Even today, finding the perfect pairing between wine and chocolate can be complicated. Until a few decades ago, the pairing seemed almost impossible: both products offer intense and very different emotions and sensory experiences. It is no coincidence that they are both considered aphrodisiacs, and that they both contain tannins.
Why it is a difficult pairing
The difficulty arises from the fact that the tannins in wine and those in cocoa can clash with each other, while the fats in cocoa butter tend to weigh down the perception of wine on the palate. For this reason, a successful pairing requires attention: the structure, aroma and sweetness of the two products must be in similar proportions.
How to pair wine and chocolate
The general rule is simple: the higher the percentage of cocoa in the chocolate, the higher the alcohol content and body of the wine chosen to accompany it should be. If the chocolate is dark, the wine must also have a bold character. Another fundamental rule concerns the quality of both products: a successful pairing always starts with high-quality ingredients.
Combinations to try
There is no single perfect combination: the best way to discover your favourite pairings is to experiment with different types of chocolate and different wines. White chocolate, made with cocoa butter, sugar, powdered milk and sometimes vanilla, pairs well with a sparkling wine such as Moscato d’Asti or a still sweet wine such as late-harvest Riesling or Ice Wine from Val di Susa. For those who prefer red wine, white chocolate can also be paired with Pinot Noir, Beaujolais or rosé Port.
With dark chocolate, which contains cocoa powder and cocoa butter without milk, you can opt for full-bodied red wines such as Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, or a sweet passito wine or Port. Milk chocolate, or a dessert covered in milk chocolate, pairs well with Pinot Noir, Merlot, Gewürztraminer or late-harvest red wines.
Our suggestion
Do not be afraid to experiment with your own pairings: sometimes the most surprising results come from the least obvious attempts. This Easter, for example, we suggest trying our Valli Ossolane DOC Rosso Vigna Vagna with good dark chocolate, and letting us know what you think.
If you would like to discover other pairings between our wines and local products for yourself, you can book a tasting directly at the winery.
A timeless topic
The pairing of wine and chocolate continues to be the subject of debate among sommeliers and enthusiasts, a sign of how fascinating and never fully resolved this topic remains: it is precisely this openness to interpretation that makes it always interesting to explore, season after season, occasion after occasion.
One final idea: organising a small guided tasting at home, with several types of chocolate and wines to compare, can become a fun and educational way to spend an evening with friends.
Two pleasures, endless combinations to try.
A pairing to experience, not just read about.
Two worlds that, with the right care, come together beautifully.
One final idea: offering a small guided tasting during a dinner with friends remains one of the simplest ways to make an evening memorable.
Two pleasures, endless ways to come together beautifully.
Two pleasures that, with care, always come together beautifully.
Experimenting with wine and chocolate pairings can become part of a broader tasting journey: at our winery, we organise guided tastings in which wines from Val d’Ossola are also presented alongside local confectionery products, for a complete taste experience.
Trying different combinations remains the best way to discover which wine and chocolate pairing you truly prefer.
