By David Setley
Valentine’s Day is around the corner. It’s a prime opportunity to show your significant other how much you care. For my wife and I, Valentine’s plans are pretty simple: a nice meal, wine (of course), and something sweet. Chocolates are top of mind for most as the quintessential Valentine’s gift, with or without the frilly, heart-shaped box. Read on for a few recommendations of wines that pair well with various chocolates.
If dark chocolate is in your shopping cart, the classic option is to pair it with a Port wine from the Douro Valley of Portugal. Port wine is a fortified wine, meaning it is wine that contains a distilled spirit, such as brandy. Port wine has been produced in and around Porto, Portugal since the Roman Empire. The first Port Wine House — that is still in existence today, I might add — was established in 1638 by a German named Christiano Kopke. Port wine is made from the same indigenous grapes of Portugal that many of the red wines from the Douro and Dao wine regions are made of, including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão, Tinta Francisca and others. Port wine begins production similarly to any other red wine. However, when an alcohol level of approximately 5-6% and a high residual sugar content is reached, the wine is refrigerated as a means of stopping the fermentation process. At this point, the 40% alcohol distilled spirit is added, resulting in a rich, relatively sweet, high alcohol (approximately 20%), dessert wine. Consider the Niepoort- Ruby or Tawny Port. This fortified wine is full-bodied and rich, with notes of black fruit and cherries. They are both an outstanding compliment to dark chocolate and won’t break the bank.
If you prefer a non-fortified wine, a Petite Sirah from California would work nicely with dark chocolate as well. I highly recommend the J. Lohr Tower Road Petite Sirah from Paso Robles. This wonderful dry red wine has an outstanding dark fruit flavor that pairs with dark chocolate perfectly. In my opinion, Petite Sirah is a varietal that California produces better than any other wine region. Valentine’s Day is a great time to give it a try, especially with dark chocolate! My top pick is the Adega Cartuxa – Evora Tinto Reserva 2017 from the Alentejo region of Portugal. If you have read some of my previous articles, you may recall my discussions of Alicante Bouschet, the principal grape in this wine. It is a very rare teinturier grape that has red, not white, flesh under the skin. The red wine produced from this grape is bold and dry with well-structured and velvety tannins. Aging in Burgundy-style French oak barrels for 18 months imparts this wine with notable tones of vanilla and baking spices. Delicious!
If milk chocolate is more to your (or your significant other’s) liking, no worries. I have two great Italian options that will make your mate say, “Sii il mio San Valentino.” First, Carpineto Dogajolo Rosso, a Tuscan Sangiovese red wine, pairs very well with milk chocolate, as well as with pizza or charcuterie. This is a great choice if you and your partner prefer a full-flavored, dry red wine with a lighter body. On the other hand, if fuller-bodied wines are your preference, I recommend the il Bruno dei Vespa Primitivo from Salento, Italy. Primitivo is the grape varietal known as Zinfandel in California. Primitivo represents the Old World version. Therefore, it is a bit more restrained than its New World sibling. Thus, Primitivo shares the stage with milk chocolate very well. The flavor profile has notes of raspberry and vanilla, creating a match that is reminiscent of chocolate-covered cherries. I am confident either of these wines would delight your Valentine.
For those of you whose valentines prefer white chocolate, I have a white, a red, and a rosé option for you. For a white wine, I recommend the Ratzenberger – Bacharacher Riesling Kabinett, from Mittelrhein, Germany. It is a wonderful off-dry Riesling with outstanding minerality and a light tropical palate that pairs incredibly well with white chocolate. For a red wine, my recommendation comes from the Beaujolais region of France, the home of one of the more misunderstood grape varietals in the world: gamay. Gamay is an excellent dry, lighter-bodied wine with a light red fruit flavor that pairs beautifully with white chocolate. The palate is raspberries and cherries, which work wonderfully with this sweet. I recommend the Jean-Paul Brun L’Ancien Beaujolais, Vielles Vignes. Or, you could choose the Esprit Du Lac, a Greek rosé wine made from the Xinomavro grape. This wine has light flavor notes of strawberry and peach. If I were asked to bring a wine that pairs with a white chocolate dessert, this rosé would be my top selection.
The chocolate choices you and your significant other have are limitless. I hope this article has shown you that your wine choices are as well. Contact me with any questions or comments at dsetley@passionvines.com, or stop into the Somers Point store. Until next time, happy wining, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
David Setley is enjoying his retirement from higher education as a wine educator and certified sommelier at Passion Vines in Somers Point, New Jersey.
