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i’m matt james

professional event producer

27 years event-planning experience
Winner of 30 industry awards
Clients include:
Elton John,
Stella McCartney,
Sarah Jessica Parker,
Kevin Spacey……and more

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WINE TASTING party IDEAS

This page is an extension of my wine tasting party ideas page which contains tips and advice on choosing a theme, which wines to buy, how to taste, and food pairing suggestions. You might want to start there then follow the links at the end to come back to this page.

advice from a pro

introduction

For a fun alternative to a traditional wine tasting party, which would be particularly good for a bridal shower or bachelorette party, think about throwing a wine and chocolate tasting.

Now, you can’t pair just any old wine with chocolate, as most chocolate will ruin the flavor of the wine. You have to match intense, fruity wines with high cocoa content quality chocolate.

Fortunately, the master chocolatiers from premium Swiss chocolate brand Lindt have done all the hard work for you by teaming up with the winemakers of J.Lohr Vineyards to find the perfect wine pairings for their Lindt Excellence range of chocolate; which includes flavors such as ‘Intense Orange’, ‘A Touch of Sea Salt’, ‘Chilli’, ‘Pineapple’, and ‘70% Cocoa’.

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WINE AND CHOCOLATE PAIRINGS

When choosing which chocolate and wine to pair, quality is key. Only use premium chocolate such as the tried and tested wine and chocolate pairings below.

LINDT SEA SALT + LOS OSOS MERLOT

Lindt Excellence A Touch of Sea Salt pairs well with J.Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot.

This Merlot’s red fruit aromas of plum and pomegranate, accompanied by a touch of baking spice, complement the sharpness of the Fleur de Sel and sweet cacao characteristics of the Lindt Excellence A Touch of Sea Salt. Reminiscent of fresh cream and butter, with a pleasant tang on the finish.

Tasting Notes:The 2013 J. Lohr Estates Los Osos Merlot presents mature red color with a raspberry hue. Brambly fruit aromas of plum and pomegranate are integrated with a barrel signature of mocha and baking spice. Whole berry fermentation with a generous use of Malbec in the blend accentuates bright fruit tones on the palate, and leaves a lengthy finish.

You can pick up the Lindt Excellence A Touch of Sea Salt here, and the J.Lohr Los Osos Merlot here.

Note: Sign up for their wine newsletter and you get $20 off your first order, which can cover the cost of shipping (depending on how many bottles you buy).

LINDT ORANGE + BAY MIST WHITE RIESLING

Lindt Excellence Intense Orange pairs well with J.Lohr Estates Bay Mist White Riesling.

This bright Riesling has notes of lychee, pear, and orange is the ideal match for the sweet citrus profile of the Lindt Excellence Intense Orange. Full fruit flavors and a balanced and refreshing acidity work in harmony here.

Tasting Notes: The 2014 Bay Mist White Riesling is pale straw yellow in color with youthful green hues.

The enticing aromas of rose petals, lychee, apricots and white flowers are enhanced by the touch of residual sugar, fresh palate-cleansing acidity and a light residual spritz of carbonation retained from fermentation.

In addition to the chocolate, this also pairs well with prosciutto and melon, grilled fish tacos, Indian curry dishes, or Caribbean jerk chicken.

You can pick up the Lindt Excellence Intense Orange here, and the J.Lohr Bay Mist White Riesling here.

Note: Sign up for their wine newsletter and you get $20 off your first order, which can cover the cost of shipping (depending on how many bottles you buy).

LINDT CHILI + FALCON’S PERCH PINOT NOIR

Lindt Excellence Chili pairs well with J.Lohr Estates Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir.

A pinch of chili powder really sets off this Pinot Noir with its aromas of cherry preserves, dried herbs and vanilla. Pair it with Lindt Excellence Chili, an aromatic, sweet dark chocolate perfumed with red chili. Enjoyed together, they create spicy warmth that bursts onto the palate.

Tasting Notes: The 2014 Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir delivers effusive strawberry and sage varietal aromas, and is lifted by a vanilla spice oak signature. Plump red fruit on the palate finishes with a touch of talc and rhubarb.

A pinch of chili powder really sets off this Pinot Noir. Try with a Lowcountry Southern cuisine recipe, like shrimp gumbo with Andouille sausage. Classic matches include smoked salmon and chevre cheese on savory crackers.

You can pick up the Lindt Excellence Chili here, and the J.Lohr Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir here.

Note: Sign up for their wine newsletter and you get $20 off your first order, which can cover the cost of shipping (depending on how many bottles you buy).

PINEAPPLE + RIVERSTONE CHARDONNAY

Lindt Excellence Pineapple pairs well with J.Lohr Estates Riverstone Chardonnay.

This sweet dark chocolate bar is blended with pineapple and caramelized hazelnut pieces, while the Riverstone Chardonnay is rich and well-balanced with aromas of ripe pear, pineapple, and toasted hazelnut that provides a finish of caramel and cream when combined with the chocolate.

Tasting Notes: The 2014 Riverstone Chardonnay has a youthful, brassy yellow color of medium depth.

The aromas are fresh and reminiscent of ripe nectarine, apple and strawberry combined with honey, grilled hazelnuts and toasty oak from the barrel fermentation and sur lie aging.

The palate weight is plump and rich, with flavors echoing the aromas with a delicate balance of acidity, buttery length and sophisticated elegance.

You can pick up the Lindt Excellence Pineapple here, and the J.Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay here.

Note: Sign up for their wine newsletter and you get $20 off your first order, which can cover the cost of shipping (depending on how many bottles you buy).

LINDT 70% COCOA + SEVEN OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa pairs well with J.Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon.

This Cabernet Sauvignon has ripe aromas of blueberry and black plum meld with a bouquet of chocolate and hazelnut. Pair it with the rich Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa, which features notes of tobacco, leather, and roasted nuts. They are a match in both depth and body and finish with a creaminess that coats the palate.

Tasting Notes: The 2013 J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is showing exceptionally dark color with a bright hue at release. Intense fruit aromas of black cherry, plum and blueberry are accented by a barrel bouquet of hazelnut, dark chocolate and toasted pastry. Sturdy tannins strike the palate and finish with the hightoned fruit signature that typifies the Paso Robles appellation.

Pair with charbroiled beef tenderloin, grilled portabella mushrooms, or your favorite bruschetta recipe.

You can pick up the Lindt Excellence 70% Cocoa here, and the J.Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon here.

Note: Sign up for their wine newsletter and you get $20 off your first order, which can cover the cost of shipping (depending on how many bottles you buy).

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HOW TO TASTE WINE AND CHOCOLATE

To taste these wines and chocolates like an expert, follow these steps:

First, taste both the chocolate and wine individually.
For the most ideal tasting experience, begin with chocolate that has the lowest percentage cocoa and work your way up.

HOW TO TASTE CHOCOLATE

Next, decide what sort of emphasis you want to place on the actual wine tasting part of the evening, as this will affect what choices you make for food and when to serve it. Decide which of the following wine tasting party ideas is right for you:

SIGHT: Examine the chocolate’s appearance—color, structure and sheen. Premium chocolate should have a silky matte sheen and an even texture.
TOUCH: Gently feel the surface of the chocolate to ensure it is silky and smooth. Premium chocolate should never feel rough or grainy.
SOUND: Break the bar and listen for a loud, crisp snap. A clean “snap” is a sign of good quality and texture.
SMELL: Take the time to breathe in the rich fragrances before placing a piece of chocolate in your mouth. You should be able to identify a range of pleasant and intense aromas. The aroma of the chocolate will prepare you for an intense chocolate taste.
TASTE: Let the chocolate melt on the tongue and experience the chocolate flavor coupled with it’s smooth texture. This is the height of the tasting experience, where your senses work together to produce an overwhelming sensation.

HOW TO TASTE WINE

SIGHT: Start by holding the glass (preferably over a white table cloth) tilted away from you to examine the color.
Try to pin point the shade of white or red, for example is the white wine a straw yellow, yellow-green, or gold color? Or is the red wine a ruby red, red-brown, or purple-ish color?
Then study the opacity. Is it dark or watery? Clear or cloudy?
SMELL: First, swirl the wine in the glass for a good 5-10 seconds as this will release the aromas.
Put your nose to the glass and inhale deeply to see what the smells remind you of? Can you identify any fruits, flowers, herbs, spices, or even more unusual flavors such as chocolate or oak?
TASTE: Next, take a sip but don’t swallow the wine. Instead let it swirl around gently in your mouth. Think about things like whether it’s dry or sweet? Light or heavy? Thick or thin? Creamy or crisp?
Then move onto trying to identify the flavor profile, in the same way as when you smelt it, i.e can you detect fruits, spices, or a woody taste?
SWALLOW: Swallow the wine and think about what sort of after-taste (or ‘finish’) is has.
Do the flavors linger or disappear quickly? Would you describe it as light-bodied (ie watery), medium (milky), or full bodied (creamy)?

PAIRING WINE AND CHOCOLATE

Once you’ve tasted the wine and chocolate individually, begin the pairing.
Take another piece of chocolate. Savor the taste as it slowly melts in your mouth.
When the last lingering notes of chocolate are all that remain, take a sip of wine. Hold the wine in your mouth, allowing it to coat your palate.
Notice the complex changes in taste as the wine mingles with the residual chocolate flavor.

ADVICE FROM A PRO

Matt’s tip

If you don’t have a good wine merchant near you (or even if you do) there are some great on-line wine suppliers who always run different promotions, clearance sales, and reduced price deals on mixed cases.

Often they offer better deals that you could get by going into a local wine merchant.

Wine.com in particular has a great deal whereby — if you sign up for their email newsletter — you get a promo code for 1 cent shipping on your first order.

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table styling & decor

This chalkboard table runner, available here, comes on a roll and can be cut to any length. It’s a great way to show which chocolate pairs best with which wine.

For more ideas like this check out my main page of wine tasting party ideas below.