| approach Valentine’s Day, thoughts turn to | | | | Tip #2: Match lighter, more elegant flavored |
| wine and chocolate. Well, ok maybe we think of | | | | chocolates with lighter-bodied wines and the stronger |
| other things as well, but we do think about giving | | | | the chocolate, the more full-bodied the wine should |
| chocolates. Wouldn’t it be great to give | | | | be. For example, a bittersweet chocolate pairs well |
| chocolates and experience it with a wonderful wine? | | | | with an intense California Zinfandel. |
| Chocolate is not easy to pair. The general rule with all | | | | Tip #3: If you are experimenting with several varities |
| pairings is the wine should be sweeter than the food, | | | | of chocolates, work from light to dark. Start with a |
| and this applies to chocolate as well. Otherwise the | | | | more subtle white chocolate and end on a dark or |
| taste will be sour and the finish will be unpleasant. We | | | | bittersweet chocolate. |
| usually think of Champagne or a Red. But so does | | | | White Chocolate Wine Suggestions |
| everyone else and it seems outdated. Plus the | | | | White chocolate tends to be more mellow and |
| bubbles get in your nose and the red can really ruin | | | | buttery in flavor, making it an ideal candidate for a |
| the whole experience since there are more bad | | | | Sherry, a Moscato d'Asti, or an Orange Muscat. The |
| matches then good ones. | | | | Sherry and Moscato d’Asti will pick up the |
| You can’t go wrong with a dessert wine or | | | | creaminess of the chocolates and the Orange Muscat |
| port with fruity flavors high with residule sugars. If | | | | will pick up any fruit tones present. |
| you don’t like sweet wines, Cabernets are a | | | | Milk Chocolate Wine Suggestions |
| great alternative because a lot of them have a hint | | | | Pinot Noir or a lighter-bodied Merlot will complement a |
| of cocoa, along with blackberries and spices. Make | | | | bar of milk chocolate, a creamy chocolate mousse or |
| sure you don’t grab an oakey Cabernet | | | | chocolate accented cheesecake. Rieslings (like |
| though as you will be disappointed. The oak | | | | Chateau St Jean), Muscats or dessert wines tend to |
| doesn’t work well with the sweetness of the | | | | hold up well to mild milk chocolates. |
| chocolate and makes a bad match. | | | | Dark Chocolate Wine Suggestions |
| Don’t forget too that there isn’t just | | | | Dark or bittersweet chocolates need a wine that |
| one type of chocolate. Dark, white, milk and | | | | offers a roasted, slightly bitter flavor itself, with |
| semi-sweet chocolates all have different | | | | perhaps a hint of its own chocolate notes. Cabs and |
| characteristics and require a wine that stands on | | | | Zinfandels have a history of perfecting the dark |
| it’s own to the chocolate. A full bodied | | | | chocolate match, resulting in an unparalleled tasting |
| Zinfandel might work well with dark chocolates while | | | | combination. A Cabernet Sauvignon (try Beringers |
| an orange fortified muscat could work well with | | | | Port) or a Zinfandel will more than fill your chocolate |
| white chocolates. There is no science to wine paring | | | | pairing expectations. |
| and the fun is in the experimentation. | | | | So for Valentines Day go out and buy some |
| Tips for Successfully Pairings Wines with Chocolate | | | | chocolates, and a few bottles of wine, and see what |
| Tip #1: The wine needs to be at least as sweet, if | | | | works. If nothing else you’ll be eating |
| not a sweeter, than the chocolate you are having. | | | | chocolate and drinking wine. Now that’s a |
| Otherwise, the taste may quickly turn towards sour. | | | | perfect pairing! |