Pairing Wine With Chocolate For Valentine’s Day & Beyond
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If you’re planning to have chocolate with your dinner on Valentine’s Day, here are pairing ideas for red wine lovers. The California Institute Of Wine advises: “California wines bring a whole crew of aromas, tastes and textures to the table. And when they meet chocolate? It’s love at first sight. The sweet, bitter and rich flavors of chocolate cozy up to the diverse personalities and varieties of California wines.” Their suggestions follow. Also check out: > The Nibble’s Master Wine & Chocolate Pairing Chart. > Pairing Wine With Ice Cream & Sorbet. > The Different Types Of Chocolate: A Photo Glossary. Pair dark chocolate with California Cabernet Sauvignons or Merlots. The robust tannins of these red wines embrace the deep cocoa flavors of dark chocolate, creating a harmonious balance that elevates both. Observe how they bring out hidden depths and richness in each other. White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, which gives it its creamy, buttery texture. Pair it with Chardonnay, the creamy white wine. The full-bodied texture and fruitiness of Chardonnay complement the sweetness of white chocolate. Here’s more about white chocolate. With its bright and fruity vibes, rosé is the best partner for fruit-filled chocolates, like raspberry, orange, and lemon creams. These rosés, often boasting notes of red berries and citrus, bring out the sweet fruit qualities of fruit-filled chocolates. No matter your chocolate preference, there’s a sparkling wine to sip with it. The crispness and effervescence of brut or extra brut styles cut through the richness of the chocolate, offering a delightful contrast. A demi-sec or doux style of sparkling wine, with their sweeter profiles, complement the sweetness of the chocolate. California Ports and dessert wines are sweet and succulent. The rich, intense flavors of the wine complement the nuttiness or caramel sweetness in the chocolates. > The history of Valentine’s Day. > The history of chocolate-covered cherries. > The history of chocolate bark and mendiants. > The history of chocolate truffles. > The history of chocolate ganache. |
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