Find out which chocolate and wine pairing you should celebrate with this Valentine’s Day!
With so many delicious options available, it can be a daunting task to choose the perfect wine to pair with chocolate for Valentine’s Day. We’ve put together a variety of different pairing options to help you select a pairing that will suit you and your sweetheart on the most romantic day of the year! So, which wine and chocolate pairing are you?
The Traditionalist: Merlot + Dark Chocolate
There’s a reason that merlot and dark chocolate are a standard go-to pairing, it’s nearly fool-proof and satisfies every time. Our velvety 2017 Ferrari-Carano Merlot has a rich, medium body with a complex nose of maple, cinnamon and black cherry. It boasts an enticing mouthfeel with notes of dark fruit like black plum compote, boysenberry, and vanilla. Each of these flavors pairs incredibly well with dark chocolate, taking some bitterness out of the chocolate and mellowing the sweetness and fruit flavors from the wine. This is a pairing you’ll want to return to any time of the year.
The Sophisticate: Bordeaux + Semi-Dark Chocolate
First up is a classic pairing of our 2015 Ferrari-Carano Trésor with semi-dark chocolate. Trésor is an elegant Bordeaux-style red blend of five classic Bordeaux varietals- cabernet sauvignon, malbec, petit verdot, merlot and cabernet franc. With a score of 93 points from Wine Spectator, this wine is sure to impress even the most discerning Valentines. Pair this with semi-dark chocolate to balance out the vibrant aromas of dried blueberries and dark plum and enhance the notes of chocolate and toffee. This pairing is a match made in Valentine heaven.
The New Classic: Chardonnay + White Chocolate
A wine and chocolate pairing isn’t only reserved for reds–chardonnay and white chocolate is the sleeper pairing that you didn’t know you’d love. Our 2018 Ferrari-Carano Sonoma County Chardonnay is delightfully bright with aromas of citrus, white peach, orange blossom, vanilla and graham cracker to transport you right out of a cold February day. The sweetness of white chocolate is balanced by this wine’s refreshing minerality and vibrant flavors of Meyer lemon, cinnamon and pears. The white chocolate will highlight the butteriness of the wine and bring out those vanilla and cinnamon notes. You’ll almost be convinced that it’s spring.
The Playful Pair: Pinot Grigio + Citrus-Coated Chocolate
This bright pairing is sure to bring an element of whimsy and fun to your Valentine’s Day. Our 2019 Ferrari-Carano Russian River Valley Pinot Grigio is a crisp, clean, refreshing wine with aromas and flavors of lemon, lychee, orange blossom, white peaches, green apple and notes of tropical fruit. This light wine pairs nicely with chocolate with bright citrus like orange or lemon which enhances the citrus and tropical flavors in the wine without overpowering the chocolate. The fresh fruit elements of this pairing are sure to make your Valentine’s Day lighthearted and playful.
The Indulgent : Dessert Wine + Flourless Chocolate Cake
If you’re going to go for it, go for it! This is a sinfully decadent pairing of the Ferrari-Carano Baci Dessert Wine and flourless chocolate cake that will put you in the mood for romance. Baci is made from our estate zinfandel and is an explosion of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa, malt balls, blueberry truffle and English toffee. Pairing this wine with a rich flourless chocolate cake is perfect for any true chocolate lover. This wine will allow all of the expressions of chocolate to burst through on your palate. The wine’s fruit flavors of sweet cherry cordials and blackberry jam will lend a nice balance. There’s a reason the label sports a pair of ruby red lips– this is a pairing that you and your valentine won’t soon forget.
The Chocolate Adverse: Gold Dessert Wine
It seems impossible, but not everyone likes chocolate. If your valentine is one of the few, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Ferrari-Carano Eldorado Gold Dessert Wine is an amazing Valentine’s treat all on its own. This liquid gold boasts enticing aromas of apricot, papaya, orange blossom and brown sugar, followed by lush flavors of nutmeg, crème brûlée, peach, honey and vanilla. Of course, you could always pair this wine with light fruit desserts, a lemon dessert or almond cookies. Buttery pound cake with berries, crème brûlée, caramel sauce or aged cheeses also pairs nicely with this wonderful dessert wine.
So whether you’re looking for a classic chocolate and wine pairing with red wine and dark chocolate or a fun pairing of white wine and white chocolate, or are looking to forgo the chocolate altogether, Ferrari-Carrano has you covered. Stop by our tasting room in Dry Creek Valley to pick up your wines or purchase them online here.
