Candy And Wine Pairings That Surprised Us
Candy and wine aren’t necessarily the pairings that are top of mind. We usually nibble on fruits and cheeses with our wines. But, if you visit wineries for tastings, it’s not unusual to see candy. Often, with many red varieties, samplings offer a bite of dark chocolate. The two tastes marry well because of the tannins in them. Tannins are a chemical compound that plants produce as a natural defense against pests. We also find the compound in teas and coffees. They give wine that bitter drying sensation when sipped. So, experts tell us when pairing bitter chocolate with wine, trade high tannin wines like cabernet sauvignon for a pinot noir. Or trade the bitter chocolate for a milk chocolate. It’s actually delicious if the wine and the chocolate compliment each other. I never thought about pairing other candy and wine until I caught this segment on The Today Show.
S0, with the biggest candy day of the year upon us, it makes sense to give it a try. Think about how elegant, yet whimsical, your Halloween gathering will be if you offer guests these unexpected pairings. It might even be fun to do a blind tasting. Blindfold guests so they don’t bring pre-conceived notions of what they are about to sample. I imagine my group of friends having a blast realizing we just sipped Rose through a Twizzler straw! And, maybe you can change some people’s minds about candy corn if it’s paired with champagne. And, after all, M&M’s and Kit Kats are chocolate! Plus, I really liked the thought of the peanut butter cup with the cabernet. Would it remind us of a peanut butter and jelly? LOL. And, I think I might drop some Skittles in the sauvignon blanc. Hey, don’t judge! Give it a try!
