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The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate and Wine Pairing

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Introduction

Who doesn’t love chocolate and wine, however they don’t always complement each other, so finding the best combo can make the experience that much better. Chocolate and wine have lots of interesting and varied tastes that can work really well together in surprising and enjoyable ways.
In this blog post, we’re going to talk about matching chocolate and wine. We’ll look at different kinds of chocolate and the wines that could go best with them. By getting to know the different tastes and textures, you’ll be ready to find pairings that bring out the best in both the chocolate and the wine. This can make for a really special treat for your taste buds. So let’s start this tasty adventure together, and see what great pairings we can find.

The Basics of Pairing Chocolate and Wine

Pairing means putting two things together, like chocolate and wine, in a way that makes both of them taste even better. The goal is to find a balance where both the chocolate and the wine can stand out without one taking over the other. When done right, pairing can make the tasting experience more interesting by bringing out new flavours or making some tastes stronger, or even creating exciting contrasts.
By thinking about what makes each thing special and choosing something that goes well with it, you can turn a your experience into something really amazing. This can help you appreciate the small details that make both chocolate and wine so special.
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Types of Chocolate

White chocolate is the lightest and sweetest kind of chocolate. It’s made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, but doesn’t have any cocoa solids, which gives it a creamy, smooth feel. It tastes mostly sweet, with a bit of vanilla and a soft milky flavour. Because it doesn’t have any cocoa solids, which make chocolate bitter, white chocolate is usually the sweetest kind.
Milk chocolate is a mix of cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, and milk. It usually has about 30% to 45% cocoa, which means it’s a good balance between sweet and cocoa flavours. Its smooth and velvety texture, along with the creamy, sweet taste from the milk, makes it a favourite for many chocolate fans.
Dark chocolate has more cocoa solids – between 50% and 100% for the really strong kinds. More cocoa means more complex flavours and a bit of bitterness, depending on how much cocoa there is. Dark chocolate usually has less sugar than milk or white chocolate, so it tastes less sweet and you get more of an intense cocoa flavour. It also feels firmer and can taste like fruit, earth, or nuts, depending on where the cocoa beans come from and how they’re processed.

How to Pair White Chocolate & Wine

White chocolate’s creamy texture and sweet, milky taste work well with certain wines. Here are some good matches:

Late Harvest or Ice Wine: These sweet dessert wines work well with white chocolate. They bring out fruity and honey flavours.

Riesling: Go for a late harvest or off-dry Riesling. Its fruity, floral taste and bit of natural acid contrasts nicely with creamy white chocolate.
Tokaji: This sweet Hungarian wine can be a good choice for white chocolate. Its honey-like sweetness and complex flavours match the creamy sweetness of white chocolate.
Botrytis-affected Semillon: This Australian wine, also known as a “noble rot” wine, goes well with white chocolate. Its sweetness works well with the sweet taste of white chocolate, and its complex flavour adds depth.

How to Pair Milk Chocolate and Wine

Milk chocolate’s balanced sweetness and creamy texture mean it can go with many wines. Here are some good options:
Tawny Port: This wine has flavours of nuts, caramel, and dried fruit, and works well with milk chocolate. Its sweetness and complexity add to the chocolate’s taste.
Grenache/Garnacha: This medium to full-bodied red wine with red fruit flavours and a hint of spice works well with milk chocolate.
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc: This crisp, high-acid white wine with its bright citrus and tropical fruit flavours can contrast with the creaminess and sweetness of milk chocolate.
Vinho Verde: This young, slightly fizzy Portuguese wine might not be the obvious choice, but its high acid and citrus flavours contrast with milk chocolate’s sweetness and creaminess.
Light Dry Rosé: A light and dry rosé, with red fruit and floral notes, can contrast with rich and creamy milk chocolate.
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    Rosé Wine and Chocolate Gift Set

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    The ultimate gift set for lovers of Rosé Wine & Chocolate. A fabulous rosé from Famille Perrin who have been making wines in the Southern Rhône for 6 generations along with 150g of handmade Chocolates from artisan Buckinghamshire producer Linny Lane. Luberon Rosé | Famille Perrin | Cinsault, Grenache Blanc,…

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Champagne: A non-vintage Brut Champagne can provide an interesting contrast to milk chocolate. Its bubbles and acidity cut through the chocolate’s creaminess.
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    Champagne and Chocolate Gift Set

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    The ultimate gift set for lovers of Champagne & Chocolate. A grande reserve Champagne from Maison Pierre Mignon who  have been producing exceptional Champagnes for five generations along with 150g of handmade Chocolates from artisan Buckinghamshire producer Linny Lane. Grande Réserve Premier Cru | Pierre Mignon | Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay,…

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Prosecco: A dry or off-dry Prosecco, with its fruity and floral character, can match milk chocolate.

How to Pair Dark Chocolate and Wine

Dark chocolate, with its higher cocoa content and more intense flavour, can go with a wide range of wines. Here are some suggestions:
Vintage Port: This fortified wine from Portugal is known for its deep, complex flavours and sweetness, which work well with dark chocolate.
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Merlot: With its notes of ripe fruit and hints of cocoa and vanilla, Merlot goes well with the rich cocoa flavours in dark chocolate.
Malbec: A bold and fruity Malbec, with its blackberry, plum, and cocoa flavours, goes well with dark chocolate.
Cabernet Sauvignon: A full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with ripe dark fruit flavours and notes of cedar or tobacco can contrast with the intensity and bitterness of dark chocolate.

Amarone: A rich, full-bodied Italian red wine like Amarone, with its dried fruit, spice, and chocolate notes, works well with the deep, bitter flavours of dark chocolate.

Conclusion

Pairing chocolate and wine can be fun and rewarding, and can let you find new and exciting flavours. In this blog post, we’ve talked about how pairing can make tasting even better. We’ve looked at the main types of chocolate – white, milk, and dark – and talked about their tastes, how much cocoa they have, and how sweet they are. We’ve also suggested some wines that go well with each type of chocolate.
Remember, the secret to a good chocolate and wine pairing is to try different things out, and think about the balance of strong flavours, bitterness, and flavours that go well together. Don’t be scared to try something different and find what tastes best for you.
We want to hear about your experiences with chocolate and wine pairings. Tell us about your favourite combinations, any surprises you’ve found, and any tips you’ve learned in the comments section below or on social media. Enjoy!
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