{"id":13212,"date":"2021-02-13T11:11:54","date_gmt":"2021-02-13T16:11:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.winetraveler.com\/?p=13212"},"modified":"2022-07-17T18:20:28","modified_gmt":"2022-07-17T22:20:28","slug":"wine-and-dessert-pairings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winetraveler.com\/wine-pairing\/wine-and-dessert-pairings\/","title":{"rendered":"Pros Share Wine and Dessert Pairing Ideas for Valentine\u2019s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Industry experts offer suggestions regarding their favorite wine and dessert pairings for an at-home Valentine\u2019s Day celebration.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Valentine\u2019s Day comes but once a year\u2014a perfect evening to spend with a friend or loved one. It\u2019s also an opportunity to marry two very ideal things together: wine and dessert. While it may seem daunting to execute a restaurant-quality wine and dessert pairing at home, we\u2019ve tapped some top food and beverage experts to share their trade secrets on how to make a memorable tasting experience happen in the comfort of your own home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep it Simple<\/b><\/h2>\n
\"Dino<\/a>
Dino Altomare of Nytimber.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Keep it simple should serve as the mantra. Remember the goal is to enjoy and have fun. \u201c<\/span>Simply think ‘complementary versus congruent\u2019,\u201d said Dino Altomare, Export\/Sales Manager for the Americas for <\/span>Nyetimber<\/span><\/a>. \u201cIf you’ve got a super sweet dessert, try to find a wine that matches the intensity of that food, both in profile and in sweetness, so that no one element overpowers the other,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A sommelier\u2019s dirty little secret is that pairing chocolate and wine together is actually quite tough. To make it an easier fete, <\/span>try pairing two ideas at once like sweetness and bubbles, preferably\u00a0of the red variety, suggested Altomare.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBrachetto d’Acqui is a great choice for this. This slightly sweet wine from Piedmont will match the sweetness of the chocolate while the bubbles help cleanse the palate. Meanwhile, the more tannic structure lent by the red grapes that make this wine will hold up nicely to the bite of more bitter dark chocolate,\u201d said Altomare.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Additional Recommendations from Dino:<\/strong> \u201cI am generally drawn towards cookies more than cakes, so a classic pairing like a good crunchy biscotto with Italian dessert wine is my go-to. If you’re in Tuscany<\/a>, the hazelnut and caramel flavors in Vin Santo just marry beautifully with cantucci traditionally made with almonds or hazelnuts. It’s also fun to find some lesser known dessert wines like Late Harvest Moscadello also from Tuscany, or a Recioto di Soave or (della) Valpolicella from the Veneto, paired with the regional biscotti called Sbreghe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Ursula<\/a>
Ursula XVII sala-Illa of The Harvest Inn and Disset Chocolate.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ursula XVII sala-Illa, Co-Owner of <\/span>The Harvest Inn<\/span><\/a> and Owner of <\/span>Disset Chocolate<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>has rolled out a <\/span>Valentine\u2019s Day box<\/span><\/a> of chocolate bon bons with avant-garde flavor combinations. Each chocolate can be paired with a different wine, or you can pair the entire box with a nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, suggests sala-Illa. Each chocolate in the box set has a distinct flavor\u2014salted caramel heart, raspberry rose, coconut, strawberry black pepper, white chocolate and flowers and sparkling rose pate de fruit made from <\/span>Sparkling Pointe<\/span><\/a> cuv\u00e9e.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Sarah<\/a>
Sarah Tracy of The Lush Life.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sarah Tracey, Sommelier and Founder of <\/span>The Lush Life<\/span><\/a>, suggests finding a wine that is sweeter than the chocolate itself, otherwise the wine can enhance the bitterness of the chocolate, leaving a metallic or sour taste. \u201cI love Ruby Port<\/strong><\/a> because it’s bold enough to balance a rich chocolate dish but it’s sweet enough to always be complementary,\u201d she explained.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Wine<\/a>
Marissa Sannino of Sannino Vineyards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If doughnuts are more appealing than chocolate, Sannino Vineyards<\/a><\/strong> based in the North Fork of Long Island teams up with local <\/span>North Fork Doughnut<\/span><\/a> Company to do <\/span>in-house tastings with custom made doughnuts<\/span><\/a> to pair specifically with their wines. But for those celebrating at home this year, Marisa Sannino, Director of Operations for <\/span>Sannino Vineyard<\/span><\/a>, offers a few of her favorites to try.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>Our all-time favorite wine and chocolate pairing is our Bianca Dolce Ros\u00e9 of Merlot paired with white chocolate. Another delicious one is our Petit Verdot<\/a><\/strong><\/span> with Chili dark chocolate. Pairing wine and chocolate is like a balancing act; you don\u2019t want one flavor profile to outshine another,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Deanna<\/a>
Deanna D\u2019Alfonso Altomare, Italian Wine Specialist.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another great rule of thumb to follow when pairing is: \u201cif it grows with it, it goes with it,\u201d said Deanna D\u2019Alfonso Altomare, Italian Wine Specialist.<\/span> \u201c<\/b>It\u2019s always great to complete your wine adventures by incorporating the traditional sweet or savory item from that area\/region. I\u2019m a huge fan of Marsala from Sicily<\/a><\/strong> which can be paired with both sweet or savory items. If you want to drink your dessert: port, sherry<\/strong><\/a><\/span>, Madeira, and Marsala are also great options,\u201d she added.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Additional Recommendations from Deanna:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not try a flight? You can go on a fortified wine adventure to different regions (Portugal<\/a><\/strong>, Spain<\/strong><\/a> and Sicily<\/strong><\/a> could be fun) and learn about what you like and don\u2019t like for your next pairing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Kimberly<\/a>
Kimberly Cavoores of One Kourt Sutdio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kimberly Cavoores, owner of <\/span>One Kourt Studio<\/span><\/a>, believes port maybe be a particularly good choice for Valentine\u2019s Day as it embodies romance, especially when sharing a glass with a loved one by the fireplace. \u201cRecently, I have started exploring a lot of vintage port.\u00a0There is great value to be found in the market currently,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Additional Recommendations from Kimberly:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMy sister makes this incredible Baklava. Pairing that with a Margaine Le Demi Sec is divine.\u00a0 The sweetness\u00a0combined with the fine bubbles of the Champagne, compliment the flaky pastry of the Baklava nicely.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently I am loving Niepoort Colheita 07, Bera Moscato d\u2019Asti, G.D. Vajra Barolo Chinato, and Vouvray: Pinon ‘Trois Argiles’ Vouvray, France 2018 (Demi-sec).\u00a0 Another personal, but very simple favorite, is biscotti and Vin Santo, the passito-style dessert wine of Tuscany, Italy.\u00a0 Try F\u00e8lsina Vin\u00a0Santo, Chianti, Italy 2008. You could even swap out the biscotti for almond cookies.\u00a0 Vin Santo has a savory nutty character is a treat with crumbly desserts like cookies and biscotti.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pop Some Bubbles\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Champagne or sparkling wine<\/span><\/strong><\/a> is an obvious choice to include in your Valentine\u2019s Day wine lineup. Tracey suggests sparkling wine paired with fruit-forward desserts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s something about the effervescent bubbles and freshness that complement fruit so nicely,\u201d she said. \u201cI’d pair a Blanc de Blancs with a lemon tart, and a classic Brut or Blanc de Noirs with strawberry or cherry-topped cheesecake. For me, Demi-Sec or sweeter styles can work with chocolate, but I’d probably prefer them with creme brulee.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Altomare seconds including a Demi-Sec in the pairing lineup. \u201c<\/span>The very classic dessert of Eton Mess with a glass of Demi-Sec English sparkling wine is heavenly. Eton Mess, simply put is merengue, whipped cream, and fruit, generally in layers, but often winds up a mess,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Savory, Not Sweet<\/b><\/h2>\n

Not into sugary dessert? Cheese is another classic dessert option that goes well with wine. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy\u00a0main rule for pairing them with wine is to match the intensity so neither overpowers the other. Light and creamy goat cheese pairs with light, delicate wines. Hearty and intense aged cow’s or sheep’s milk cheese pair with big, full-bodied reds,\u201d said Tracey. \u201cA classic pairing that’s always a home run is a blue cheese with Sauternes<\/strong><\/a><\/span> or another sweet and fortified white dessert wine. That savory and sweet contrast is always satisfying.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Additional Recommendations from Tracy:<\/strong> \u201cWith doughnuts, I think Sparkling Ros\u00e9 is a fun, flirtatious pairing. For the salty\/sweet crowd, you can pair desserts based on peanut butter or salted caramel with a juicy, jammy red. I also love the idea of a dessert cocktail: the chocolate martini is definitely making a comeback especially if you choose a high-quality artisan chocolate liqueur. Any sweet liqueur can also be drizzled over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a light finale!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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