Wine and chocolate pairings can be tricky when you factor in the sheer variety in today’s chocolate confections alongside the diversity in personal palate preferences. Whether it’s chocolate themed desserts, artisan 80% dark chocolate bars or chocolate creations dotted with nuts, sea salt crystals, mint infusions, dried berries or simply caramel, there are versatile wine and chocolate pairings that can accommodate even the pickiest of palates. Continue reading Pairing Wine and Chocolate – Tips and Tricks
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Somm Things I Think About: Easy wine sauces for easy wine pairings
“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.”
The Famous W.C. Fields quote has a lot of truth to it – if you want an easy way to make a wine pairing, it’s certainly easier if it’s added to the dish. The rule of thumb is whatever wine you use in the recipe, drink with the recipe! I am however, not asking you to use the 20 year old Grand Cru Burgundy, but a cheap(er) Pinot Noir in the sauce and a nice Pinot Noir at the table and you will make magic happen! The following recipe is more of a guideline that I’ve learned working in the restaurant industry and will make the perfect wine pairing really easy! Feel free to expand the recipe for a larger amount and you can certainly use a cheaper wine for the cooking process and a nicer bottle to drink.
The wine:
One of my favorite things to do is use the same wine in the dish and the pairing. You only use a few ounces of the bottle so there is plenty left to have with dinner. I love this because it is a perfect scenario for a couple on a weeknight when you don’t want to make it a big deal but want it to be nice! Here are a few of my favorites to use, just make sure it’s not too oaky, it will come off as bitter in the sauce.
Continue reading Somm Things I Think About: Easy wine sauces for easy wine pairings