Chocolate and Red Wine a Delicious Duo for Valentine's Day

SONOMA VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Fine chocolate is a Valentine's Day tradition. So too is fine wine. Savoring these Valentine's Day favorites together can be sheer bliss when the two are well-matched; the secret is that chocolate often pairs best with red wine. Whether your Valentine's Day plans include a party with friends or a romantic evening for two, these suggestions from Kenwood Vineyards will make matching chocolate and red wine a snap.

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As with other food and wine pairings, the best matches happen when the chocolate and red wine resemble one another both stylistically and texturally. Hence, a dense, rich bittersweet chocolate pairs best with a bold, concentrated red wine, like Kenwood Vineyards Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel, and a light, elegant milk chocolate pairs best with a generous, smooth red, like Kenwood Vineyards Sonoma County Merlot or Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Keep in mind that the darker, more intensely flavored and less sweet the chocolate, the easier it is to achieve a great match; a very sweet chocolate dessert can accentuate the tannins in red wine and cause it to taste harsh.  

The following chart provides some guidance.

Doubts about which red wine to choose? Then experiment by having a chocolate and red wine tasting! Select two of the wines above (or three for a party) and taste them with the dessert, moving from the lightest red to the boldest. No keeping score – simply taste, discuss and have fun.  

Two last details on pairing chocolate and red wine. Red wine shows its aromas, flavors, texture and balance to best advantage when served at just below room temperature; approximately 65 degrees. To serve it too warm or too cold would be a disservice to both the wine and the chocolate. Also, some may have noticed that white chocolate and white chocolate desserts are not listed. Because white chocolate contains no cocoa solids, it doesn't pair well with red wine, so the best bet with white chocolate is an easy-drinking white wine like Kenwood Vineyards Sonoma County Chardonnay or Gewurztraminer.

Established in 1970 in the Sonoma Valley, Kenwood Vineyards produces premium wines that express the exceptional quality and character of Sonoma County vineyards.

Savor the taste and enjoy responsibly.

SOURCE Kenwood Vineyards