Last year my sweetie and I had a great time visiting various wineries in Ventura County on the weekend prior to Valentine’s Day during a “passport” weekend called Valentine n Wine sponsored by the Ventura County Winery Association.

So this year, on that same pre-Valentine’s weekend, when we found ourselves at lunchtime in Camarillo passing by the Bella Victorian Bistro and Tasting Room on Ventura Blvd in Old Town, I remembered how much we  enjoyed our lunch by Chef Gael and our tasting and we decided to stop in. (As a wine blogger, our one flight of 5 one ounce wine pours was complimentary–thanks, Shannon!)

We sat outside on their sunny patio under an umbrella beside the purple petunias. Shannon provided us with excellent service, and our tasty sandwiches, one chicken pesto with chips and one lamb with a side salad, came out quickly. As I wanted photos, she graciously provided us with a wine tasting “tree” with their Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and their Grenache “Romeo” (lead pencil, masculine, rough), followed by a mostly estate grown well-balanced but blue fruit friendly Syrah and a red blend of primarily Napa cabernet sauvignon that was quite interesting with a lots of complexity, juicy cherry and plum yet balanced,  spicy, cigar box, and with a rich mouth feel.

Like the lunch and the location, the wines were all winners. The chicken-pesto pannini paired well with the chardonnay and the darkly colored pinot noir, both rich and flavorful. As much as I liked the cab, today the syrah was my favorite of the five probably because it went so well  the lamb.

http://www.bellavictorianvineyard.com

If you want to join the fun this Valentine’s Day weekend, the Ventura County Winery Association invites you to experience a wine tasting flight at each of seven wineries over the course of three days–February 10, 11, and 12. A $45 passport gets you:

One tasting flight (five wines) at each of 7 participating winery

Passport-holders receive special one or two-night rates at participating area hotels

Valid Friday, Saturday and Sunday; February 10-12, 2012

Multiple wineries to visit; visit http://www.vcwines.com for map and winery list

$45 per person click here to purchase online

Tomorrow I’m heading to Four Brix to see their new Ventura facility!

Four Brix Winery
2290 Eastman Ave. #109 Ventura
(805) 230-2773
Tasting Room Hours
Friday: 4:00 – 8:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00pm

I also hope to get to Cantara tomorrow:

Cantara Cellars
126 Wood Road, Ste., 104, Camarillo
(805) 484-9600
Tasting Room Hours
Fri – Sun, 11am – 5pm

While there’s plenty of wine to enjoy over the weekend, sadly, three of my favorite Ventura county wineries are missing from this year’s event. Just plan on a nother day to visit Ojai Vineyard on Montgomery in Ojai

Along highway 33 between Ojai and Ventura you can find the lovely Old Creek Ranch Winery; Vino V is made and poured there too and the area is resplendent this time of year in spring wild flowers:

Here’s who else is participating this year and their hours:

San Vicente Cellars
537 Constitution Ave. #D, Camarillo
(805) 484-5400
Tasting Room Hours
Fri – Sun: 10am – 6pm

Camarillo Custom Crush
300 South Lewis Rd. #C, Camarillo
(805) 484-0597
Tasting Room Hours
Sat- Sun, 11am – 5pm

Herzog Wine Cellars
3201 Camino Del Sol, Oxnard
(805) 983-1560
Tasting Room Hours
Sun–Thu: 11am – 9pm,
Fri: 11am – 5pm (4pm in winter)
Sat: Closed

Magnavino Cellars
961 N. Rice Ave. Cellar 5, Oxnard
Corner of Rice Ave. and Latigo St.
(805) 983-2500
Tasting Room Hours
Fri – Sun, 11am – 6pm