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| outdated.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