With Valentine's Day only a few weeks away, you may want to start planning how you to celebrate with your date. Champagne is perfect for starting off the evening, but after you've wined and dined your way through the main meal, you'll want a little something sweet as a nightcap. A fantastic dessert wine is just what you need, but why not take things to the next level? The answer: chocolate wine. A glass or two of chocolate wine shared with your special someone is a delectable way to end a romantic tête-à-tête for two. After all, there are few things in the world more wonderfully decadent and delicious than wine and chocolate.
What is Chocolate Wine?
While the name says it all, there are a few useful things to know when it comes to this tantalizing elixir. To start, there are a few different styles of chocolate wine. The first is a fortified wine not unlike Port whose main feature is a lovely, dark chocolate covered berries taste. It is carefully crafted by mixing chocolate into the wine. The second style uses red table wine as its base and will be much lower in alcohol than its fortified counterparts. Some chocolate wines also use cream in their recipes. This results in a gorgeous beverage reminiscent of a grown-up milkshake with a texture similar to Bailey's Irish Cream.
To make the wine, makers of chocolate wine use classic grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, and Shiraz. Each of these varieties is famed for making deliciously complex wines. Common tasting notes for chocolate wines include dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and vibrant, juicy berry flavors like black cherry, raspberry, and strawberry. Think liquid Black Forest gateau or sippable chocolate cherry truffles with a lush, velvety texture that seduces with each sip.
Chocolate wine is a relatively new delight, but in the several years since it was first introduced, it has won over many a wine drinker. This unique beverage makes the ideal gift for the wine lover with an insatiable sweet tooth.
Food Pairings for Chocolate Wine
Since it is Valentine's Day, no one would begrudge you if you decide to go all out in your celebrations. If you and your date want to indulge in an extra sweet treat to enjoy alongside a glass of chocolate wine, we have a few suggestions for you.
- Take a cue from the flavors present in the wine and split a chocolate berry ganache cake. It's a tempting combination which few can resist.
- Want to keep things light? Enjoy a few chocolate covered strawberries while you sip from your glass.
- There's nothing like the rich, luxurious taste of chocolate truffles. Play around with different flavors to discover what you and your partner in crime love best.
- Feeling adventurous? Chill a few ounces of chocolate wine in the fridge and pour it over your favorite ice cream. We're partial to coffee but salted caramel, chocolate hazelnut, or blackberry would all be equally stunning.
- Of course, chocolate wine is a dessert all in itself and can be enjoyed on its own as a sensational digestif to end your meal.
Chocolate wines are a superb way to celebrate everyone's best-loved romantic holiday. It's the perfect marriage between two of the most marvelous foods out there. So go ahead and be sure to pick up a bottle of chocolate wine this February the 14th and raise a toast to your beloved with this sumptuous treat. We assure you that it will be a Valentines Day to remember.
Try These Valentine's Day Wines