As Valentine’s Day approaches, I have a confession: I’ve avoided writing about wine and chocolate pairings in the past, because, frankly, the ones typically presented by wineries, wine bars and restaurants have been boring.
The art of pairing wine with chocolate has become more popular in recent years, with connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike seeking the perfect combinations. Here in Reno, we are lucky to have a place to indulge in world-class pairings: Champagne and Chocolate.
The art of pairing wine with chocolate has become more popular in recent years, with connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike seeking the perfect combinations. Here in Reno, we are lucky to have a place to indulge in world-class pairings: Champagne and Chocolate.
I asked Acosta how his staff members present the pairings. “We’re not your typical snooty place,” he said. “It’s for people who love wine and chocolate, even if they don’t know anything about wine or chocolate. They’re here to have fun. They’re here to experiment. We try to cater it to everyone.”
“We have a lot of (people with) nut and other allergies, and also just different likes,” Acosta said. “So if you say, ‘I love red wines,’ and, ‘I love milk chocolate,’ your pairing is going to consist more of that, and we’re going to curate it just to you and your group, versus you being given one cookie-cutter template.”
Chocolate and wine share many similar flavor compounds, allowing them to enhance and complement each other. Both contain hundreds of different volatile molecules that contribute to their complex taste profiles. When paired correctly, these flavors can create a harmonious balance or provide interesting contrasts. Just as pairing wine with other food has basic rules, so does pairing wine with chocolate. Those rules govern intensity-matching, sweetness balance, texture contrast and flavor harmony.
The key to a successful pairing is matching the intensity of the chocolate with the body of the wine. Lighter chocolates, such as white or milk chocolate, pair well with lighter-bodied wines, while some darker, more-intense chocolates can stand up to fuller-bodied wines. A light red wine would not pair well with an extremely dark chocolate with a lot of bitter components. If they’re paired correctly, neither the chocolate nor the wine overpowers the other.
Sweetness levels play a crucial role as well. This is why sweeter wines often pair well with chocolate—they can complement the sweetness while balancing the bitterness of cocoa.
The creamy, melting texture of chocolate can provide an interesting contrast to the liquid nature of wine. This textural interplay can enhance the overall sensory experience of the pairing. The amount and quality of the milkfat and cocoa butter can have a huge effect on this mouthfeel.
Champagne and Chocolate offers a pairing service for small or large groups in a dedicated room set aside for these types of tastings. I asked Acosta for some tips, and he said the No. 1 thing to ensure you have the highest quality chocolate is to read the ingredients label.
“You want to make sure there is no palm oil or other artificial additives,” he said. “Palm oil is used as an extender to make the chocolate go further, but reduces its quality and hides the pure expression of the chocolate.”
Acosta added that many well-known chocolate producers use these ingredients, so you can’t just trust the name on the package—you need to read the label.
Regarding the level of cacao that should be used in a wine pairing, Acosta said: “If you use any chocolate with over 80% cacao, it will be too bitter for a good pairing, even with a dark red wine, so 60 to 70% is a sweet spot for red wines.”
Acosta said he’s a fan of pairings with milk chocolate. “Any chocolate with less than 50% cacao is milk chocolate and pairs well with light reds. White chocolate can pair well with many white wines, and, of course, our main thing is the champagne side of things. Champagne pairs well with all chocolate, especially those with fruit fillings.”
Whether you are looking to surprise your significant other or create an experience for a group of family or friends, self-guided or expert-guided wine and chocolate pairings can be a great option—just use the best chocolate and wine you can find. Roses are optional.
