The Perfect Pairing: 10 Types of Chocolate and Port Wine Styles
Chocolate and port wine create a symphony of flavors when paired correctly. But before diving into the pairings, it's important to understand that the chocolate produced in the United States differs significantly from the chocolate crafted in the European Union. These differences can influence the experience when paired with port wine, so let’s explore them.
Chocolate in the US vs. EU
Flavor Profiles:
EU Chocolate: Known for its creamy texture and emphasis on high cocoa content, EU chocolate often contains less sugar and more cocoa butter.
US Chocolate: Often sweeter and less rich, US chocolate may include additives like milk solids and a slightly tangy flavor due to butyric acid, especially in brands like Hershey's.
Cocoa Content:
EU regulations require a minimum of 35% cocoa solids in milk chocolate and 43% in dark chocolate, resulting in more intense flavors.
In the US, chocolate can have as little as 10% cocoa solids, leading to milder profiles.
Texture and Mouthfeel:
EU chocolate tends to be smoother due to higher cocoa butter content and finer grinding processes.
US chocolate can feel grainier, with a different melting profile.
These differences affect how chocolate interacts with port wine. EU chocolate tends to enhance the complexity of port, while US chocolate often amplifies its sweeter notes.
The Pairings
Pieces of Chocolate
The structure and color alone will make your mouth watery and hungry to try..
Below are 10 curated pairings, categorized by chocolate type and port wine style, with an introduction to each port and its key characteristics.
1. Dark Chocolate (Bitter) with Vintage Port
Chocolate Type: Dark Chocolate (High Cocoa Content, 70–85%)
Example: Lindt Excellence 85% (EU) or Ghirardelli Intense Dark 86% (USA).
Category: Bittersweet Chocolate.
Port Style: Vintage Port
Characteristics: Vintage port is rich, bold, and full-bodied with concentrated flavors of dark fruits, chocolate, and spice. It’s unfiltered and bottled young, allowing it to age and develop complexity over decades.
Why It Works: The bitterness of the chocolate balances the intense sweetness of vintage port. The port’s notes of blackberry, plum, and dried fig meld beautifully with the cocoa richness, while its tannins soften the chocolate’s bitter edge.
Dark Chocolate and Vintage Port
2. Milk Chocolate with 20-Year-Old Tawny Port
Chocolate Type: Milk Chocolate (Smooth, Creamy, Sweet)
Example: Milka Alpine Milk (EU) or Hershey’s Milk Chocolate (USA).
Category: Sweet Chocolate.
Port Style: 20-Year-Old Tawny Port
Characteristics: Aged in oak barrels, this port has a smooth, nutty profile with notes of caramel, dried fruit, and hazelnuts.
Why It Works: The milky sweetness of the chocolate mirrors the tawny port’s caramel and toffee notes, while the port’s nuttiness adds depth to the pairing.
3. Ruby Chocolate with Ruby Port
Chocolate Type: Ruby Chocolate (Fruity and Tangy)
Example: Callebaut Ruby Chocolate (EU) or Barry Callebaut Ruby Couverture (USA).
Category: Specialty Chocolate.
Port Style: Ruby Port
Characteristics: Ruby port is fresh and vibrant, with bright berry flavors and a youthful sweetness.
Why It Works: The natural fruity tang of ruby chocolate aligns with the fresh red berry notes of ruby port, creating a lively and refreshing pairing.
4. White Chocolate with White Port
Chocolate Type: White Chocolate (Creamy and Buttery)
Example: Valrhona Ivoire (EU) or Ghirardelli White Chocolate (USA).
Category: Sweet Chocolate.
Port Style: White Port
Characteristics: White port offers citrus, honey, and floral notes with a balanced acidity.
Why It Works: The buttery richness of white chocolate pairs perfectly with the port’s citrusy freshness, cutting through the creaminess and leaving a harmonious finish.
A glass of delicious white port and white chocolate. A match made in heaven
5. Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt and Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port
Chocolate Type: Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt
Example: Tony’s Chocolonely Dark Sea Salt (EU) or Alter Eco Deep Dark Sea Salt (USA).
Category: Bittersweet Chocolate.
Port Style: LBV Port
Characteristics: LBV port is aged longer than ruby port, resulting in a smoother, richer profile with hints of blackcurrant and spice.
Why It Works: The salt amplifies the dark chocolate’s intensity while enhancing the port’s fruity and spicy notes.
6. Hazelnut Milk Chocolate with Colheita Port
Chocolate Type: Milk Chocolate with Nuts
Example: Milka Hazelnut (EU) or Ritter Sport Hazelnut (USA).
Category: Nut-Infused Chocolate.
Port Style: Colheita Port
Characteristics: A single-vintage tawny port with toasted nut and caramel flavors.
Why It Works: The roasted hazelnuts in the chocolate match the nutty depth of the colheita port, while the creamy milk chocolate rounds out the pairing.
7. Spicy Chocolate with Reserve Ruby Port
Chocolate Type: Dark Chocolate with Chili
Example: Lindt Excellence Chili (EU) or Taza Chocolate Mexican Chili (USA).
Category: Flavored Chocolate.
Port Style: Reserve Ruby Port
Characteristics: A rich, robust port with intense berry and cherry notes, balanced by a velvety texture.
Why It Works: The heat of the chili enhances the ruby port’s fruity vibrancy, while the chocolate’s depth complements the port’s full-bodied structure.
8. Orange-Infused Chocolate with White Reserve Port
Chocolate Type: Dark Chocolate with Orange
Example: Cote d'Or Orange (EU) or Lindt Orange Intense (USA).
Category: Flavored Chocolate.
Port Style: White Reserve Port
Characteristics: White reserve port is aged longer, offering honeyed and zesty citrus notes.
Why It Works: The chocolate’s orange flavor mirrors the port’s citrusy brightness, creating a layered and refreshing combination.
9. Caramel-Filled Chocolate with Reserve Tawny Port
Chocolate Type: Filled Chocolate (Caramel Core)
Example: Galaxy Caramel (EU) or Dove Caramel (USA).
Category: Filled Chocolate.
Port Style: Reserve Tawny Port
Characteristics: A younger tawny port with notes of caramel, nuts, and dried fruit.
Why It Works: The gooey caramel echoes the port’s toffee-like richness, enhancing the sweetness without overpowering.
10. Mint Chocolate with Crusted Port
Chocolate Type: Mint-Infused Chocolate
Example: After Eight (EU) or Andes Mints (USA).
Category: Flavored Chocolate.
Port Style: Crusted Port
Characteristics: A rustic, unfiltered port with deep earthy and fruity notes.
Why It Works: The mint refreshes the palate, while the crusted port’s bold structure creates an intriguing contrast.
After Eight Chocolate goes very well with Crusted Port - A port style long forgotten but very worth your dime!
This cake with chocolate flakes looks so tasty!
Imagine how you can enjoy this chocolate flakes with the right glass of port wine pairing your desert and lifting it up to new hights!
Explore Port Styles Further
To dive deeper into each port style, explore these links on PRTwine.com:
Indulge in these pairings and elevate your next tasting experience! Let me know which one becomes your favorite.
