Valentine’s Day: Wine and Chocolate
Posted February 11, 2011 5:30 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s a sweet way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the special person in your life – finding that perfect wine and chocolate match.
Not surprisingly, the many different types of chocolate come to life when paired with the right wine, creating a decadent holiday!
Remember the general rule that’s similar to food – lighter food with lighter chocolate and darker wine with darker chocolate. As with wine and food, it’s a general guideline that’s subjective; only you can determine the match that works the best!
Here are some suggested wines to pick up at the LCBO in order to make your Valentine’s day a sweet one. These wines should be easy to find at your local store as they’ve just been released in the Vintages section.
For strong, dark, slightly bitter chocolate – think big! You’re going to want to go for a tannic, big wine like a California Cabernet or an inky Syrah.
Washington does Syrah and Cabs so well:
Dunham Cellars Syrah 2005 LCBO #210716
$44.95 750ml
A local option:
Pillitteri Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 LCBO #349233
$19.95 750ml
For milk chocolate – try a new world Merlot or a sweet dessert wine. Italian Chianti would work as a great contrasting wine with the acidity cutting through the creaminess of the chocolate.
A trusted name in California Merlot from the famous Rutherford region (worth the splurge):
Frog’s Leap Merlot 2007 LCBO # 707489
$44.95
A classy local dessert wine:
Flat Rock Cellars Sweet Revenge Vidal Ice Wine 2007 LCBO #047803
$34.95 375ml
For milk chocolate with caramel – enjoy it with a wine that’s got a lot of oak. Chilean wines are heavily oaked with notes of caramel, making them perfect matches. The bonus – they’re readily available and inexpensive. Think Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Stay away from Carmenere which has an herbal note that, in most cases, will clash.
Tawny Port is also a great choice for caramel, or even with chocolate truffles.
Quinta da Romaneira Fine Tawny Port LCBO #197020
$16.95 750ml
If you love white chocolate, a sweeter sparkling wine would be the best match, like Asti from Italy. An underrated and inexpensive wine is Sherry; it’s light sweetness is refreshing and delicious.
A light Italian sparkler from Piedmont:
La Gironda Brachetto d’Acqui 2009 LCBO #188045
$17.95 750ml
A dark chocolate dessert like a torte needs one thing – Port. If you want great value, Ruby Port and Late Bottle Vintage Ports are great values. For those who want to spend a little more but get something really special, Vintage Port is a great investment.
Delaforce Reserve Port – Non-Vintage LCBO #197012
$15.95 750ml
A great Vintage Port (not a new release)
Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port ’01 LCBO # 45856
$81.35
Have a sweet Valentine’s day!
