ReadingFashionably: Delicious Taste of Words

May 7, 2011 by Carmen Shelton

Via... The ebook 'Raw Chocolate & Wine'

If you drink nothing but water
You'll never write anything wise; For wine is the horse of Parnassus That hurries the bard to the skies."

- Lord Byron

Chocolate and wine are the lovers' ultimate redeeming feature. These decadent, divine creations nurture a new love or soothe a broken heart, a ‘coeur brisé.’

As with any courtship, the relationship of chocolate and wine can be difficult at times. The chocolate rules and will only tolerate a courtship that will go his way!

What wine do I match with chocolate?

A sensual white 'moelleux' wine or a sumptuous red nutured in oak barrels? It is subjective to each lover’s sense of smell and taste. You need to have an innovative spirit and taste a selection of wines to find the one most
accommodating to your own preferences.

A good rule of thumb is to select a wine that is sweeter than the food. The wine should incite a sweet passionate 'frisson' with the chocolate, emulating a lovers' tiff in the offing perhaps? The rule can be broken if there is a minimum of 75% cacao content in the chocolate: a marriage may then be consented with red wine.

How to taste wine and chocolate?

Observe, then smell the aroma, and finally taste. Start by tasting a piece of chocolate and then follow with the wine. Neither chocolate nor wine should really dominate the other.

These 'Demeter' certified biodynamic Alsace wines , suggested with raw organic chocolates from Ecuador, are from my personal selection:

Gewurtztraminer 2008 Grand Cru Steinert Vendange Tardive (Pierre Frick) with Curried Raw Chocolate Truffles
Sylvaner 2007 Bergweingarten Moelleux (Pierre Frick) with Mulberry Clusters Raw Chocolates
Pinot Gris 2009 Grand Cru Vorbourg (Pierre Frick) with Raw Chocolate Truffles
Gewurztraminer Selection de Grains Nobles 1995 (Domaine Josmeyer) with Mexican-Spice Raw Chocolates
Pinot Gris Selection de Grains Nobles 1995 (Domaine Josmeyer) with Hazelnut Praline Raw Chocolates

Other French wines recommended with chocolates are Rivesaltes, Gevrey Chambertin, Cotes du Jura, Vin Jaune du Jura, Sancerre, Muscat Vendages Tardives, St Emilion Grand Cru ....the list is extensive.

Porto is a fortified red wine to which is added alcohol. This has the effect of stopping the fermentation process. This process is named 'mutage.' These wines are then matured in barrels to create vintage ports; an ideal match for chocolate.

France has the nearest type of port in the form of the Maury, matured in 'bonbonnes de verre' (glass demi-Johns) which are then placed in the sun for one year. Other types are the Banyuls, the Rasteau and the Maydie. These fortified wines including Ratafia de Champagne are not strictly "raw" wines because a spirit has been added. An exception must be made in this instance as they are too perfect to be shunted aside.

Which combinations of chocolate and wine have a ‘rocky’ courtship?

Vins verts (young green wines) such as Sauvignon and Muscadet do not like to share a bed with chocolate. Neither do ‘mineral wines’ such as Rieslings.

How do you define a 'crime de passion' ? When the chocolate aims to kill the champagne! Contrary to general belief do not drink champagne with chocolate. It means anything with bubbles does not marry well with champagne. Ratafia de Champagne may be an exception to the rule.

RataChoco ( Exclusive private collector's ratafia from Champagne, France) no sulfites with Orange-Zest Raw Chocolates (www.tarlant.com)

Let not your ‘chagrin d’amour’ overcast your longing for champagne and chocolate. Broken hearted, deserted lovers, in this instance, you may break the rule!

The sweet wines such as Sauternes or Monbazillac are fine with fruit-based desserts, but they are not too happy when meeting their blind date, chocolate.

Bonne dégustation et joie de vivre.