RIDGEFIELD — Laughter floated through downtown Ridgefield as women gathered at The Neighborhood Refuge for a Galentine’s Champagne, Wine and Chocolate event designed to bring the community together, one pairing at a time.
In partnership with Brown Family Vineyards and Whimsy Chocolates, the evening offered guests a curated tasting experience while creating space for connection, conversation and celebration.
Flowers adorned the tables. Live music played softly in the background. Glasses clinked as attendees learned which wines complement certain chocolates, and which flavor notes bring out unexpected surprises.
But beyond the champagne and sweets, the heart of the evening was community.
“I love epic sh**!
That’s what we do!”
said Refuge owner Renee Serface, echoing Brown Family Vineyards’ bold theme:
Do Epic Shit.
The phrase, displayed proudly at the event, matched the energy in the room: confident, joyful and unapologetically celebratory.
For some, the night marked their first visit.
Janice Dutson of La Center attended for the first time and left impressed.
“It’s fantastic,” Dutson said. “I just learned about the whiskey library! My husband’s really into whiskey, so now we’ll have to come back.”
Others were longtime fans of the downtown gathering space.
Saje Seffens, who has lived in Ridgefield for six years, said she often visits The Neighborhood Refuge for date nights with her husband and follows the business on Instagram. “She does a really good job decorating and hitting all the little details with the décor she has available,” Seffens said.
Yet what stood out most to Seffens wasn’t the wine or the chocolate, it was the women sitting beside her.
“It can be awkward sitting at a table and not knowing who else you’re sitting next to,” she said. “It can feel awkward and discouraging. But we’re all women. Sitting down together, sharing our stories, it feels like family.”
Galentine’s Day has grown in popularity in recent years. Events like this one reflect Ridgefield’s increasing focus on creating welcoming spaces for women to gather, learn and build relationships.
Throughout the evening, strangers introduced themselves. Conversations moved from careers to children to creative passions. Business cards were exchanged. Plans were made to meet again.
By the end of the night, what began as a wine-and-chocolate pairing had become something more meaningful: a reminder that community can be built simply by sitting down together. In a growing city like Ridgefield, where newcomers continue to arrive, events like Galentine’s at The Neighborhood Refuge offer more than a night out.
They offer belonging.
And judging by the smiles, the hugs and the lingering conversations long after the last pour, this was one epic night!
