Friends are coming over. The chocolate is plated, and the wine is breathing. It’s going to be a wonderful evening.

Tonight’s plan for chocolate and wine pairings starting with one of my favorite combinations; dark chocolate covered raspberry creams with a soft cabernet!

Chile is quickly growing to be a major exporter of wines in the world. I’ve read that the climate is a cross between California and France. The most common grapes grown there are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Pairing Wine and Chocolate

When I look for a wine to pair with chocolate, I generally focus on affordable wines around $10 a bottle.

I try to find one with tasting notes similar to those of the chocolate I’m using. My goal is to find a wine that will complement the chocolate and not overwhelm it. The reason is simple... I would like the last, lingering flavor in my mouth be chocolatey!

Chilean Wine With Raspberry Creams

Focusing on the raspberry cream flavors from the chocolates, I selected a Chilean wine from the Colchagua Valley; VEO Cabernet Sauvignon.

It’s affordable, and the flavor profile of this Cabernet is a good match for the strong raspberry notes as well as the rich chocolate coating.

By itself, the wine is spicy with notes of wood and herbs, with a hint of red berries and cocoa throughout.

These raspberry cream chocolates (from Allo Chocolat) are sweet on their own, with bold cocoa notes, a hint of nut and spice, and fruity, raspberry flavors.

Together, the chocolate’s raspberry, cocoa, and sweetness levels come through loud and clear while the wine is subdued (exactly as I’d hoped) but bringing forward a soft fruitiness and spice.

The wine takes down the sweetness of the chocolates a notch or two, which is fine with me. I would compare it to having coffee or tea with a sweet, rich dessert – your taste buds don’t get tired from the sugar.

This is a winning combination!

Want More Chocolate & Wine?

The CUO Chocolate and Wine Tasting Guide will show you how to pair chocolate and wine for amazing experiences of your own. Share the love with a small or large group of friends! Click here.

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Bryn Kirk

Course Facilitator at Chocolate University Online

Bryn worked for nearly 10 years in a research and product development for Ambrosia Chocolate Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Now she develops all of the CUO lessons and coaches the members of the Primal Chocolate Club.

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