7 fun-loving date ideas for Valentine's Day at home

Who says you have to go out for Valentine’s Day to be fun?

This year, we’re ditching the fancy dinner reservations and formalities in favour of a romantic night in with our better half.

From breakfast in bed to movie-marathoning our favourite flicks, with the help of BC Liquor Stores, we’ve created an index of V-Day activities that can be enjoyed alongside a curated assortment of drink pairings.

Surprise your honey by putting your own personal touch on one of these creative ideas or peruse them together for a little inspiration — either way, you’re in for a relaxing and memorable time.

Breakfast in bed

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When life throws you Valentine’s Day on a Sunday, it’s only reasonable you and your loved one should spend the morning (or afternoon) spoiling each other with breakfast in bed. Opt for sparkling wine, like a prosecco, cava, or crémant, which will make for delectable mimosas and an idyllic breakfast pairing — from eggs benedict to avocado toast and smoked salmon.

A perennial crowd-pleaser (and a personal favourite) is Lamarca Prosecco, a budget-friendly bubbly that serves up notes of ripe lemon, green apple, and grapefruit, with a hint of honey and lively effervescence.

Indoor picnic

If you’ve recently found yourself missing the warm weather (who hasn’t?), you can always try and recreate it from the comfort of home. All you have to do is spread out a blanket on the living room floor, press play on your summer playlist, and maybe shut the blinds for any unpleasant reminders that we’re in the dead of winter.

You can even go insofar as to pack a proper picnic basket stocked with your favourite picnic fare, like gourmet cheese and charcuterie. Ripe for the occasion is a pinot noir, beaujolais, or lambrusco — like Louis Latour Bourgogne Pinot Noir, a bottle of medium-bodied wine with a lively core of fruit and a charming profile.

Beer tasting

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If you and your valentine are craft beer-lovers, Valentine’s Day could be as simple as sampling a selection of brews from a local brewery and creating your own beer flights at home. For added intrigue, make it a blind taste test by trying to detect the flavours sans label and create a ranking of your favourites.

You can create your own assortment or opt for something like Driftwood’s Swash Box Mix Pack, which comes with two cans of each of their hoppiest beers.

Paint pictures

Getting creative can be the ultimate stress-reliever, making plenty of space for a night of laughter and romance. To embrace your creative side and unleash your inner artist, just hit up your local art supply store for canvases and paint before trying out this whimsical date idea.

When it comes to sipping and painting, you’ll want a wine that’s as playful as your artistic endeavours — like a fun and fruity BC white. Fort Berens Riesling, which might just become your new favourite BC riesling, is a light and juicy wine that will get your creativity flowing.

Steak dinner

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Nothing says romance quite like a home-cooked (or takeout) steak dinner for two. For a restaurant feel, you can even transform your dining area into a quaint little bistro for the evening by putting down a cute table cloth and lighting some candles.

Since you’ll be foregoing a generous restaurant bill, you can splurge on a super tuscan or bordeaux-style red that will bring out the best flavours of your meal. Take your taste buds on a ride to Italy with a bottle of Tenuta di Arceno Toscana Il Fauno di Arcanum, a berry- and spice-infused bordeaux-style blend that impresses with its soft richness.

Be a mixologist for a day

The thought of making craft cocktails at home might seem daunting, but with the right ingredients, it’s much easier than you think. Just start by scoping out recipes that incorporate your favourite spirits by checking out the distiller’s website or social pages for inspiration.

One thing we love about gin, like Aviation American Gin, is its versatility — it’s a true cocktail-chameleon. Behind this particular variety is Vancouver-born movie star, Ryan Reynolds. His brand has a unique take on gin with a smoother and subtler approach, propelled by orange peel, lavender, and earthy spices.

Movie Marathon

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Enjoy a luxuriously lazy evening on the sofa with a movie marathon. Try rewatching old favourites or curating a roster of films you’ve always wanted to watch — just be sure to have popcorn, candy, and a rich red on-hand.

Coppola Black Label Claret Cabernet Sauvignon, made by the legendary filmmaker behind The Godfather and passionate winemaker Francis Ford Coppola, would be particularly on-brand for the occasion. Not to mention, this full-bodied and velvety smooth wine is a great accompaniment to takeout pizza.

To discover these wines, beers, spirits, and more, you can visit your local BC Liquor Stores location. To find your nearest BCL, watch virtual events, or read the latest issue of TASTE magazine, check out BCLiquorStores.com.

For the latest updates on releases and tips on what to drink, you can also follow @BCLiquorStores on Instagram.