At this time of the year, you can’t beat a good night in front of the telly. One way to make the latest box set a bit more enjoyable is to crack open a bottle of wine. And if you are looking to double up on the enjoyment, choosing chocolate to accompany your drink might just do the trick.
The traditional view is that, to get the most from that combination, the wine should be sweeter than the chocolate. If this isn’t the case, the wine will have a bitter taste as it follows the cocoa hit. For this reason, the wine should be fruity with some natural sweetness.
That applies whether it’s a bar of your favourite chocolate, a gooey dessert or a slab of cake. When it comes to matching the two, the best pairing for different grape varieties will depend on the amount of cocoa in the chocolate.
As with the wine, the choice of chocolate is an individual thing, and there are many different ways of weighing up one against the other – for example, you can expect good quality chocolate to taste better than the own-label bars at your local supermarket. And then there is the amount of cocoa, the fruit or nuts in the bar, and the mood you’re in.
So, choosing your sweet fix can be just as complex a decision as selecting the wine you plan to drink with it. But, keeping it simple, here are our thoughts on marrying the two.
White chocolate
Not strictly speaking chocolate given the absence of cocoa, but for some sweet-toothed fans, it’s a perfect fix for a night in. In our view, a great accompaniment is Muscat, or we can also recommend a Gamay/Pinot Noir blend if your preference is for red.
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Rivesaltes Ambré Hors d'Age 50cl, Domaine Lafage, Roussillon, France NV
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Gamay Pinot Noir de Touraine, Domaine de la Rochette, Loire, France 2016
Milk chocolate
A low to medium cocoa level goes best with something such as a well-balanced German Riesling if white is your thing, or a fresh and fruity Tempranillo if it’s red you’re after.
Dark chocolate
An aromatic Gewürztraminer for the white wine drinkers or something a little more intense, such as a Malbec, for those who tend to choose red.
There is just as much debate about eating chocolate and the best way to maximise your enjoyment, as there is about wine. The common view is that you’ll get the best balance if you take a sip of the wine, then nibble the chocolate and let it melt in your mouth. Then take another sip of the wine. If you get it right, the combination will be delicious.
And your night watching the box will be doubly delightful.
