Chocolate
As Easter is just around the corner, it’s important we note which wines go with chocolate so you can enjoy your Easter eggs with a glass of California Wine. The good news for those who love both wine and chocolate, is that they complement each other very well. But as there are many kinds of chocolate, all with different flavours, there isn’t one wine that matches them all. In general, dark and bittersweet chocolate goes well with stronger red wines, while milk and white chocolates are better with lighter reds and sweeter white wines. Eat your milk chocolate with a Merlot or a Sauvignon Blanc; dark and bitter chocolate should be tried with Zinfandel or Shiraz; and pair white chocolate with a Chardonnay.

If all that seems like too much to remember, then here are some simple rules to help you choose:
• Match the weight and texture of the food to the weight and texture of the wine
• Lighter food for lighter wines and vice versa
• Balance the intensity of flavours in the food and wine
• Mild food for mild wines and vice versa
• Balance tastes
• Salty and sour tastes make wines taste milder, sweet and savoury tastes make wines taste stronger
• Match flavours
• As you get better at pairing, you will be able to start to match flavours in the food to flavours in the wine
Wine drinking should be enjoyable, so remember that although there are principles to pairing there are no hard and fast rules – you should drink the wines you like with the foods you like. Just head to the California aisle in the supermarket and you’re sure to find something there that suits you.

For more information on California Wines visit www.discovercaliforniawine.com