{"id":2673,"date":"2019-02-25T16:47:17","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T21:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wtso.com\/blog\/?p=2673"},"modified":"2023-06-22T11:53:44","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T15:53:44","slug":"your-succulent-guide-to-chocolate-and-wine-pairing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wtso.com\/blog\/your-succulent-guide-to-chocolate-and-wine-pairing\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Succulent Guide to Chocolate and Wine Pairing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wine and chocolate\u2014what could be better? If you bought more Valentine\u2019s day chocolate than you know what to do with, try chocolate and wine pairing. With Wines \u2018Til Sold Out\u2019s wine home delivery<\/a>, you won\u2019t even have to leave your house and face the cold. That said, if you\u2019re not sure what wine goes well with your chocolate, don\u2019t worry\u2014we\u2019ll break down which wines go best with each variety of chocolate and why these pairings will ignite your taste buds.<\/p>\n

Why Wine & Chocolate Mesh Well<\/h2>\n

Wine and chocolate are quite similar to each other, which is part of the reason why they pair so well together. However, it can be difficult to find the perfect pairing. Although they\u2019re considered aphrodisiacs, chocolate and wine do contain different types of polyphenols\u2014the groups of chemical compounds that make these items good for you (in moderation, of course).<\/p>\n

Polyphenols come from plant-based foods and are full of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and other health benefits<\/a>. Some of these include improved digestion issues, weight management, and help in treating cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Flavonoids<\/a> are the most prominent polyphenol in chocolate, while tannin<\/a> is the polyphenol in wine\u2014both of these compounds are what lead to the bitter taste in these items.<\/p>\n

Tannin is also one of the things that can make wine taste dry\u2014the grape skins in red wine are not only bitter but astringent. What all of this scientific talk means is that the drier the wine and the more bitter the chocolate, the less happy your taste buds will be. Too much bitter (too many polyphenols) makes for bad chocolate and wine pairing. That said, the time it takes to find the right pairing makes the mouthwatering sensation of a perfect pairing even more satisfying.<\/p>\n

What-to-Know When Pairing Chocolate & Wine<\/h2>\n

As mentioned above, one of the most important things to remember about wine and chocolate pairing is to not double up on polyphenols. If you pair your favorite piece of dark chocolate with a big glass of a dry cabernet sauvignon, your taste buds will not be dancing with joy. Here are a few things you need to know about pairing the two delicacies.<\/p>\n

Stay Sweet<\/h3>\n

One of the simpler ways to go about wine and chocolate pairing is staying sweet across the board. Since wine and chocolate are similar and intense in their own right, one needs to bow to the other in some way. At first, let the wine be the sweeter of the two. Port, Madeira, Sherry, or even Banyuls<\/a> (a wine made from Grenache grapes in southern France) are all great \u201csweeter\u201d options that will mesh well with most chocolate.<\/p>\n

Match Intensity<\/h3>\n

A more complicated part of the chocolate and wine pairing process is the idea of matching intensities. This initiative will work in your favor if you\u2019re not the biggest fan of sweet wines<\/a>. Essentially, matching intensities means you pair light with light and strong with full. An example of this is pairing a nice milk chocolate truffle with a light-bodied wine such as a Pinot Noir<\/a> or a Merlot.<\/p>\n

When it comes to dark chocolate that contains quite a bit of cacao, pair that with a full-bodied wine such as Zinfandel or a Syrah. If you don\u2019t mind a more bitter taste, you could try to pair a Cabernet Sauvignon with a dark chocolate treat. After all, tastes vary\u2014what is cringy to one may be euphoric for another.<\/p>\n

Think of Ingredients<\/h3>\n

If your chocolate has additional yummy ingredients such as nuts, toffee, caramel, fruit, etc., you\u2019ll want to match those ingredients with the different notes in the wine. If you\u2019re eating a nice nut-filled piece of milk chocolate, pair it with a nutty Sherry or a Tawny Port. If you have some scrumptious chocolate covered strawberries, these pair deliciously with a sweet sparkling red such as a Lambrusco or a Brachetto D\u2019Acqui. Most wine bottles have a description outlining the different notes you\u2019ll find within the wine; look this over to ensure that you pair it with the right chocolate.<\/p>\n

Taste on a Spectrum<\/h3>\n

Similar to a formal wine tasting, you\u2019ll want to taste from either light to dark chocolate, or light-bodied to full-bodied. Starting with white chocolate and a light-bodied wine will keep you from over-working your palate. White chocolate is going to be less nuanced than a bitter dark chocolate, so this way you won\u2019t miss out on sweet subtleties.<\/p>\n

Wine Recommendations for White Chocolate<\/h2>\n

Although technically not \u201ctrue chocolate\u201d since there is no cacao, the delicacy and sweetness of this type of chocolate pairs well with light-bodied wines and dry reds.<\/p>\n