Wine and Chocolate 101: Pairing Advice
March 30, 2017
Chocolate is a treat that many people desire and love to indulge in. It goes with many things, including wine, but needs to be paired accordingly for the best flavours to really come from the combination.
If you’re a wine and chocolate lover but you’ve never really experimented with both together, this expert guide will give you the best pairing advice for both wine and chocolate so you can gain a better tasting experience.
Best Advice To Pair Chocolate and Wine Together
Chocolate can come in many different forms. From white, caramel, dark to milk chocolate, there really are many combinations that work well when choosing wine.
Here are some examples of the best wine choices for the chocolate that you’re eating...
White Chocolate
Loved by many people, white chocolate is one of the alternative treat options when a person may not be able to eat normal chocolate.
White chocolate is made primarily of sugar, milk solids, and cocoa butter. It is versatile when it comes to pairing wine. When pairing white chocolate, due to its sweetness, it’s best paired with sweeter wines. Some options that pair well with white chocolate include, but aren’t limited to:
- Ice Wine
- Rose Port
- Muscat
- Orange Muscat
- Brachetto d’Acqui
- Lambrusco
- Vintage Port
Adding these wines to your white chocolate indulgence match perfectly to help deliver a lovely sweetness that truly is satisfying.
For white chocolate and strawberries, Rose Port is ideal for adding a new complimentary flavour texture.
Milk Chocolate
Milk Chocolate is one of the most eaten chocolates in the world. Its rich texture works well with many wines which include:
- Creamy Sherry
- Aged Vintage Port
- Rutherglen Muscat
- Rasteau
- Shiraz
When pairing milk chocolate, if you add a well-aged Montilla-Morales wine you can actually stimulate a caramel flavour without the caramel. Shiraz is also a popular choice as it can help to even out the sweetness of the milk chocolate.
Caramel Chocolate
- Amontillado Sherry
- Madeira
- Moscatel de Setubal
- Cream Sherry
- Tawny Port
In some cases a simple wine such as a cream sherry can help to compliment salty, sweet flavours because of its fine taste.
Dark Chocolate
Dark Chocolate generally features a minimum 35% cocoa solid rating. Due to the bitterness of dark chocolate, it’s important to try to pair it with a sweeter wine choice, otherwise the bitterness can be over-powering. Some wine types that can work well with dark chocolate includes:
- Late Harvest Zinfandel
- Maury
- Banyuls
- Port
When complimenting dark chocolate you need to be careful to reduce the risk of bringing out too much bitterness. If in doubt, go for the sweeter wines.
Are There Nuts Involved?
For example: for those who like macadamia white chocolate, the use of a muscat will compliment this type of white chocolate with a lovely tropical fruit flavor.
Chocolates that contain hazelnuts, almonds, and peanuts tend to work well with Madeira, Oloroso Sherry, and Amontillado Sherry as it helps to lift the flavor of the nuts to a whole new level.
Here’s a guide for other types of nuts:
- Pistachios and Cashews work well with Pinot Grigio, Albarino, and Sauvignon Blanc. The brightness and zest in these wines help to accentuate the undertones of the nuts.
- Almonds generally pair well with sparkling wines.
- Hazelnuts work very well with fruity rich white wines such as Chardonnay and Ligonier.
- Pecans and walnuts work well with light red wines such as pinot noir.
- Roasted nuts of any sort generally pair well with rich aromatic red wines for a great complimentary taste.
Conclusion
When it comes to matching chocolate and wine together, there are many different combinations that you can choose from. Whether you’re a dark chocolate lover or a white chocolate lover, you’ll be able to find a wine that’s perfect for your pairing. Are you ready to pair your wine and chocolate together?
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.
- Wine and Chocolate 101: Pairing Advice - March 30, 2017