Pairing Chocolate with Wine
Dark. Rich. Luxurious. Are we describing wine or chocolate? Why not both? These are certainly appropriate words to describe both wine and chocolate individually. But when you pair wine and chocolate, together they take on a new and more delicious meaning.
Are you ready to dive into the delicious world of wine and chocolate? There are three easy steps to help you get started. First, make sure the wine is as sweet as the chocolate. Once I didn’t follow this rule and choose a dry wine to pair with the chocolate. The result was a bitter aftertaste – very unpleasant.
Second, you want to make sure your pairs are in the same category of either heavy or light. White and milk chocolates tend to be in the light category and pair best with white wines or lighter-bodied wines like a Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Noir. Heavier chocolates like dark chocolate and chocolates with fillings like nuts or caramel pair better with full-bodied wines like Zinfandels, Merlots and Cabernets.
Third, just have fun with it! There are no wrong answers here – if you like it, then it’s a great pairing! Be open, experiment and find your favorites.
One of my favorite pairings is an Italian Primitivo with a great dark chocolate. Now, Primitivo is just the fancy Italian name for Zinfandel. A perfect way to get started with your pairing experiment is to grab a bottle of Layer Cake Primitivo and a box of the Sonoma Wine Chocolate Collection. This gives you four different truffles to try and see which ones you like best and you’ll also have plenty to share.
Another fabulous pairing is a great wine from Paso Robles (one of the most beautiful parts of California and prime Cabernet country – a must-see vacation spot!) and a great winery called Liberty School. They have a wonderful Cabernet that pairs perfectly with a deep, rich chocolate like the Brix Extra Dark Chocolates or the 72% Dark Chocolate Wine Pairing Sticks.
A unique and different entertaining idea is to host a wine and chocolate tasting party. It’s super easy to pull together, so it’s host friendly as well as something your guests will enjoy and be talking about for weeks. Just grab a large cutting board or platter and use chocolates in the place of where you would normally put cheese. Get a great selection of chocolates with World Market’s Wine Pairing Sticks, milk and dark chocolate bricks and Wine Collection boxes. Place the chocolates around the platter or board and label with small name cards so your guests will know which ones they are trying. The Wine Pairing Sticks will look great in a tall glass or even a small vase and the chocolate bricks can be roughly chopped for a casual look. Chill a chocolate brick and make chocolate shavings for your guests to try. They give a fun and festive look to your chocolate display and are a perfect serving size. Be sure to have paper and pens on hand for your guests to make note of their favorites or even have them vote for the best pairings.
Another crowd-pleasing party idea is chocolate fondue. Use any of the dark or milk chocolate bricks to create a rich and delectable dessert that all of your guests will love. Dippers can include a variety of fruits, cakes, cookies and pretzels. Be sure to serve an equally wonderful wine like World Market’s own Cocobon 75. This wine boasts wonderful red and black raspberry notes which pair perfectly with the dippers for the fondue.
Don’t keep the news about wine and chocolate pairings to yourself – share it with your friends. Wine and chocolate will always make a welcome hostess gift. The next time you’re looking for something to show your appreciation, grab a Wine Chocolate Collection box to pair with your bottle of wine. Your hostess will certainly admire your thoughtfulness as well as your creative gift giving.
Wine and chocolate are a classic pairing, one that is sure to please. As you continue to experiment and gain confidence, you can explore new and unknown pairings as you discover your own personal favorites. Be adventurous and enjoy exploring the dark, rich and luxurious worlds of both wine and chocolate!
