How to Put Chocolate and Wine Together
It may seem like a simple treat to pair wine with chocolate, but it’s actually an art form that balances tastes and textures for a truly luxurious experience! The right wine can make chocolate taste better, just like the right wine can make cheese or a fine meal taste better. If you’re planning a romantic evening, a tasting party, or just want to satisfy your sweet tooth, this guide will help you make the right choices. As always, you can find any kind of wine mentioned, at Boone’s!
1. How to Start: Matching Intensity
Matching the strength of the flavors is important for making wine and chocolate go well together. Most of the time, dark chocolate goes well with full-bodied wines and lighter chocolate goes well with lighter wines. This keeps the strong tastes of one from taking over the other. It’s like finding the right balance between wine and chocolate, so neither one stands out more than the other.
2. Dark Chocolate: Rich and Robust
Because it has a lot of cocoa and strong flavors, dark chocolate goes well with strong red wines. Rich, tannic wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel go well with bitter dark chocolate, making a perfect pairing. The strong tastes in these wines, like blackberries, dark cherries, and hints of spice, go well with the complex tastes of dark chocolate. For an extra touch of decadence, try a Syrah or a bold Malbec with dark chocolate. The peppery notes and dark fruit flavors in these wines bring out the depth of the chocolate.
3. Milk chocolate : smooth and creamy
Softer wines go well with milk chocolate because it has a creamy texture and a milder flavor. Fruity wines like Pinot Noir or light Merlot can go well with milk chocolate because it is sweet and creamy! Most of the time, these wines have less tannin, which lets the smooth, sweet flavors of the milk chocolate stand out. If you want to try something new, pair it with a Tawny Port or a light sparkling wine like Moscato d’Asti. Along with the caramel and vanilla undertones of milk chocolate, their fruity and nutty notes go well together.
4. More helpful hints and tips
Think About the Extras: When you pair wine and chocolate, don’t forget about any extra flavors or fillings in the chocolate, like nuts, fruits, or caramel. These things can change how the two go together, and you may find that different wines bring out different flavors.
Try New Things: Everyone has a different taste, so don’t be afraid to try out different combinations. It’s possible that what works great for one person might not be the best for someone else. As you pair things, have fun and find what you like best.
Serve at the Right Temperature: To get the most out of the flavors in both wine and chocolate, they should be served at the right temperature. Most of the time, white wines are served cold, chocolate is served at room temperature, and red wines are served just below room temperature.
When you pair wine with chocolate, you can enjoy a wonderful journey of taste and texture. We have the perfect wine pairing for you, whether you like the boldness of dark chocolate with a strong red or the creamy sweetness of milk chocolate with a fruity wine. Grab your favorite chocolates and a variety of wines, and let’s go on a tasting adventure that will make your taste buds dance. Cheers to sweet treats!
