A beautiful summer night calls for a beautiful combination of chocolate and wine. Watch the sunset as you take your palate on a journey through the magical world of wine and chocolate.
A Simple Rule
When in doubt, start with a wine that is as sweet as the chocolate if not a little bit sweeter than the chocolate. This will help your palate bounce back and forth between the chocolate and wine instead of experiencing a shocking jolt when transitioning from sweet chocolate to a perhaps bitter wine.
The Body of the Wine and Chocolate
When pairing chocolate and wine, you will want to pair heavier wines with heavier chocolates, and lighter wines with lighter chocolates. This concept does not mean white chocolate goes with a white wine necessarily.
When we talk about the body or depth, we should be thinking about the fullness or density of the chocolate and the wine. Is it thick and creamy? Thick and creamy chocolate will pair with a different wine than a light chocolate. A strong chocolate will pair better with a fuller-bodied wine than a lighter wine. A white chocolate goes with a tame chardonnay before it goes with a malbec.
Dessert Wines
If you are looking for a wine to go with a decadent chocolate dessert, put what white zinfandel away and pick up a dessert wine like a port. You won’t need as much wine in quantity, but the combination will make your taste buds sing!
At special occasions you may find yourself with a champagne flute filled with sparkling wine around dessert time. Fear not; sparkling wines can be really fun with desserts! White chocolate and champagne or moscato is a fun and light combination. This pairing is a nice alternative to the rich, dark chocolate and port pairing. Between wine and chocolate, there is something for everyone!
Better Quality = Better Pairing
It is possible that the greatest wine ever cannot make a bad chocolate good. Don’t put a 10 with a 2 -- it will just never work out! Instead, try a few different wines and chocolates of a good quality so you can really see what goes well together. This does not mean you have to break the bank to have a good night, but treat yourself because you deserve it!
Get Adventurous
Sometimes the best pairings of wine and chocolate are those least expected. Get crazy and experiment with different combinations you thought you would never like. If you come into this with an open mind, you can make a night of fun pairings with different chocolates and wines!
Wine and Dorinda’s Chocolates
Pair Dorinda’s Chocolates with different wines at Fine Vines Cheese & Wines on Wednesday, August 19 at 6 PM. Get your tickets now!
At Dorinda’s Chocolates, we can also bring the chocolate to you for your night of experimenting with different chocolates and wines. Whether you are having a night out at Fine Vines Cheese & Wines or hosting a special night of your own, Dorinda’s Chocolates can provide the chocolates for your fun evening!
If you have a bottle of wine that is in need of a friend, stop by Dorinda’s for an assortment of handmade gourmet chocolates. We have a huge assortment of different chocolates for you to explore different tastes and pairings! Share your wine and chocolate experience with your friends. It is a fun way to get together and try new things! Happy pairing from all of us at Dorinda’s.