Pairing Wine with Chocolate

There are those that say pairing wine with chocolate is best left undone, but if you genuinely enjoy both of these pleasures, then no terrible fate awaits you. True, pairing wine with chocolate can be tricky territory: dry wines with chocolate will often taste bitter or sour. As long as you try to keep lighter wines with lighter (both in color and intensity) chocolates, you’ll be headed down the right path. It may help, as well, to try wines that are a touch sweeter than their chocolate complements. To our brave, intrepid souls willing to risk the world of wine and chocolate, we salute you.

Bittersweet chocolate (70 – 100% cacoa). Bittersweet chocolate is dark, rich, and intense. Bittersweet chocolate can have fruity, nutty, spicy, roasted, bitter, and earthy flavors. Strong, fruity red wines, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Malbec can all pair well with bittersweet chocolate.

Semi-sweet chocolate (50 – 70% cacao). Semi-sweet chocolate, like bittersweet chocolate, is strong and rich with complex flavors. It is a touch sweeter than bittersweet chocolate, but still more bitter than milk chocolate. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are great red wines to try, and Port is often exceptional with semi-sweet chocolate.

Milk chocolate. Milk chocolate has a smaller percentage of cacao and a higher percentage of sugar than bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate, rendering it sweeter and softer. Try milk chocolate with a soft red wine like Pinot Noir or Merlot; it is also delicious with Port or a dark ice wine.

White chocolate. Technically speaking, white chocolate is not true chocolate, as it is made without chocolate liquor. White chocolate is made with cocoa butter, milk solids, and sugar. It is creamy and rich, and would pair well with an off-dry Riesling or Gewurtztraminer, or an ice wine.

And don’t forget . . .

Chocolate ice cream. For your first official chocolate and ice cream pairing, start off with a less-sweet ice cream, like a bittersweet chocolate. Sparkling wines provide an interesting textural contrast, whose soft bubbles refresh your palate after every smooth, creamy bite. A rose, slightly sparkling Brachetto from Italy is a great choice, as is a demi-sec sparkling wine. Ice wines are another good choice.

Tags: chocolate, dessert pairing, wine, wine and chocolate pairing