Even though people may not see the point in this, different wines will bring out the various flavor components when paired together properly. The general rule that is typically followed when pairing wine to chocolates is that the wine should be as sweet as, if not sweeter, then the chocolate that is going along with it.

By not making sure that you have a wine that is sweet enough you could end up with a taste that is bitter or even sour. For something that a person would expect to be sweet, this is not the outcome that you want to have happen. Although there are some general rules that people will follow, you can experiment all you want until you find the combination that you like the most.

If you are looking for a wine that typically goes well with dark chocolate then you will need to find a wine that gives its own robust flavor. A hint of chocolate flavor in the wine would not hurt. A great tasting combination is said to be between dark chocolate of a nice Cabs or Zinfandels.

If your dark chocolate is around the 55% cocoa mark then you will want to go a different route. A nice Pinot Noir or Merlot will go well with this type of dark chocolate. A Tawny or Vintage Port is also a nice match for a chocolate truffle. In the end it is all about what you personal like so give it a try and see what you think.

For the milk chocolate you may want to pair it with a light Merlot. Mild milk chocolates do well with Muscats, Rieslings, or other dessert wines. If you are going all out and have some strawberries that are dipped in milk chocolate then consider pairing that with Champagne or a sparkling wine. If none of that meets your expectations then try the classic Ruby Port, as that will be sure to satisfy.

Even though white chocolate is used less often for wine pairing, it can still be worked with and end with excellent tasting results. Since this flavor of chocolate is more on the mellow and buttery side of the flavor charts, it works well with a decent Sherry or an Orange Muscat. If you like contrast then you may want to get a little wild and pair the white chocolate with a Zinfandel.

Of course, when all else fails you can take the do it yourself route. Grab yourself a handful of different types of chocolate and set out to buy a variety of wines. Have yourself a little chocolate and wine tasting party and see what tickles your fancy the most. You may be surprised to find which pairs you like the most.

Food and Wine Pairings

We have all been in a situation of picking out wine at one time or another. We’re sitting in a nice restaurant, overwhelmed at the wine list trying to figure out which wine should go with our meal. But you may not be that familiar with particular wines that are on the list or even worse; you have little knowledge of anything to do with wine!

Food And Wine Pairing Guide Video:


Well it could be even worse because you may have a special someone with you as this is happening (oh you have been there?). Sounds like you need to read on; this article is going to give some tips, to save you from those confusing wine decisions, the next time you are in a position to need to order wine.

If you’re the experimental type, we recommend joining a wine of the month club so you can experimenting with wine pairings from the comfort of your own home.

Many know the old thing of having the red wine with meats such as beef or sauces that are red, or have white wine with fish, white meats and sauces. There is a bit of truth in this statement, but that is not all to know when it comes to choosing the wine to go with foods.

Cote Du Rhone is an example of a red that goes well with seafood, the Mourvedre, Grenache, and Syrah grapes offer a pleasant level of smoky, mineral flavor which brings out the best in several fish dishes as good as the Sauvignon Blanc. Wines that are made with the Gamay grapes can be a good fit with not only seafood but also duck and some turkey dishes.

Then you have the whites that can go with even the heavy tomato sauce dishes. One of these happens to be the Sauvignon Blanc (which is good in the sauce if you don’t happen to want to drink it with it! Remember this for when you fix it at home next time). This particular wine happens to go with so many foods, remember cream and lemon at this point. It goes beautifully with the cream sauces that are a bit heavy. Then anything that is served with lemon on it as in salads, poultry, and seafood goes with this particular wine.

Think about the flavors of the food is one of the rules to follow when choosing wines. Take barbecue for instance (wine along with barbecue? Shocking!). This is one time you want to serve a red wine, and choose a variety that has the acidity and or the body that can stand up to the bold taste of the barbecue sauce. Sometimes Cabernet is served but it is really too soft for this food. What would be a much better pairing would be Italian Barbera it has a high acidity or the Valpolicella it has a full enough body to hold up with barbecue. Then you could also use a red Zinfandel with its black cherry and pepper flavors that go with grilled meats quite well.

Let’s now discuss the white wines shall we? We will still be pairing for grilled foods since they are so popular now and the fact that spring is about to be here. You may consider the dry whites Pinot Grigio or Semillon with grilled dishes such as fruits (best is the melons), vegetables, and salads. Cheeses go well with whites too such as the strong blue varieties and the milder Havarti or Gouda cheeses.

There’s a lot more to know about pairing wines with food, but this article should help you get started exploring on your own -- remember, if you like a particular pairing, then it’s a good one. And with a research project this delicious, you won’t mind testing out different things. An easy way to start testing out new wines -- two words -- wine clubs!

Bon appétit!