Planning a romantic dinner in for your partner this Valentine’s Day?

Well, stop what you’re doing! Because whatever you are planning will NEED wine. And who better to give a wine recommendation than our resident Wine Geek, Brandon Little?

Brandon makes it simple, so you can confidently walk into the wine isle at your local liquor store instead of wandering up and down it with a confused look on your face.

No matter what menu you’re planning, Brandon has a wine for you!

Are you planning that classic Valentine’s Day seafood dinner? Because really, what screams romance more than lobster and scallops and BUTTER?

Or maybe you’re going a completely different route and you’ve planned a cozy movie night in (Valentine’s snuggles, am-i-right?). Buttered popcorn it is!

Either options pairs well with a Chardonnay! Something about rich, buttery foods make Chardonnay taste great.

The seductress of the red wine world - a nice Pinot Noir is sure to impress this Valentine’s Day.

According to Brandon, Pinot Noir is a gentle wine that pairs great with light foods like risotto or appetizers. Try it with your charcuterie board - Pinot Noir pairs great with meats and cheeses, peppered goat cheese in particular.

It also pairs great with pasta. Think Lady and the Tramp style spaghetti with red wine (in a red wine glass, not a dog bowl).

Viognier is another great option for Valentine’s Day. Brandon says it’s a floral wine and, pay attention husbands, it will go great with any flowers you buy for the day.

Maybe we should say that again - flowers, guys. Flowers.

It also pairs well with seafood, light meat dishes and cheese plates. It makes a great pairing for anyone wanting something light so you can -ahem- cuddle after.

Merlot is one of the best wines to have with chocolate, so if you’re planning dessert this is the wine to pair with it.

Chocolate covered strawberries? Yes!

Chocolate cake? Yes!

Kit-Kat’s straight out of their packaging? Uh…sure!

Let’s be honest. Sparkling wine SEEMS fancy, but it’s not just for weddings and New Year’s Eve anymore.

Brandon says that bubbles are the best way to celebrate! There’s something that happens to us when we drink bubbles. It puts you in a fun and happy mood and it pairs well with pretty much anything.

Some specific foods that pair great with bubbles are: fresh oysters, bleu cheese, shellfish and scallops. It’s another great wine to pair with a seafood date night!

Brandon also highly recommends pairing bubbles with creamy brie cheese. So creamy you could almost eat it right off your partner. Almost.

For more great wine tips, give Brandon a follow on Instagram: @b_the_wine_geek

And be sure to follow Battle of the Wines on Instagram: @battle_of_the_wines_okanagan

Need a Valentine’s Gift Idea?

Check out these local options from Okazon.ca

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What more could a woman need in life than a tribe of incredible soul-sisters, a stack of fresh waffles, and an excuse to get together to celebrate each other? Well, that’s what Galentine’s Day is all about! Gal-ah-what’s day? GALENTINE’S DAY, you guys! The day before Valentine’s Day! Feb. 13? Ever heard of it?

Let’s pause for a second to appreciate the wise words of Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knope, who didn’t create Galentine’s Day, per se, but certainly helped launch it into the mainstream:

Ya feel? We feel! So much so, that the ladies of Do the Okanagan got together to celebrate Galentine’s Day early this year, by…

playing ping pong at Hotel Zed Kelowna’s Ping Pong Lounge
enjoying the finest local pizza from DunnEnzies (seriously - so so good!)
partaking in an assortment of adult drinks, featuring Kristen’s three current favourite wines (Bling Rose by The View Winery, Reserve Merlot by Hester Creek, and Autumn Gold by Wild Goose Winery)
and enjoying the most delicious dessert you could ask for: Okanagan Ice Pops’ boozy Valentini popsicles and The. Most. Delicious. Candied Nuts. Ever from Sweet Hoopla.
And so we could enjoy our drinks (and because most of our team is Vernon-based), the amazing people at A1 Bus Ltd actually took care of the driving. Fun and safe - we would have made Leslie Knope proud!

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Photos by the talented Aimie Roussel, Carousel Studios

View full photo album here

If you want to celebrate your fellow babes on Feb. 13 (or any day, for that matter!), here are NINE awesome things to do around the Central and North Okanagan!

Correales’ Wine Cellar

The only thing more fun than drinking wine is making it - yourself! With help! Drop by Correales’ Wine Cellar (in VERNON) with your girlfriends before heading out to your evening Galentine’s Day activity. Pick your wine and labels, and “pitch the yeast”. You’ll need to come back in 4 to 14 weeks (depending on the wine) to bottle your wine.

SWEET PROMOTION: Mention DoTheOkangan.com, and Correales will send you away with one complimentary bottle for your evening, a $15 discount off your batch, and free personalized labels and shrink wraps. YUSSS!!

Hotel Zed’s Ping Pong Lounge

If you didn’t know that Hotel Zed in downtown Kelowna had a Ping Pong Lounge, you do now! And … you’re welcome!

Kelowna’s Ping Pong Lounge is a bright and sunny space with ample room to sit and chill out or - of course- play ping pong! There’s also a Wii station, lots of games, and cozy nooks for reading or chatting.

A1 Bus Ltd

Leave your keys at home and hop on the bus - and we don’t mean public transit (although that’s also a great option, too!). A1 Bus Ltd, for example, provides group transportation for, well, anyone! They have passenger vans and coaches for as few as 15 guests, and as many as 37 (hats off to you if your Galentine’s Day group is that big!). They’ll take you anywhere, but we recommend WINE TOURS! Booya!

Just For You Spa

Get your relaxation ON with a glorious side-by-side service with your bestie at Just For You Spa in Vernon. Side-by-side spa services include pedicures, manicures, massages or facials (ummm … yes to all of those!), and as someone who has booked a “couples massage” with her best friend in the past, I (Kristen) can attest to how awesome it is!

Not just for lumberjacks! Get out some good ol’-fashioned aggression by launching an axe at a bullseye. Cheaper than therapy! (although therapy’s great, too).

In KELOWNA: Axe Monkeys. Offering a variety of sharp throwable weapons, this is a great spot to join friends and burn off steam. Book a one-hour or two-hour session, or kick it up a notch in the rage room.
In VERNON: Beyond Belief. Throw axes - in Vernon! Book a one-hour or two-hour spot, or check out their league nights and special occasion options.

Let your creative side out with a Paint Night outing. Paint Nite (by Yaymaker) is hosting two Feb. 13 paint night events:

VERNON: Taking place at Wings at 7 p.m. Find all the details here, including discount codes!
KELOWNA: Taking place at Wings (in Rutland) at 7 p.m. Find all the details here, including discount codes!

Included in your ticket is the painting adventure and a glass of Wings house wine.

Throw some heavy balls around while imbibing your favourite hard or soft beverage at BNA Brewing in downtown Kelowna. Make reservations for one of their 10-pin bowling lanes from 5 to 8 p.m. (after that they are available on a FCFS basis). Lanes are $35/hr, and can accommodate up to six people (but if your group is larger, you can book side-by-side lanes). Orrrr hit up the bocce lane! (Kristen recommends). Bonus: The food is great!

Put your collective thinking hats on and to problem-solve your way out of an escape room! (Spoiler: They don’t actually LOCK the doors on you). Most rooms take an hour to solve (or not solve, depending on how clever/sober you are), and we can attest to how amazingly fun they are. Check them out: