subject: The Romance Of Chocolate And Wine -- Tips For Pairing Wine And Chocolate [print this page] If you wish to design a great present for someone, then think about chocolate and wine. It is a classic pairing that assures romance. There are several books and articles with opinions on the best pairings for chocolate and wine. When it's done right, both the chocolate and the wine should be flawlessly enhanced, balanced, and complimented.
In some cases, it might be difficult to pair your favored chocolate with a fantastic bottle of wine; however, when you get it right, the results are marvelous. Below, you'll discover some tips and techniques to help you out, but just remember that it is also exciting to experiment.
Start with the choice of an excellent chocolate. It does not matter if you favor dark, white, or milk chocolate because the secret is to have it produced from quality ingredients. There are many stores that specialize in chocolate that is made for pairing with wine. Some of these retail merchants are online, while others are found in your nearby shopping mall.
A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that the darker the chocolate, the darker the wine; but, it is by no means the final word on the topic. Red wines do pair nicely with dark chocolate, especially the red wines that are rich. Look for a dry red wine to pair with rich, dark chocolate.
Merlots and Pinot Noirs are great with either milk or dark chocolates. A terrific Cabernet Sauvignon or red Zinfandel can be exceptional with a high quality dark chocolate. For milk chocolate, there are some great white wines to consider, such as Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, and Rieslings.. Typically, the sweeter the wine, the sweeter the chocolate should be. For white chocolates, dessert wines and sherries are great choices.
If you still are unsure which wine to choose, many of the online stores will have tips for either their chocolate or wine when it pertains to pairings. Many sell gift baskets with wine and chocolate pairings, so that could put the selection into someone else's hands. However, you would likely end up with a great pairing from one of these merchants.
Your choice of wine is as important as your chocolate and be sure to use a wine aerator to highlight the best essence profile of the wine. Aerators for wine are also an excellent choice to put in the gift basket.
Regardless which wine or type of chocolate you choose, the secret is to kick back and appreciate the flavor combo that only chocolate and wine can give. Your chocolate can come in many appearances, too, like decadent desserts, or medallions of the guilty delight. The recipient of your chocolate and wine gift will no doubt be excited at what his or her tastebuds have in store.
As for a closing tip, you could also add some fresh fruit to the gift. Raspberries pair very well with dark chocolate and certainly, strawberries are terrific with milk chocolate. Many people do not like fruit with white chocolate, but you can experiment to see if it becomes one of your favourites.
