Ontario, purdys.com valentine’s day gifts ideas with its lake effect seasons, has become one of North America’s most fascinating hubs for winemaking.
The climatic influence of the Great Lakes moderates temperature by effectively absorbing and releasing summer heat throughout autumn, allowing for longer growing seasons and prime conditions for ice winemaking by winter. Besides signature icewine, Ontario is also known for producing Pinot Noir and bold reds like Cabernet Franc, both of which pair beautifully with fine chocolate.
Wine and chocolate are a simple and sophisticated treat, perfect for dinner parties and events. But what’s the secret to the perfect pairing?
Learn more about pairing wine and chocolate to bring out the best of both worlds.
Is There a Rule for Pairing Wine and Chocolate?
The key to pairing is balance. You don’t want the chocolate to overpower the wine and vice versa. But you do want the wine to be as sweet as the chocolate, making icewine an ideal pairing wine.
Why icewine?
Before harvest, grapes are allowed to freeze on the vine, which leads to a natural concentration of sugars and acids, resulting in a syrupy-sweet juice. Icewine has also been described as having an aromatic flavor profile with notes of fruit and honey. There’s also enough acid cutting through the sweetness to offer much-needed balance.
If you’re looking for unique Valentine’s Day gifts ideas, icewine and chocolate is a surprising departure from more typical pairing choices.
Niagara Icewine and White Chocolate
The Niagara Peninsula is known for producing some of the richest icewine in the region. While wine pairings often include dark chocolate, Niagara’s icewines offer a chance to pair with silky white chocolate. White chocolate infused with berries complements the flavour profile, adding more acidic balance with the berries.
Why does white chocolate pair so well with icewine?
White chocolate contains cocoa butter, not bitter cocoa solids like dark chocolate. It has a buttery flavour profile, which complements the sweetness of icewine while balancing out the acidity.
Icewine is also a non-tannic wine, creating a smoother tactile sensation instead of a dry taste. The result is a smooth, creamy pairing.
However, you can still pair milk chocolate with icewine if you want an alternative to white chocolate, since it has a lower cacao ratio than dark chocolate. It’s still creamy and smooth enough to pair with icewine.
Prince Edward County Pinot Noir and Milk Chocolate
Milk chocolate lovers will also appreciate dessert pairings with famous Pinot Noir. This area is known for its cool-climate viticulture, producing light-bodied wines with cherry and raspberry notes and a brighter acidity profile. The tartness of the cherry notes really cut through, perfect for milk chocolate.
Look for milk chocolate with a lower cacao percentage of around 35%, but no higher than 55%. Too much bitterness will overwhelm the taste. The red berry notes of Pinot Noir pair wonderfully with the vanilla and caramel notes of milk chocolate.
Lake Erie North Shore Cabernet Franc and Dark Chocolate
Now it’s time for dark chocolate to shine. If you love a bitter dark chocolate with a cacao percentage of 70%, you’ll want to find a bottle of Cabernet Franc from Lake Erie’s North Shore. This bold red wine features herbal, fruity, and even spicy notes, offering the perfect “kick” for dark chocolate.
Beyond classic dark chocolate, you can also pair this wine with coffee-infused chocolate desserts and truffles. Desserts flavoured with Mexican hot chocolate also make for a delicious pairing.
What Is a Good Tasting Order?
If you’re throwing a always start with the lightest (and sweetest) flavour profile first.
In this case, you would start with your Niagara Icewine and white chocolate pairing, followed by a glass of Prince County Pinot Noir with milk chocolate. Complete the experience with a rich pairing of dark chocolate with a bottle of Lake Erie North Shore Cabernet Franc.
Elevate Your Wine Pairing
Discover Ontario’s wine scene through the sweet icewines of the Niagara Peninsula, the Pinot Noir of Prince Edward County, and the bold Cabernet Franc of Lake Erie’s North Shore. Indulge in a selection of buttery white chocolate, smooth dark chocolate, and bittersweet dark chocolate to celebrate the flavour profiles of these wines.
Make your next wine tasting party a truly memorable one!
