Valentine’s Day Wine and Chocolate Pairings
It's easy to woo your beloved when you know whether to crack open a glass of white Zinfandel or Riesling with that box of dark chocolate. Study up on these perfect duos from Snooth.
Milk Chocolate
We all love us some good milk chocolate, and with its sweet, creamy flavors, milk chocolate is actually fairly easy to pair with wine. I like a sweet, sparkling red like Brachetto, though if there are nuts involved, a nice tawny Port could be the perfect match. If pairing with citrus flavors you might want to consider a nice Riesling as well.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate tends to be deeply flavored but not terribly sweet. While the percent of cocoa naturally produces a more bitter flavor element the higher the cocoa percentage goes, some producers just compensate by adding more sugar, lending very high percentage cocoa chocolate an intensity of flavor that many simple dark chocolates don't have. This makes dark chocolate ideal for pairing with a nice ruby port or even some table wines that frequently have a little bit of residual sugar such as Zinfandel, even 'white' Zin!
Dark chocolate is often paired with caramel or butter crunch and some wines that have similar flavors work superbly here. The Alcyone dessert wine based on Tannat is an incredible wine for these types of chocolate.
Bittersweet Chocolate
By ramping up the intensity, bittersweet chocolate demands more from your wine. While many people find that table wines based on Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon work well with bittersweet chocolate, I still think you need some sweetness to help the wine work with the chocolate. Here a late harvest wine based on Syrah, Zinfandel ( Primitivo!), or Grenache (back to Banyuls) works wonders! Bittersweet chocolate is often paired with nuts, and while some aged spirits might be an ideal match, if you're looking for the right wine you might want to consider a sweet cherry here. The dried fruit character and intensity of a nice Px can work wonders with this combination.
Valentine's Day Chocolates
If you're confused about what chocolates will be best to woo your loved one this Valentine's Day, WhatsCook.in is here to help. Check out their guide to top choc selections at WhatsCook.in Valentine's Day Chocolates.
While you're at WhatsCook.in, if you're thinking of a romantic dinner at your place, they have the perfect menu at Seduction: Scandinavian-Style.
And don't forget the wines to go with it. Take a tip from Top Wines for Valentine's.
Plus: Rank your favorite wines and connect with wine lovers on Snooth.
Plus: Check out Hungry Beast for more news on the latest restaurants, hot chefs, and tasty recipes.