said.
Happy V-day, D-day y’all.
Xx,
Giggles
gigglesbyjones 