Tempt Tastebuds With North Carolina Wine and Chocolate Pairings
Sample N.C. wines while nibbling chocolate delights; pick your perfect combination or go to VisitNCwine.com to experience a winery near you.
Raleigh, N.C. - Harness the power of wine and chocolate. NC grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc can make a lovely complement to chocolate while spurring the local economy.
Margo Metzger, executive director of the NC Wine & Grape Council, shares her wisdom on pairing North Carolina wine with chocolate. “There are no rules in wine and chocolate, but I have a few morsels of advice to point you in the right direction,” Margo says. “It’s all about complementary flavors when you’re searching for wine and chocolate soul mates.”
Tips from Margo:
- Match lighter-bodied wines with lighter-flavored chocolates. Stronger chocolates require a bolder, fuller-bodied wine.
- For a classic pairing, try a fruit-forward, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon matched with very dark chocolate. The traditional flavors found in Cabernet, like cassis and plum, will harmonize with the bittersweet, roasted quality of the dark chocolate. If you can find dark chocolate with bits of raspberries or sour cherries, all the better! (Promising Pairing: Childress Cabernet Sauvignon)
- If you prefer milk chocolate, couple it with a lighter style red wine like Cabernet Franc. (Promising Pairing: Rockhouse Cabernet Franc)
- Delicate fruit flavors in wine balance nicely with the sweeter, creamier taste of milk chocolate. For extra points from a loved one, dip strawberries into melted milk chocolate, and pair it with your favorite sparkling wine. (Promising Pairing: Biltmore Château Reserve Méthode Champenoise Blanc de Blancs or McRitchie Sparkling Niagara)
- Port-style dessert wines pair well with both dark and milk chocolates. (Promising Pairing: Shelton Port or Childress Starbound)
Or if you are more of a white chocolate fan, try pairing it with a rich, buttery Chardonnay. (Promising Pairing: Westbend Chardonnay or RagApple Lassie Chardonnay) - Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment. Purchase various chocolate bars and a few bottles of North Carolina wine and create your own mini-tasting panel. A few of the pairings may clash; but with all of the possible combinations, you’re sure to find at least a few matches made in heaven.
For more suggestions contact Margo Metzger at mmetzger@nccommerce.com or visit www.VisitNCwine.com to find the winery in your area for tastings, tours and more. You can also go to VisitNC.com and click on the “wineries and vineyards” journey for additional stories and itineraries.
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Contact:
Susan Dosier
704-953-9408
sdosier@visitnc.com
Margo Knight Metzger
919-715-9463
mmetzger@nccommerce.com
