Wine and Chocolate Pairings
Wine and chocolate pairing is often seen as difficult and certainly some wines don't go well with any type of chocolate.
But when done correctly, wine and chocolate pairing can be a very rewarding experience.
Of course, taste is a very subjective thing but if you don't where to start here are a few guidelines to great wine and chocolate pairings.
One of the most common mistakes people make when pairing wine and chocolate is that they pick a wine which is too dry.
It is generally a good idea to choose a wine which is at least as sweet (if not sweeter) than the chocolate you are serving it with.
When pairing wine and chocolate, you should also keep in mind that light, creamy flavored chocolates tend to
pair best with light bodied wines. For strong flavored chocolates (like
Gourmet Dark Chocolates or
Gourmet Chocolate Truffles), you should choose a full bodied the wine.
To make wine and chocolate pairing easier, you may simply refer to the tables below.
| Red Wines and Chocolate Pairings | |
| Red Wines | Types Of Chocolate |
| Cabernet Franc | Creamy Milk Chocolate |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | Dark Chocolate |
| Chianti | No Suggestion |
| Merlot | Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate |
| Pinot Noir | Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate |
| Sangiovese | Dark Chocolate |
| Zinfandel | Dark Chocolate |
As you can see, red wines often match well dark chocolates but there are a couple of exceptions. Cabernet Franc with an extra creamy milk chocolate is a heavenly wine and chocolate pairing.
| White Wines and Chocolate Pairings | |
| White Wines | Types Of Chocolate |
| Chardonnay | French Vanilla Chocolate |
| Gewurztraminer | No Suggestion |
| Pinot Blanc | No Suggestion |
| Pinot Gris | No Suggestion |
| Riesling | Milk Chocolate |
| Sauvignon Blanc | Milk Chocolate |
| Semillon | No Suggestion |
White wines are somewhat tough to pair with chocolates. While white wines have a light body which goes very well with milk chocolates, most are too dry to be served with chocolate. But there are some truly amazing combinations as well (like Chardonnay paired with French Vanilla.) If you are feeling adventurous, you might also experiment with white wine and white chocolate pairing.
| Dessert Wines and Chocolate Pairings | |
| Dessert Wines | Types Of Chocolate |
| Champagne & Sparkling Wine |
Almost Any Kind |
| Port | Dark Chocolate |
| Sherry | White Chocolate |
Dessert wines don't really adhere to any "rules" about wine and chocolate pairings. Champagnes seem to go well with almost any type of chocolate, while Port and Sherry are on opposite ends of the chocolate spectrum.
Wine and chocolate pairings are interesting if nothing else. Many people swear by this unusual combination while others insist that it "can not be done". The only way to know for sure is to try it for yourself. Enjoy.
Want some great Gourmet Chocolate Gift Ideas?
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