Wine and Chocolate - A Weighty Pair

I am often asked for advice on pairing wine with food. How many of us know, (chocolate is one of the most important groups of food or do we want it was) and the same rules apply.

The basic rule is to meet the "weight" of the chocolate with the weight of the wine. Chocolate is sweet, not rich, a powerful and robust wine is best. How sweet chocolate, sweet wine - a bit more than the chocolate! When the chocolate go lighter (eg, white chocolate)with fresh and spicy white wine.

White chocolate is primarily cocoa butter, but no other cocoa products and has a pantry, smooth taste. Try to find a Moscato d'Asti Spumante from Italy or a sparkling Muscat from France for a great game. The nutty flavor of sherry from Spain goes well with the creamy texture.

Milk chocolate - a medium weight chocolate - has a smooth medium wine. For a good white wine choice, go with a fresh andflavorful Riesling. A slightly sweet, late harvest would be ideal. Our own Oregon Pinot Noir for a smooth and fruity red wine works beautifully. And of course work, Muscat or late harvest wines (specialty dessert wines) very well with milk chocolate.

For dark or bittersweet chocolate, play with great wines with their own hint of chocolate. Powerful and robust Cabernet Sauvignon from California or Washington, and Zinfandels work perfectly with rich, dark chocolate. But do not forget thecuvées big, they come from the USA, Australia, South America, France and Italy, and they can complement the roasted bitterness of chocolate.

I like chocolate combined with fruit and nut flavors. Smooth and fruity wines such as Merlot and rich Zinfandels improving fruit flavors. While ports, Madeira and sherry to taste wonderful, with nutty flavors. There are even specially blended wines of Port and sherry with chocolate with hazelnuts - absolutely heavenly chocolate... or without!

No matter what I always advise people to the wine that they like to drink! If you love Cabernet and want to drink white or milk chocolate, I say "go for it! Life is like too short to drink another wine but not recommended.