7 Chocolate & Wine Pairings Recommended By Experts
Chocolate and wine.
Whether you love them separately or together, there's no denying that these two are a heavenly pairing. In this blog post, we will explore seven different chocolate and wine pairings to try. We teamed up with Wally’s Wine Beverly Hills Wine Director, Phillip Dunn and Sommelier Maureen Sciutto of Unfiltered Wine & Spirits in Woodstock, New York, to deliver some great pairs.
7 Best Chocolate And Wine Pairings
1. Dark Chocolate Pairs Well With Cabernet Sauvignon
The high cocoa content of dark chocolate makes it the perfect match for bold red wines. Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep, robust flavor that matches up nicely with dark chocolate’s slightly bitter taste.
Our friends at Wally’s Wine recommend pairing Fruition Bolivia Wild Forest Dark 74% and 2019 Patrimony Cabernet Sauvignon.
“This 99+ point wine was made to be enjoyed with dark chocolate. It’s slightly sweet on the palate and balances well with dark chocolate, specifically Fruition. Both are inherently complex, and combining them releases even more flavor.”
Philip Dunn, Wally’s Wine Beverly Hills Wine Director
2. Dark Chocolate Pairs Well With Shiraz
Complimenting the above pairing, our friends at Unfiltered Wine & Spirits recommend pairing Fruition Dominican Nacional Dark 74% and Unfiltered Wine & Spirits Sherrah Shiraz 2019
“With its velvety oaky tannins, dark blueberry and blackberry fruit, hints of cocoa nib, and earthy undertones, the Sherrah Shiraz is a perfect complement to the Dominican Nacional Dark. The cocoa butter in the chocolate lends just enough creamy roundness to complement the smooth structure of the Shiraz, and its perfect balance of bitter and sweet works well with the dark fruit and dry edges in the wine.”
Maureen Sciutto, Sommelier & Owner of Unfiltered Wine & Spirits
3. Milk Chocolate Pairs Well With Merlot
The creamy sweetness of milk chocolate pairs perfectly with the rich flavor of merlot. This combination makes for an indulgent and savory treat that is sure to please.
We recommend Fruition Brown Butter Milk Chocolate with 2019 Daou Sequentis Reserve Merlot
4. White Chocolate Pairs Well With Riesling
The sweet, light flavor of white chocolate pairs perfectly with a crisp and fruity Riesling. This combination is sure to make your taste buds sing!
We recommend Fruition Vanilla Bean Toasted White 38% with Tousey Winery 2019 Riesling
5. Dark Milk Chocolate Pairs Well With Malbec
Dark milk chocolate has a richer flavor than traditional milk chocolate, which makes it the perfect match for the bold notes of a Malbec. This combination is sure to bring out the best in both your chocolate and wine.
We recommend Fruition Peru Marañón Dark Milk 68% with 2006 Bodega Weinert Tonel Unico Malbec.
6. Bitter Chocolate Pairs Well With Port
The sharp and slightly bitter flavor of dark chocolate pairs perfectly with the sweet and smooth flavor of port. This pairing is sure to be a favorite for those who enjoy bold flavors.
We recommend Fruition 100 Percent Dark with Kingston Quinta Do Infantado - Ruby Port NV.
7. Fruity Chocolate Pairs Well With Sparkling Wine
Chocolate bars with fruity notes (such as orange or raspberry) pair nicely with a light and bubbly sparkling wine. This combination is sure to add some sparkle to your evening!
We recommend Fruition Madagascar Sambirano 74% Dark Chocolate with Unfiltered Wine & Spirits Bénédicte et Stéphane Tissot Crémant du Jura Rosé NV.
Whether you’re a chocolate lover or wine enthusiast, or both, these eight chocolate and wine pairings are sure to tantalize your taste buds! The most important thing when you’re pairing wine and chocolate is to slow down. Take time to savor the rich flavors after you’re done, let us know what you think in the comments below. Cheers!