I couldn’t help it. With Valentine’s Day approaching, I thought it would be fun to showcase something a bit different. That something would be chocolate wine. You heard me, chocolate wine, two, in fact. The decision all started with a discussion with a wine buyer about chocolate wine. I asked what the different chocolate wines were like and if they were any good. The wine buyer recommended two, Red Decadence, and Chocolate Red Wine. So I bought both to check them out for myself. Did I say I love chocolate?
Generally speaking, infusing chocolate into the fermentation process creates chocolate wine. That is what gives each of these wines a distinctive chocolate taste.
Two Chocolate Wines – Red Decadence & Chocolate Red Wine
Red Decadence is produced by Chocolatier Wines a brand of the Precept Winery out of Seattle, Washington. Percept Winery was established in 2003, the largest privately owned wine company in the Northwest. They go by the mantra that “wine without character isn’t worth drinking” that it “improves the quality of life” and “reflects the people who make it”.
Chocolate Shop (Red Wine is produced by Chocolate Shop Wines. They are “A purveyor of all things chocolate“, and, as a result, are a stand out from the traditional winery tasting rooms in Walla Walla, Washington.
Both are located in Walla Walla, Washington. Even though the area is known for Walla Walla sweet onions, it is also the home of numerous wineries. Its name comes from an Indian word that translates into “Place of Many Waters”. The locals will joke and say Walla Walla is “A town so nice, they named it twice”. Walla Walla is a beautiful area located in Southeast Washington. It’s ideally situated in an excellent wine grape growing area that now produces some of the best wine in the country. As a result, this area has become a favorite spot for wine enthusiasts.
This is what is said about each of these chocolate wines.
Red Decadence Wine: “The aromas and flavors of black cherry, blueberry, and plum with touches of rich, velvety dark chocolate. The combination of deep ruby red wine with a natural chocolate essence is like liquid chocolate truffle in a bottle. It is truly the best of both worlds. Indulge yourself.”
Chocolate Shop (Red Wine): “Inviting aromas of black cherry and dark chocolate entwine and continue on the palate surrounded by hints of cocoa powder. Nuances of red wine and residual sugar linger on the smooth finish.
Sweetening the tongues for centuries, chocolate and red wine have been the most reliable pairing in history. Chocolate Shop takes this pairing to the next level, marrying chocolate flavor with red wine to create a sumptuous drink. We start with a proprietary red blend of the finest vinifera varietals, add a touch of oak and a kiss of sweetness to create the perfect fruit-driven foil for the rich dark chocolate which unfolds in silken layers across the palate.”
So the question you might ask is, how did I like these two chocolate wines? I’m usually not a big fan of overly sweet wine, but hey, it had chocolate in it. Each is very different from the other. Red Decadence has a stronger red wine influence with a very prominent chocolate essence in the taste. It isn’t as sweet as the Chocolate Red Wine, which also had the same pronounced chocolate essence. To answer the question, I and my friend overwhelmingly preferred Red Decadence over the Chocolate Shop.
We very much enjoyed Red Decadence by itself and with my Dark Chocolate Truffles. It is a match made in chocolate heaven. I did say I loved chocolate, didn’t I?
You can find these two chocolate wines at bevmo.com, wine.com, totalwine.com, amazon.com, World Market/CostPlus, Whole Foods or most any wine outlet, just ask your local wine buyer. Enjoy!
Time for a glass…
If you enjoyed reading about these “Two Chocolate Wines,” check out Raspberry Desert Wine, IPSUS Pantelleria Passito, and Croft Winery Tawny Port.
P.S.: Check out a few of my favorite wine tools and resources below. 🙂