Quick answer: The wine should be at least as sweet as the chocolate. Pair dark chocolate with Port, Banyuls, or a ripe Zinfandel; milk chocolate with tawny Port, Brachetto d’Acqui, or Ruby Port; and white chocolate with Moscato d’Asti, late harvest Riesling, or Sauternes.
Wine and chocolate sounds like a perfect match, but many pairings fail. A dry red with a sweet chocolate bar can taste sour, bitter, and thin. The secret is sweetness: the wine needs as much sweetness as the chocolate, or more. Once you understand that, pairing becomes easy and delicious.
The Rules of Wine and Chocolate Pairing
- Match or exceed the sweetness. A dessert wine will almost always beat a dry wine with chocolate.
- Match the intensity. Light chocolates want lighter wines; intense dark chocolate wants rich, concentrated wines.
- Consider bitterness. Very dark chocolate is bitter and astringent, which can amplify tannin in red wine.
- Look for complementary flavors. Chocolate with cherry, raspberry, nuts, or caramel notes points you toward wines with the same flavors.
Best Wine With Dark Chocolate (70 Percent and Up)
- Ruby or vintage Port: rich, sweet, and full of dark berry fruit
- Banyuls or Maury: sweet fortified reds from southern France, a classic chocolate match
- Late harvest or ripe Zinfandel: jammy fruit and a touch of sweetness
- Pedro Ximénez Sherry: raisiny and syrupy, great with very dark chocolate
- Dry option: if you must pour a dry red, choose a ripe, fruit forward wine like Zinfandel, Shiraz, or Malbec, and pair it with chocolate around 70 percent cacao
Best Wine With Milk Chocolate
Milk chocolate is sweeter and creamier, with caramel and vanilla notes.
- Tawny Port: caramel, toffee, and nut flavors echo the chocolate
- Brachetto d’Acqui: a lightly sparkling, sweet red from Piedmont with strawberry and rose notes
- Madeira (Bual or Malmsey): rich, nutty, and balanced by acidity
- Ruby Port: good with milk chocolate and berries
Best Wine With White Chocolate
White chocolate is technically cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, with no cocoa solids. It is sweet and creamy.
- Moscato d’Asti: light, floral, and gently sparkling
- Late harvest Riesling or Ice Wine: high acidity balances the richness
- Sauternes: honeyed and luscious
- Demi sec Champagne: sweet bubbles for a festive touch
Best Wine With Chocolate Desserts
- Chocolate cake: ruby Port, Banyuls
- Flourless chocolate torte: vintage Port, Pedro Ximénez
- Chocolate mousse: Brachetto d’Acqui, tawny Port
- Chocolate covered strawberries: Brachetto, sparkling rosé, ruby Port
- Brownies: tawny Port, late harvest Zinfandel
- Chocolate with sea salt or caramel: tawny Port, Madeira
- Chocolate with nuts: tawny Port, Oloroso Sherry
A Chocolate and Cheese Dessert Board
For a show stopping dessert board, combine chocolate with cheese and fortified wine. Serve dark chocolate, aged Gouda, Stilton, toasted walnuts, dried figs, and a glass of Port. The salty cheese, bitter chocolate, and sweet wine create a remarkable balance. See our blue cheese guide and types of cheese guide for more ideas.
How to Host a Wine and Chocolate Tasting
- Choose three or four chocolates from white to dark.
- Pair each with a different dessert wine.
- Taste from lightest and sweetest to darkest and most intense.
- Let the chocolate melt slightly on your tongue before sipping.
- Serve water and plain crackers between pairings.
For tasting technique, see our beginner’s guide to wine tasting at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wine goes best with chocolate?
Sweet fortified wines like Port and Banyuls are the best match for dark chocolate. Tawny Port and Brachetto d’Acqui suit milk chocolate, and Moscato d’Asti suits white chocolate.
Does red wine go with chocolate?
Dry red wine often tastes bitter and sour with chocolate. If you prefer dry red, choose a ripe, fruity wine like Zinfandel and pair it with dark chocolate rather than sweet milk chocolate.
Does Cabernet Sauvignon go with chocolate?
It can work with dark chocolate around 70 percent cacao, but its tannins often clash with sweeter chocolate. Port is a more reliable choice.
What wine goes with chocolate cake?
Ruby Port, Banyuls, and Maury are excellent with chocolate cake because their sweetness and dark fruit match the rich chocolate.
