What wine goes with chocolate? Choose a wine that is at least as sweet as the chocolate. Sweet sparkling wine and Moscato suit white and milk chocolate. A ripe, fruit-forward red suits dark chocolate of about 60 to 70% cacao. Very dark chocolate wants a fortified dessert wine. When a drier wine meets sweeter chocolate, the wine can taste sour, thin or bitter.
Why do some wines taste sour with chocolate?
Sweetness on your palate makes the next sip of a drier wine taste sharper and less fruity. Tannin, the drying grip in many reds, adds to the natural bitterness of cocoa. Together they can turn a good wine harsh.
Three rules keep the match in balance:
- Match the sweetness. The wine should be as sweet as the chocolate, or sweeter.
- Match the weight. Light, creamy chocolate suits a light wine. Dense, intense chocolate suits a fuller one.
- Echo a flavor. Berry, nut and cocoa notes in the glass link the wine to the chocolate.
The darker the chocolate, the less sweet it is. That is why a fruit-forward red can work with dark chocolate but not with milk chocolate.
Wine and chocolate pairing chart
| Chocolate | Wine style | Why it works | ONEHOPE bottle |
|---|---|---|---|
| White chocolate | Sweet sparkling | Gentle sweetness and bubbles lift the cocoa butter | Sparkling Moscato |
| Milk chocolate | Sweet white | Orange blossom and nectarine meet creamy chocolate | 2021 Vintner Moscato |
| Milk chocolate with almonds or hazelnuts | Sweet sparkling with nutty notes | Toasted almond echoes the nuts | Sparkling Almond |
| Chocolate-dipped strawberries | Sweet sparkling | White peach and bubbles follow the berries | Sparkling Moscato |
| Chocolate-dipped orange peel | Sweet white | Candied lemon in the wine echoes the sugared peel | 2021 Vintner Moscato |
| Dark chocolate, 60 to 70% cacao | Fruit-forward red | Cocoa notes echo the chocolate; ripe fruit softens the bitterness | 2022 Vintner Red Blend |
| Dark chocolate with chili, cinnamon or dried cherries | Red blend with spice notes | Dark cherry and spice echo the chili, cinnamon or fruit | 2021 Field to Table Red Blend |
| Salted dark chocolate or salted caramel chocolates | Sweet sparkling with nutty notes | Bubbles refresh the palate after salt; toasted almond meets the caramel | Sparkling Almond |
| Very dark chocolate and truffles | Fortified dessert wine | Sweetness and body stand up to intense cocoa | Reserve Dessert Wine |
What wine goes with white and milk chocolate?
White chocolate is creamy and sweet, with cocoa butter but no cocoa solids. It needs a light wine with real sweetness.
Our Sparkling Moscato brings citrus blossom, white peach and mandarin, with a delicate sweetness. Its bubbles clear the rich cocoa butter from your palate, so each bite tastes fresh.
Milk chocolate is sweet and mellow. The 2021 Vintner Moscato is bright, aromatic and sweet, with notes of nectarine, orange blossom and citrus zest. Orange and chocolate are a classic pairing, and the wine's orange blossom and citrus zest bring that note to the glass.
Is your milk chocolate studded with almonds or hazelnuts? Pour Sparkling Almond. Its toasted almond notes and delicately sweet, lingering finish echo the nuts.
Does red wine go with dark chocolate?
Yes, when the chocolate is dark and the red is ripe and fruit-forward. Dark chocolate of about 60 to 70% cacao is less sweet than milk chocolate. That leaves room for a red.
The 2022 Vintner Red Blend is bold and richly layered, with cherry, raspberry, cocoa powder and vanilla. Its smooth, full-flavored palate recalls dense chocolate cake. The cocoa notes echo the bar, and the red fruit softens its bitterness.
If the red turns sour against your chocolate, the chocolate is too sweet for it; pour a Moscato or the dessert wine instead.
Is your dark chocolate spiced with chili or cinnamon, or studded with dried cherries? Try the 2021 Field to Table Red Blend. Its dark cherry and spices echo those flavors, with integrated oak, leather and dried rose petals behind them. It is a dry red, so keep it for dark chocolate of about 60 to 70% cacao, not milk or white.
What wine goes with very dark chocolate?
Very dark chocolate, above 70% cacao, is intense and bitter, with little sweetness. A dry red can taste harsh against it. A fortified dessert wine is the easier match. Its sweetness rounds the bitterness and its body stands up to the cocoa.
Our Reserve Dessert Wine is fortified with grape spirits. It brings notes of toffee, florals, dark plum and sweet cherry. We pair it with dark chocolate truffles. It also suits blue cheese; see our wine and cheese pairing guide.
What wine goes with chocolate desserts?
With dessert, look at the sweetness and the other flavors on the plate, not just the chocolate.
- Brownies and chocolate cake. For a rich, sweet cake, pour Reserve Dessert Wine. For a dark, less sweet bake, try Vintner Red Blend.
- Chocolate mousse. A milk chocolate mousse suits Sparkling Moscato. A dark chocolate mousse suits Reserve Dessert Wine.
- Chocolate cheesecake. Reserve Dessert Wine, which we pair with rich cheesecake.
- Tiramisu. Sparkling Almond, which we pair with tiramisu and assorted pastries.
- Salted caramel chocolates and salted dark chocolate. Sparkling Almond. Its sweetness meets the caramel, and the salt softens the bitterness of dark chocolate.
- Chocolate-dipped orange peel. Candied peel is sweet as well as bitter, so it needs a sweet wine such as Vintner Moscato.
- Chocolate with berries. Strawberries dipped in white or milk chocolate suit Sparkling Moscato. Its white peach and citrus blossom follow the fruit.
Want chocolate and wine in one mug? Try our red wine hot chocolate with Vintner Red Blend.
For chocolate chip and other cookies, see our wine and cookie pairings.
How do you host a wine and chocolate tasting at home?
A wine and chocolate tasting suits a winter evening with friends or Valentine's Day. Keep it simple. For the full plan, see our guide to hosting a wine tasting at home.
- Go from light to dark. Set out white, milk, dark and very dark chocolate, in that order.
- Pour in the same order. Start with Sparkling Moscato, then Vintner Moscato, Vintner Red Blend and Reserve Dessert Wine.
- Serve at the right temperature. Chill the sparkling wines and Moscato well. Serve the red slightly cool and the dessert wine lightly chilled. Keep the chocolate at room temperature so it melts and releases its flavor.
- Keep pours small. Set out water and plain crackers to reset your palate between pairs.
- Taste in three steps. Sip, let the chocolate melt, then sip again. Note which pairs lift each other and which clash.
Our sparkling wines cover the lighter end of the line-up. ONEHOPE wine also gives back.
Frequently asked questions
What wine goes with dark chocolate?
For dark chocolate of about 60 to 70% cacao, choose a ripe, fruit-forward red such as Vintner Red Blend. For very dark chocolate or truffles, a fortified dessert wine such as Reserve Dessert Wine is the easier match.
What wine goes with milk chocolate?
Milk chocolate is sweet, so it needs a sweet wine. Vintner Moscato and Sparkling Moscato both work. Most dry reds taste sour or bitter against it.
Does Cabernet go with chocolate?
With sweet chocolate, rarely. A dry, tannic red such as Cabernet Sauvignon can taste bitter against milk chocolate. With dark chocolate, a riper red can work, but a fruit-forward red blend or a fortified dessert wine is the easier match.
Is sparkling wine good with chocolate?
Sweet sparkling wine is. Sparkling Moscato suits white and milk chocolate, and Sparkling Almond suits chocolate with nuts. A dry sparkling wine can taste sour next to sweet chocolate, so keep it for fruit-led bites.
What wine goes with chocolate cake?
Match the wine to the cake's sweetness. A rich, sweet chocolate cake suits Reserve Dessert Wine. A darker, less sweet cake suits Vintner Red Blend, whose cocoa and red fruit echo the cake.
