Valentine's Day Wine: What Wine Pairs With Chocolate?
Valentine's Day conjures up images of wine, roses, and chocolates. Yet every year young and old lovers alike are disappointed when they try to pair a Valentine's Day wine with chocolate. Either the chocolate overcomes the wine or the wine overcomes the chocolate. In the spirit of the holiday, IntoWine.com asked a panel of wine experts their thoughts on what romantic wine pairs well with Valentine's Day chocolate:
The perfect bottle for such a sweet occasion is Louis Guntrum's Scheurebe. Not only is it a very good white wine but it comes in the quintessentially perfect Valentine presentation of a bright red bottle! The Scheurebe grape is similar in character to Riesling but perhaps more food friendly. It is the right price at $16.99 to gift along with a lovely box of chocolates [my favorite valentine's chocolate purveyor being www.cocoabella.com]. Buy Louis Guntrum WinesSo, not only does this wine go well with a lovely dinner but it has enough richness but a dry enough finish to pair well with chocolate! This bottle should be on every table of every restaurant on Valentine's day. It brightens up the room and puts a warm smile on every face that sees it. - Bartholomew Broadbent, CEO, Broadbent Selections, San Francisco.
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Buy Chapoutier BanyulsBanyuls. My recommendation is Chapoutier Banyuls (approx $24). Banyuls is France’s spicier answer to Port. Made in a similar style from the Grenache grape, it is considered by many an enthusiast as the quintessential wine to pair with chocolate. - - Efrain Madrigal, Wine Director, Sam’s Wines & Spirits, Chicago, Highland Park and Downer’s Grove, Illinois
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Buy Chateau Calon Segur, St. EstepheA red, Bordeaux blend.My recommendation is the 2004 Chateau Calon Segur, St-Estèphe (approximately $40). If Champagne is not your cup of tea, this wine is a must for Valentines Day. The big, red heart on the label says what the Marquis de Segur said 200 years ago, "I own Chateau Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon Segur." 90 points Wine Spectator: "Intense aromas of currant bush and berries that turn to roses. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a floral, leafy and fruity aftertaste." - Clyde Beffa Jr., Owner and Bordeaux Buyer, K&L Wine Merchants
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Buy Degiorgis MoscatoMoscato d'Asti. My recommendation is the Sergio Degiorgis Moscato d'Asti (approx $16). Moscato d'Asti is bubbly, low in alcohol, lightly rather than intensely sweet, and immensely refreshing. It also goes well with almost every dessert, including chocolate. I have trouble imagining a sexier beverage to share with my sweety! - Mark Middlebrook, Paul Marcus Wines, Oakland, California
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Buy D'Arenberg Peppermint PaddockI think a juicy, sweet, red wine without excessive oak or tannic influence will pair best. My recommendation is the NV D'Arenberg "Peppermint Paddock," Sparkling Chambourcin, McLaren Vale (approximately $20). This intensely purple sparkling red is the perfect accompaniment to chocolate, with its rich aromatics of violets, blueberries and kirsch. A slight sparkle provides a nice complement to the richness of the chocolate, too. - Mulan Chan, Rhône and French Regional Buyer, K&L Wine Merchants
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Buy Quinta do Noval Tawny PortQuinta Do Noval Tawny Reserve Port D.O.C. Douro, Portugal (approx $20): Full-bodied with aromas of almonds, hazelnut and caramel. Score: 88/100. - Natalie MacLean, author of the best selling book Red, White and Drunk All Over, offers a free e-newsletter at www.nataliemaclean.com.
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I wish I were a believer in chocolate and wine matching, but after countless attempts I am still a non-believer (except, maybe, for Pedro Ximenez Sherry). I think the perfect wine for Valentine's Day is sparkling wine. Prosecco is a wonderful choice, more delicate than Champagne, less expensive and generally more palatable for novice drinkers. - Greg St. Clair, Italian Buyer, K&L Wine Merchants
There is currently a raging debate as to the validity of what an “influencer” is. Who are the most influential wine people in the United States, and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does an influential mean a person who moves markets, impacts consumers, inspires winemakers, forms policy,...
Our 2013 iteration of this list is intended as a source of education and discussion. The making of this list is never an easy process. Who are the most influential wine people in the United States, and how exactly do you define ‘influential?’ Does influential mean people who move markets, impact consumers, inspire winemakers, form policy, and create debate? Yes. Though some decry the consolidation of the wine industry (and that is an issue worth considering) we are not trying to suggest who is “good” or “bad” within America’s wine industry. We merely define the Top 100 people, from winemakers to law makers, bankers to bloggers, and sommeliers to celebrities who influence wine; how it is made, marketed, perceived, sold, shipped, purchased, shared and consumed. As was true in 2012, we sought help to assemble this list people from a diverse group of people and we are grateful for their input. And we chose to release it today, January 29th, as it was on this day in 1919 when the pathetic policy of Prohibition was ratified; the effects of this lunatic legislation still evident in our country’s inability to ship and sell wine across state lines. We honor winemakers, wine drinkers and wine lovers of every conceivable demographic. Use this list, comment on it, share it with everyone, learn from it, and continue your joy of being IntoWine.
Women have played a role throughout wine history, but many gained status through husbands or fathers. Since the 1960s, the number of women making their way into the industry on their own merit has greatly increased. Even without prominent family ties, women have become winemakers, winery owners, grape growers, researchers, writers, managers, sommeliers, educators . . . in fact, experts in all areas of the business.
In my last article, I listed the Top 75 French Wines to Try Before You Quit Drinking . In this article I look at the “non-dump bucket” list for wines from California. This proved to be a different task. First, very few wineries have a long track record of making great wine. Secondly, while California is diverse, it does not have the diversity of climates and terroir and grape varietals of France. Still, it does produce some of the best wines in the world and any wine lover should make it a point to try as many of them as they can. Here is my list: 1. Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon – It’s hard to pick the first wine. This one is a great wine in every vintage and has been for a long time. Expensive but still possible to afford and made in large enough quantities to be found in grocery stores. Every lover of Cabernet should try this once.
It’s that time again. As the end of the year draws near, it is natural to look back over the past year. That includes considering the wines enjoyed this past year. Drinking wine involves so many qualities. What we drank, who we drank wine with and when we drank them. The “best” wines aren’t always...
