The Perfect Wine and Chocolate Pairings

Wine and chocolate are two of life’s greatest pleasures, especially when consumed on Valentine’s Day! This may not be as common a coupling as the classic wine and cheese combo, but wine and chocolate work together beautifully and make for the perfect evening treat. At Grand Cru, we have put together a selection our favourite pairings to help take the guess work out of your V Day celebrations.

Dark Chocolate

The most intense chocolate on the market, dark chocolate has the highest amounts of cocoa (between 70% to 100%), which also means it has the best health benefits.

Containing both healthy antioxidants and the same chemical that is released when people fall in love, you can’t go wrong with this choice. Pair dark chocolate with big, rich reds like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barolo, Chianti and Port style red wines to cut the bitterness and round out the flavour.

Milk Chocolate

Milk chocolate is the go-to for many people, sweet and creamy with a slightly bitter edge, milk chocolate is a happy medium for all taste buds. Higher in sugar and cream than its darker counterparts, milk chocolate matches beautifully with fortified wines and fruity reds. Try your favourite with Port, Sherry, Pinot Noir or Banyuls (a dessert wine from the South of France).

White Chocolate

This chocolate doesn’t typically contain any cocoa and instead gets its flavour from sugar, butter and milk solids – giving it the sweet creaminess we all love. The traditional vanilla, honey, caramel flavours of white chocolate make it a great pairing for ice wine, late harvest wines, some sweeter Rieslings, fruity Chardonnays, Muscat and even an Australian Moscato – try one of Australia’s best sellers, Brown Brothers.

Chili Chocolate

Flavour fans out there will know how just a sprinkle of chili can compliment and help cut through richness of chocolate, however, have you ever considered adding a wine to the mix? Counteract the capsaicin heat with a sweet and spicy wine. Match a full bodied Syrah, Brachetto or Valpolicella to add a little spice into your Valentine night!

Caramel Chocolate

A mixture of sweet, salty and bitter, the decadency of caramel chocolate is a fine match for Madeira, Meursalt, Pinot Noir or a sweet sparkling. If you really want to go all out, share a caramel slice with any one of these wines for a special evening treat.

Dark Chocolate and Orange

The candied orange peel flavours in a Madeira will perfectly compliment the orange, sweet and bitter notes of the chocolate. Madeira also has a long shelf life – even after opening, thanks to the heavy oxidisation during the production. Though if you’re after something for a sweet tooth, opt for a sherry to down with the chocolate.

At Grand Cru Wine Fridges, we’re all about innovative experimentation when it comes to wine. Whether you’re pairing wine with chocolate or anything else, you want to make sure it’s served at the correct temperature. Make it a possibility with a wine fridge from us, for all types of homes and installations.