HOLIDAYS
HOLIDAYS
Satisfy your sweet tooth and chocoholic cravings by hosting a chocolate and wine 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.
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.
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!
An all-inclusive list of tasty pairings of chocolates and wine. Try them all and treat your sweet tooth (and sophisticated tastes!) to a wonderful experience.
For more wine pairing tips, try our Perfect Wine Pairings for Picnics and Cheese and Wine Pairings articles.
Assorted Truffles
Pair with 2004 Chappellet Merlot. Chappellet's Merlot is a seductivered from one of Napa's most historic and respected producers. Their2004 vintage was sourced from the winery's estate Pritchard Hillvineyards. Look for ripe cherry/plum fruit with notes of bitter chocolate, driedspices and toasty oak - a combination perfectly suited to the rich darkchocolate flavors and velvety texture of the truffles
70% Dark Chocolate Raspberry Squares
Pair with 2002 Ravenswood Belloni Vineyard Zinfandel, Sonoma County. Noone has a better portfolio of old vine Zinfandels than Ravenswood. Their 2002 Belloni Vineyard is an intensely flavored Zin from 90-yearold vines that offers flavors of jammy raspberry, blueberry andcoco-spice. The deep fruit and spice notes of the Zin are just theright match for the raspberry top notes in the 70% Dark ChocolateRaspberry Squares.
Milk Chocolate Pralines
Pair with 2002 J Vineyards Sparkling Wine. Chocolate and Champagne isone of the most decadent experiences known to man. And the 2002 "J" isone of the most elegant California sparkling wines to be found withnotes of apple blossom, bright citrus and toast flavors. Savor it withthe 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 inNapa Valley. The 2003 vintage is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon withlesser amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah taken from thewinery’s Oakville Estate vineyards. The flavors of exotic black fruits, cocoa powder, and new French oakpair beautifully with the pure dark chocolate essence and silkytextures of the assorted Dark Truffles.
70% Dark Chocolate Orange Squares
Pair with 1997 Livingston Stanley's Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1997Livingston Stanley's Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant and beautifullystructured Napa Cab with rich flavors of black currant, cedar, orangetea 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 EstateCabernet Sauvignon is classic Stag's Leap district Cabernet with supplecassis-plum fruit and notes of cocoa and herb. The long and persistent finish is framed by soft tannins and a greatpartner to the rich, spicy notes and silky texture of the ButteryCaramels.
Assorted Dark Chocolates
Pair with 2003 Mount Veeder Cabernet. Mt. Veeder is home to one of themost unique terroirs in Napa Valley and the Mt. Veeder Cabernets areintensely flavored wines that favor the cellar and are just the rightmatch for artisan chocolate. The 2003 vintage offers deep blackberry and plum fruit with notes ofbaking spice, bittersweet chocolate and toasty oak. The intense cocoanotes in the wine form a perfect marriage with the pure dark chocolatenotes of the the Assorted Dark Chocolates. Mindy's Pick
Pair with 2004 Chappellet Merlot. Chappellet's Merlot is a seductivered from one of Napa's most historic and respected producers. Their2004 vintage was sourced from the winery's estate Pritchard Hillvineyards. Look for ripe cherry/plum fruit with notes of bitter chocolate, driedspices and toasty oak - a combination perfectly suited to the rich darkchocolate flavors and velvety texture of the truffles
70% Dark Chocolate Raspberry Squares
Pair with 2002 Ravenswood Belloni Vineyard Zinfandel, Sonoma County. Noone has a better portfolio of old vine Zinfandels than Ravenswood. Their 2002 Belloni Vineyard is an intensely flavored Zin from 90-yearold vines that offers flavors of jammy raspberry, blueberry andcoco-spice. The deep fruit and spice notes of the Zin are just theright match for the raspberry top notes in the 70% Dark ChocolateRaspberry Squares.
Milk Chocolate Pralines
Pair with 2002 J Vineyards Sparkling Wine. Chocolate and Champagne isone of the most decadent experiences known to man. And the 2002 "J" isone of the most elegant California sparkling wines to be found withnotes of apple blossom, bright citrus and toast flavors. Savor it withthe 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 inNapa Valley. The 2003 vintage is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon withlesser amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah taken from thewinery’s Oakville Estate vineyards. The flavors of exotic black fruits, cocoa powder, and new French oakpair beautifully with the pure dark chocolate essence and silkytextures of the assorted Dark Truffles.
Pair with 1997 Livingston Stanley's Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1997Livingston Stanley's Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant and beautifullystructured Napa Cab with rich flavors of black currant, cedar, orangetea 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 EstateCabernet Sauvignon is classic Stag's Leap district Cabernet with supplecassis-plum fruit and notes of cocoa and herb. The long and persistent finish is framed by soft tannins and a greatpartner to the rich, spicy notes and silky texture of the ButteryCaramels.
Assorted Dark Chocolates
Pair with 2003 Mount Veeder Cabernet. Mt. Veeder is home to one of themost unique terroirs in Napa Valley and the Mt. Veeder Cabernets areintensely flavored wines that favor the cellar and are just the rightmatch for artisan chocolate. The 2003 vintage offers deep blackberry and plum fruit with notes ofbaking spice, bittersweet chocolate and toasty oak. The intense cocoanotes in the wine form a perfect marriage with the pure dark chocolatenotes of the the Assorted Dark Chocolates. Mindy's Pick
Champagne Truffles by Teuscher
invite you to enjoy the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Made from atop Swiss chocolatier with the finest and all-natural ingredients,Teuscher's truffles are world famous. This chocolatier also boasts someof the most fanciful gift boxes in town. For a stellar host gift,purchase them in their signature little green gift boxes and you'llhave a best-friend forever!
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