The growing popularity of red wine and chocolate pairings has been a northwest tradition in Washington State for years, where Red Wine & Chocolate has become an annual event celebrated on weekends in February, from the Yakima Valley to Wenatchee to Lake Chelan Valley.
Red Wine & Chocolate events can also be found on the Olympic Peninsula, Spokane, Columbia Cascades, and Bainbridge Island. Whichever event you choose, wine tasting from premier and boutique wineries with gourmet chocolates, hors d’oeuvres and memorable experiences will greet you.
If you’ve ever wondered how to best pair wine with chocolate, you probably know it can be a bit tricky. To assist our readers, the winemaking experts of the Yakima Valley have offered us 7 valuable pairing techniques. They know their wines intimately and have been concocting the perfect pairings since the first grapes were crushed. Here are their experienced recommendations:
1). Beginners luck – The easiest method for a successful pairing is to select chocolates that contain berries, dried fruit or nuts.
2). Let it melt – Taste the chocolate and allow it to melt on your tongue just prior to sipping wine.
3). Tannins don’t mix – Avoid wines and chocolates that are overly tannic in nature, which compete with each other and result in a muddled and flat combination.
4). Salted combinations – Buttery or sweet whites pair exceptionally well with salted milk chocolate.
5). Savory and smooth – Wines with savory notes, such as smoke, wood or meaty qualities, are outstanding when paired with chocolate with a smooth texture and similar savory notes, such as leather, cheese or smoke.
6). Bold similarities – Bold, full-bodied wines pair very well with chocolates that are hearty and rustic in texture with a similarly pronounced flavor.
7). Two of a kind – Wines or chocolate with similarly distinct notes, such as black pepper, can be mutually enhanced when paired together.