Have you ever heard someone ask what wine goes with chocolate? We have. Wine and chocolate are very similar in so many ways.
Both are fermented and share almost the same kind of time to process. They each have notes that tickle our palates and create a wonderful experience for us in our mouths. Here’s a list of wines that pair well with chocolates to enjoy on days you want to indulge.
Wine and cheese are typically paired together and they’re great together. Wine and chocolate on the other hand are whimsical together.
There’s something about wine and chocolate that makes the sides of our mouths salivate just thinking about the two. Maybe it’s the parallel acidity or our affinity for both components, separately. Wine and chocolate almost go through the same process, it is not, similar processes. Fermentation and a form of grinding happens and also, some form of aging.
Wine and chocolate are sophisticated on their own and even more together.
Here’s a list of wines that go perfectly well with chocolates.
- Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir has notes of ripe red fruits and is often medium-bodied which makes it go well with the smooth characteristics of milk chocolate.
Milk chocolate is the in-between of dark and white chocolate. If you’re used to sweeter chocolates, milk chocolate would definitely be the most enjoyable for you to eat. And what better way to enjoy this experience than pairing it with wine that enhances its flavors?
Pinot Noir is sweet but tannic and its medium-body deepens the flavors of milk chocolate but more specifically milk chocolate with caramel.
- Champagne
We’re sure you’ve heard of the illustrious pairing of strawberries and Champagne. This beautiful picture of bubbling delicate Champagne in a flute glass with the lush pink strawberry is no doubt the epitome of a good life. Champagne paired with chocolate, milk chocolate-dipped strawberries though, takes the picture from fancy chateau to the Louvre.
The bright flavors, crisp and bubbly body and brings out the fruitiness of the chocolate that you didn’t know it had and enhances the flavor of the strawberries.
- Ruby Port
When in doubt, go with something classic. Ruby Port is a classic when it comes to pairing milk chocolate with wine. Ruby Port has a more spiced and berry-driven pairing with milk chocolate that makes the entire experience exciting.
The sweet profile of Ruby Port harmonizes the taste of milk chocolate altogether.
- Merlot
Merlot is known to have full flavor with lighter tannins making it approachable to drink and affordable to buy. Merlot is rounded, deep, fruity, with a velvety feel in your mouth. The velvety feel of Merlot makes it best to pair with bittersweet chocolate. The bittersweet chocolate enhances the flavors and notes of the wine bringing out the best of each.
Merlot is good with dark chocolate that isn’t too bitter and more towards the sweeter side.
- Grenache
Grenache is a deep and full-bodied wine, which mirrors the flavors of dark chocolate. What better way to pair wine and chocolate by putting the same notes, face to face?
Wine and chocolate pairing is a lot of trial and error for yourself. Sure, you can follow chocolate and wine-pairing tasting notes but ultimately, the preference lies with you.
Grenache creates an extraordinary pairing interaction with dark chocolate that is unbreakable. Grenache is specifically great with sea salt dark chocolate bars. For every bite of that bar, you take a sip of that Grenache.
- Zinfandel
Zinfandel is known to have fruity and peppery notes making it delicious with semi-sweet chocolate. If you’re thinking what we’re thinking, yes, Zinfandel goes perfectly well with semi-sweet chocolate chips cookies. Who said you can only have chocolate chip cookies with milk?
Zinfandel has the aroma of cherry, cinnamon, currant and that faint aroma of eucalyptus to your nose. It has notes of vanilla, blueberry, cherry and jerky. Its peppery flavor enhances the bitterness of the semi-sweet chocolate. Another excellent pairing for Zinfandel would be coco nibs. The peppery notes of the Zinfandel shine when paired with coco nibs and the nuttiness of the nibs are amplified by Zinfandel.
- Chardonnay
Chardonnay is delicate. Chardonnay is crisp. Chardonnay is rounded and has a rich body. Chardonnay’s subtle flavors pair well with white chocolate.
White chocolate is chocolate and we refuse to argue with this. White chocolate is a delicious form of chocolate with coco butter, the very essence of chocolate. White chocolate is more creamy and delicate flavor.
Pairing these two together would be like pairing Chardonnay with white fish. It’s the perfect marriage.
