How to pair wine and chocolate for Valentine's Day

"The number one thing I always tell people is to either go to a higher-end shop or go to a chocolatier, if possible, Milano says. People should also look for chocolate that has cocoa butter listed in the ingredients, she says. When it comes to pairing chocolate with white wines, look for a milk chocolate, and consider picking a buttery white wine to marry with a nutty chocolate, since the fattiness in the nuts plays well with the buttery notes, she says."

"For rose wines, white chocolate with strawberry or fruity notes makes for a great combination. And for red wines, lighter reds can work well with both milk and dark chocolate. However, she says, people should be careful about mixing bolder, stronger red wines with bold, dark chocolate, because both contain tannins, which can be bitter. Opting instead to pair a bold red wine with a sweeter chocolate provides a better flavor balance, she says."

Purchase chocolate from a higher-end shop or a chocolatier and choose bars that list cocoa butter. Pair milk chocolate with white wines; pair nutty chocolates with buttery whites because the nuts' fattiness complements buttery notes. Pair white chocolate with strawberry or other fruity notes with rosé wines. Lighter red wines can work with both milk and dark chocolate. Avoid pairing bold, tannic red wines with bold, dark chocolate because tannins can create bitterness. Pair bold reds with sweeter chocolates for better flavor balance. Use complementary or contrasting pairing strategies to highlight different elements.

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