One of my favorite ways to drink wine is with a few squares of chocolate (white, milk or dark, I don’t discriminate), so when I heard about wine made with chocolate, I knew I had to learn more.
Rubis Chocolate Wine was a standout on this year’s wine advent calendar from cult-favorite Aldi, with a flavor heralded as “velvety, smooth dark chocolate complemented by rich, puckering fruit and hints of dried fig.” Sounds pretty sophisticated to me.
The wine comes from Spain, and is marketed as an “off-the-wall alternative to port.” It’s made from the Tempranillo grape, used in Rioja, and infused with chocolate essence. One reviewer calls it “a black forest gateau in a bottle,” referring to the German chocolate and cherry cake. Another touts it as a “piece of heaven in a glass.”
Though Rubis is getting a lot of attention this year, they’re not the only vintner to include chocolate in the winemaking process. Washington State winery Chocolate Shop makes a red wine blended with chocolate; it has aromas of black cherry and cocoa powder, and is actually nearly half the price of the Rubis version. Reviewers say this one is perfect for an after-dinner drink, or served slightly chilled.
Wine Enthusiast released a comprehensive list of wines made with chocolate products, including ChocoVine, red wine with dark chocolate and Dutch cream; Cocoa di Vine, a white wine blend with milk chocolate, vanilla and caramel; Truffle Merlot, made with 99 percent Monterey Merlot and one percent dark chocolate; and Chocolate Lab, red wine from New York’s Finger Lakes region flavored with chocolate.
Additionally, we all know that chocolate and wine is a no-brainer dessert pairing, and the two ingredients are regularly used together beyond the bottle. Remember that red wine hot chocolate craze last year? Whether you want your wine warmed up or poured over ice cream, you really can’t go wrong here.
