Valentine’s Day Wine & Chocolate Pairings

Happy Valentines – Make It Special!

Wine is tasty …Chocolate is yummy,  but which one is better in your tummy?

This short poem, a box of great Swiss chocolates from Sprungli and a glass of Port have inspired me to write about those two powerful indulgences. Because when you put chocolate and wine together…magic happens!

For some old line chefs and sommeliers, the idea of red wine and chocolate going together is disturbing; however, for others it is exciting. In Europe, wine tastings with chocolate are becoming a very popular alternative to cheese. Chocolate is often simultaneously sweet, bitter, fruity and acidic.  It can have other extra ingredients like cinnamon, ginger, caramel, pepper, nuts, dried fruits or crèames of raspberry, orange or mint. And, don’t forget strawberries dipped in chocolate.

In order to pair well, wine needs to be similarly intense.  This is one of the basic tips while pairing – Don’t match strong to delicate. Some chocolate desserts can overpower many wines; both are very complex on their own. Light, creamy, milky or white chocolates tend to pair best with light bodied wines and dark, bitter, strong flavored chocolates with full bodied wines.

Best results are achieved when:

• The wine is sweeter than the chocolate.
• The wine is big enough to cut the richness of chocolate.
• Both should have similar flavors.
• If you are having various chocolates, start from light to dark, & make sure the wine goes light-bodied to full-bodied.

White Chocolate:  White chocolate tends to be light and buttery in flavor.  It pairs well with Moscato d’Asti, Rieslings, Ice Wines, Rose, cream Sherry & light bodied Pinot Noir.

Milk Chocolate:  Pairs well with a medium body Merlot, port wines, Maderia & Pinot Noir. Champagne is another great option…who doesn’t like champagne with chocolate covered strawberries?

Dark or Bittersweat Chocolate -71 to 100 % of cacao very bitter, roasted, nutty, intensive flavor.  Pairs well with a bold Cabernet Sauvignon, full body Merlots & Pinot Noirs, Barolo, Brunello, Sherry, Zinfandel, Malbec, Shiraz & Port

Here is a great chart from Kendall Jackson you can use when planning your own chocolate and wine tasting party.

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