Wine pairing, an activity that pairs wine with certain foods to create a heavenly balance of taste, is a
popular activity among wine clubs. It brings out the fullest in any wine. From beef to chicken to seafood, many dishes have already been proven to go great with wine. But did you know that wine pairing can also be enjoyed using dessert recipes? And we are not pertaining to drinking dessert wines alongside, let us say, cakes, mind you. It is true that wines in general do not work well with most sweets, but wine and chocolate really make a great pairing.
While it may seem awkward to pair wine with chocolate, many wine enthusiasts and experts swear by the odd combination. Pairing wine with chocolate can be difficult, but it can be done; many chocolate books and websites can back that statement up. It is true that wine often times does not go well with any type of chocolate. But simple researching is all it takes to be able to create an unforgettable wine pairing activity out of this bizarre pairing.
The thing about pairing wine with chocolate is, you are sure to create a heavenly match if you
have the right wine to complement the right chocolate. The most basic rule with regards to pairing wine
with chocolate is, your wine should at least be as sweet as the chocolate you are about to serve it
with. In other words, when you are trying to pair wines and chocolate it is very important to match the strength of the two variants that you are matching. Ignoring this rule will result to a totally unappetizing, bitter or sour taste. If you are not a wine expert, your best bet is to match lighter-flavored chocolates with lighter-bodied wines. Likewise, stronger chocolates should go with stronger-bodied wines. As long as you keep in mind these things, you can be sure that your pairing can bring you and your friends gustatory bliss.
For those who are new to the idea of pairing wine with chocolate, red wines pair well with dark
chocolates. Popular brands of red wines that go well with any dark chocolate brand include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and Zinfandel. Because of their dryness, white wines are the most difficult to pair with chocolates. If you want to use white wine for your wine pairing activity, it is safest to pair it with milk chocolates. Popular white wine brands include Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.
Just because you need to follow many rules in order to successfully pair wine with chocolate, it does not mean that you cannot try and experiment with different chocolate and wine combinations. Of course, you can always mix and match wine with different variations of chocolates. One inexpensive way of experimenting with wine and chocolate pairings is picking up bars of Green and Black’s chocolate and trying them out with different wines. According to some wine pairing books, you will be able to gain a basic knowledge of which wines complement with basic chocolate varieties by doing this exercise.