I had some very good friends visiting my home. One of them was Doreen Pendgracs/Wizard of Words a writer and lover of chocolate. We planned on doing some chocolate and wine pairings while she visited along with Cheryl Therrien/Grandmother Diaries and my friend Elizabeth Scott. 🙂
Chocolate and Wine Pairings
Who doesn’t love chocolate and wine? Why not together? Many times we’re afraid to give it a try because we aren’t confident as to what wine to pair with the various types of chocolate.
The fact is chocolate and wine is an amazing combination. Together they offer a unique experience for the chocolate lover. A particular chocolate helps prepare the tongue for the various flavors of a particular wine varietal. The beauty of this combination is it allows both the wine and chocolate to shine in concert with each other. So the question is how to make chocolate and wine pairings a magical experience
These are some things that can help make your chocolate and wine pairings experience a success.
- It’s recommended that both the wine and the chocolate be at the proper or recommended temperature. That means the wine is to be at the temperature recommended for the specific varietal and chocolate at room temperature.
Properly taste the wine varietal to allow the wine flavors to unfold on your tongue (Taking The Mystery Out Of Wine Tasting).- Now taste the chocolate by allowing it to dissolve slowly on the tongue. Take note of the various flavors or notes (such fruits and/or spices flavors).
- Sip a bit of wine so that it blends with the chocolate. This is when you experience all the differences in how the wine and chocolate taste together.
- It’s best to cleanse your palate between each wine and chocolate experience to gain the full experience and pleasure of each pairing.
Recommendations: (Per Brix Chocolate For Wine)
- Milk Chocolate (Up to 50% Cocoa): Port, Sherry, Rose, and Burgundy.
- Smooth Dark (Up to 60% Cocoa): Champagne, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Vintage Port.
- Medium Dark (60 to 70% Cocoa): Merlot, Shiraz, Zinfandel, Chianti, and Rhone.
- Extra Dark (At or above 70% Cocoa): Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Barolo, and Malbec.
A chocolate and wine pairings activity is a fun thing to do with a group or a couple of friends. So go get some different varietals of wine and chocolates and have a little fun.
Time to eat and drink…
If you enjoyed this check out the Wine and Cheese Pairings, Taking The Mystery Out Of Wine Tasting and Two Chocolate Wines.