Filling Station hosting Valentine’s wine and food pairing – The Vacaville Reporter Leave a comment

Valentine’s Day is coming up. Even though it falls on a Monday, there is nothing stopping anyone from getting a head start on the festivities by having a nice day or night out with their significant other that previous weekend.

In that case, The Filling Station in Suisun Valley will be hosting Valentine Wine and Dine, an afternoon of live music and gourmet food paired with wine. What could be more romantic than that?

Owner Wendy De Coito said The Filling Station did a similar wine and food pairing around Valentine’s Day last year, although the event went by a different name. She said it combines all the elements that make for a strong date experience.

“Wine is always perfect for lovers,” she said. “Everybody’s always looking for something to do for a date night or date day, so wine tastings are always nice with food and chocolate and a little glass of bubbly.”

Those who purchase tickets will be treated to a free glass of sparkling wine. In terms of food, The Filling Station has partnered with Michael Lara, the head chef at Hank & Hazel’s Really Good Sausages. De Coito said The Filling Station has worked with the Vacaville restaurant a few times in the past, including having the sausage cart parked outside the tasting room.

De Coito also said the partnership with Lara goes even deeper.

“He likes to use our wine in and with a lot of the foods that he does for us,” she said. “We usually give him the wine in advance, and he creates it accordingly.”

The specific meals that Lara will be preparing have not been announced yet, but De Coito said the wines have been determined. Varietals include The Filling Station’s own sauvignon blanc and zinfandel, called “Faith” and “Love” respectively, a pinot noir by Whim Cellars and a rose’ by Suisun Creek.

“Everything we have here at The Filling Station is local, meaning all the grapes and everything are from Suisun Valley,” she said. “We’ll feature each local wine with whatever Chef Michael’s making.”

Music will be performed by a jazz trio consisting of members from Travis Air Force Base’s Band of the Golden West.

De Coito also said the event would be a good way to get acquainted with The Filling Station, which opened in 2018 on the site of a vintage service station on Mankas Corner next to what is now John’s Hauling and Suisun Valley Antiques & Collectibles. The business serves wine and beer from local vintners and breweries and also offers live music and food trucks.

“It’s a community gathering spot,” she said. “The community’s here a lot, neighbors, they all know each other, but then again, we also get people that are traveling through.”

De Coito hopes couples will take away “a good time tasting local wine and local food.”

The Valentine Wine & Dine is 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 12 at The Filling Station, 2529 Mankas Corner Road, Fairfield. Tickets are $30 per person or $25 for Brew Crew members and must be purchased in advance.

For more information, call 863-1555.