cocoa & co: pairing wine & champagne with chocolate

Kat Morse Swiss Champagne Ambassador 2013/14 Wiine.Me Wine Academy Director

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5 Tips for Pairing

Type of chocolate + type of wine?

Tasting of chocolate & wine!

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What do wine and chocolate have in

common?

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©dramafever  

Fruity, Floral, Spicy, Herbaceous, Nutty…

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WHY?!

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WHY?!

+  

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WHY?!

+  

=  www.wiine.me - hello@wiine.me    

So why doesn’t Chocolate + Wine work?

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So why doesn’t Chocolate + Wine work?

•  Sweetness (chocolate) makes wine taste sour

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So why doesn’t Chocolate + Wine work?

•  Sweetness (chocolate) makes wine taste sour

•  Bitterness in wine (tannin) + Bitterness in chocolate (tannin)

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So why doesn’t Chocolate + Wine work?

•  Sweetness (chocolate) makes wine taste sour

•  Bitterness in wine (tannin) + Bitterness in chocolate (tannin)

•  Wine and Chocolate can both be Bitter, Astringent, and Sour

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How to pair chocolate and wine

TIP # 1

Pick a wine that is slightly sweeter than the chocolate

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How to pair chocolate and wine

TIP # 1

Pick a wine that is slightly sweeter than the chocolate

Port, Madeira, Pedro Ximénez Sherry,

Moscato d’Asti, Banyuls

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How to pair chocolate and wine

TIP # 2

Match intensity with intensity

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How to pair chocolate and wine

TIP # 2

Match intensity with intensity

Lighter wine with lighter chocolate

Dark chocolate with Australian Shiraz

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How to pair chocolate and wine

TIP # 2

Match intensity with intensity

Lighter wine with lighter chocolate

Dark chocolate with Australian Shiraz

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How to pair chocolate and wine

TIP # 3

Taste from lightest chocolate & wine to heaviest chocolate & wine

Like a wine tasting

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White Chocolate

Buttery & mellow

Moscato d’Asti

Sherry

Wine with fruity notes

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White Chocolate

Buttery & mellow

Moscato d’Asti

Sherry

Wine with fruity notes

Madeira!  

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Milk Chocolate

Smoothness

Pinot Noir

Merlot

Dessert Wines

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Milk Chocolate

Smoothness

Pinot Noir

Merlot

Dessert Wines Champagne!  

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Dark Chocolate

Intensity

Zinfandel

Cabernet Sauvignon

Port

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Dark Chocolate

Intensity

Zinfandel

Cabernet Sauvignon

Port

Stay away from too much tannin!

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Cacoa Powder

Cocoa has the same character as dark

chocolate, but more intense

Will increase the feeling of tannin

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Cacoa Powder

Cocoa has the same character as dark

chocolate, but more intense

Will increase the feeling of tannin

Follow the same guidelines as dark!

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The higher the cocoa content, the sharper the taste

How to pair chocolate and wine

TIP # 4

How dark can you go?

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Lower than 70% - young fruity wine. New world wines, warm climate wines

Higher than 70% - Port or heavier wines. Can stand up to full bodied wines

How to pair chocolate and wine

TIP # 4

How dark can you go?

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Caramel + Chocolate

Sweet, salt, fat, bitter

Compliment or Contrast

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Caramel + Chocolate

Sweet, salt, fat, bitter

Compliment or Contrast

Compliment: Sherry, Maderia, Tawny Port

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Caramel + Chocolate

Sweet, salt, fat, bitter

Compliment or Contrast

Compliment: Sherry, Maderia, Tawny Port

Contrast: Sweet sparkling wine

(Champagne or Asti)

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How to pair chocolate and wine

TIP # 5

Add it to the main dish!

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How to pair chocolate and wine

TIP # 5

Add it to the main dish!

Add cocoa powder to a steak rub or chocolate in a savory sauce.

Here you can serve a dry (non-sweet) wine!

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How to pair chocolate and Champagne

Champagne is acidic & a bit

bitter…

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How to pair chocolate and Champagne

Champagne is acidic & a bit

bitter…

which it why it pairs AMAZINGLY with most food

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How to pair chocolate and Champagne

Pick a Champagne with a bit of

Sweetness

Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-sec, or Doux

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Sweetness of Champagne

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Most Important Tip!!!

Drink what you like with what you like to eat!  

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