How should I organize a tasting of 4 wines paired with 4 chocolates?
Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And don't forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.
Dear Dr. Vinny,
How should I organize a tasting of four wines paired with four chocolates?
—Christine, Asheville, N.C.
Dear Christine,
That’s a good question, because once you taste something sweet, other things can seem bitter in comparison. The good news is that red wine and chocolate (especially on the darker, more concentrated side, in my opinion) can be a seamless match, and going back and forth between the two shouldn't be an issue.
I recommend your guests take a sip of the four wines first before they start pairing them with the chocolates. Whenever I do a food and wine pairing, I also recommend going back and forth between the different foods and wines to compare what works (and what doesn’t).
—Dr. Vinny
