Forget the formulaic brunch, and for god’s sake don’t just blow Mom off with a silly card and/or hurried phone call. This year plan to celebrate Mothers’ Day with something you’ll both enjoy: a visit to a local winery. Many wineries, from sea to shining sea, are offering something special on May 8, from Alba Vineyard (New Jersey) which is offering a Mother’s Day tasting lunch plus live music and a special etched wine glass, to Zaca Mesa (California), where you can treat your mom to a “Hike & Blend” day with the winemaker, picnic lunch included.
Does Mom like chocolate? Of course she does! For a Mother’s Day wine & chocolate pairing take her to Lone Oak Vineyards in Michigan, Sugarloaf Vineyards in Virginia, or Grove Winery in North Carolina. If spring blooms are her thing she’s going to love the Mother’s Day professional flower arranging class at Long Island’s Sparkling Pointe, particularly since a flute of that estate’s fine bubbly is included in the deal. And speaking of sparkling, how about trying the red fizz at Maryland’s Serpent Ridge? Okay, if you’d rather have one of their Cabernets with your filet mignon dinner at Serpent Ridge’s Mothers’ Day dinner, that’s fine with me too. Hot Mama Fashionistas will find a five course Mother’s Day gourmet meal and fashion show at Pennsylvania’s Crossing Vineyards a fitting celebration (pun intended). Lucky New York moms, meanwhile, can enjoy brunch and wine while they tap their toes to the rollicking strains of the Metropolitan Klezmer Band at City Winery.
This list is just the tip of the iceberg, meant simply to whet your appetite for the occasion. Get on the Internet and do a little research, for wherever you live there is apt to be a winery near you ready to pour a memorable Mother’s Day. Your mother will thank you–and if you include your grandmother in the festivities, she’ll thank you too! And while we’re at it, let’s remember to raise a glass to mothers everywhere….
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