Platinum Celebrations
Divine Pairings: Chocolate and Wine
By Mindy Kobrin
Satisfy your sweet tooth and chocoholic cravings by hosting a chocolate tasting fetes this fall. Golden ticket in-hand, corks popped, platters filled with assorted dark chocolates, caramels, milk chocolates and truffles, your guests will be transported to a sophisticated Willy Wonka universe.
Zesty Dark Chocolate Orange Squares
70% Dark Chocolate Orange Squares
Pair with 1997 Livingston Stanley’s Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1997 Livingston Stanley’s Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant and beautifully structured Napa Cab with rich flavors of black currant, cedar, orange tea and integrated oak.
To get your chocolate tasting party started, connoisseurs consider the depth, fragrance, fruitiness, nuttiness, and the origins of fine chocolate just as wine lovers do.
Guests
Invite 8 or 10 felllow chocoholics to indulge in your decadent evening. Add a cute party tag to some chocolate bars detailing the time, place and location and mail them as an edible invitation.
Master Sommelier Pairings
To highlight the relationship between world class chocolate and wine, Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser created these matches for the new Harry London 70% Cocoa chocolates. Tim is Education Chair for the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers and an adjunct professor at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa Valley. He has served on the tasting panels for Bon Appetit magazine and has received numerous Awards of Excellence from Wine Spectator.
Assorted Truffles
Pair with 2004 Chappellet Merlot. Chappellet’s Merlot is a seductive red from one of Napa’s most historic and respected producers. Their 2004 vintage was sourced from the winery’s estate Pritchard Hill vineyards.
Look for ripe cherry/plum fruit with notes of bitter chocolate, dried spices and toasty oak—a combination perfectly suited to the rich dark chocolate flavors and velvety texture of the truffles
70% Dark Chocolate Raspberry Squares
Pair with 2002 Ravenswood Belloni Vineyard Zinfandel, Sonoma County. No one has a better portfolio of old vine Zinfandels than Ravenswood.
Their 2002 Belloni Vineyard is an intensely flavored Zin from 90-year old vines that offers flavors of jammy raspberry, blueberry and coco-spice. The deep fruit and spice notes of the Zin are just the right match for the raspberry top notes in the 70% Dark Chocolate Raspberry Squares.
Milk Chocolate Pralines
Pair with 2002 J Vineyards Sparkling Wine. Chocolate and Champagne is one of the most decadent experiences known to man. And the 2002 “J” is one of the most elegant California sparkling wines to be found with notes of apple blossom, bright citrus and toast flavors. Savor it with the rich flavors of the luscious buttery Milk Chocolate Pralines.
Dark Assorted Truffles
Pair with Swanson 2003 Napa Valley Oakville Estate Red Wine Alexis. Swanson’s Alexis is easily one of the most exotic red wines made in Napa Valley. The 2003 vintage is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with lesser amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah taken from the winery’s Oakville Estate vineyards.
The flavors of exotic black fruits, cocoa powder, and new French oak pair beautifully with the pure dark chocolate essence and silky textures of the assorted Dark Truffles.
Zesty Dark Chocolate Orange Squares
Pair with 1997 Livingston Stanley’s Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1997 Livingston Stanley’s Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant and beautifully structured Napa Cab with rich flavors of black currant, cedar, orange tea and integrated oak.
The bright citrus notes in the wine are a great complement to the orange nuances in the 70% Dark Chocolate Orange Squares.
Buttery Caramels
Pair with 2003 Signorello Estate Cabernet. Signorello’s 2003 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is classic Stag’s Leap district Cabernet with supple cassis-plum fruit and notes of cocoa and herb.
The long and persistent finish is framed by soft tannins and a great partner to the rich, spicy notes and silky texture of the Buttery Caramels.
Assorted Dark Chocolates
Pair with 2003 Mount Veeder Cabernet. Mt. Veeder is home to one of the most unique terroirs in Napa Valley and the Mt. Veeder Cabernets are intensely flavored wines that favor the cellar and are just the right match for artisan chocolate.
The 2003 vintage offers deep blackberry and plum fruit with notes of baking spice, bittersweet chocolate and toasty oak. The intense cocoa notes in the wine form a perfect marriage with the pure dark chocolate notes of the the Assorted Dark Chocolates.
Mindy's Pick
Champagne Truffles by Teuscher invite you to enjoy the lifestyles of the ricn and famous. Made from a top Swiss chocolatier with the finest and all-natural ingredients, Teuscher's truffles are world famous. This chocolatier also boasts some of the most fanciful gift boxes in town. For a stellar host gift, purchase them in their signature little green gift boxes and you'll have a best-friend forever!
We definitely want to hear about your picks and see photos of your chocolate parties, so log in to Celebrations and send them our way!
