Which Italian wines pair well with chocolate and desserts?

At the end of a meal or after a long day, what could be better than continuing to enjoy moments of conviviality with loved ones or ending the evening with a dessert or chocolate to go with some good Italian wine? Yes, this combination is not only possible, it's a real joy for all gourmets and wine lovers.

 
What are the characteristics of wines to pair with desserts?

Dessert wines are sweet wines made to be enjoyed with desserts and they can be of various types: to choose the right wine, it's necessary to consider the type of dessert - dry pastries such as biscuits, spoon desserts, chocolate or cakes for example - and how it's prepared. A wine is sweet when the residual sugar present at the time of bottling is around 35-40 g/l: there are still sweet wines, sparkling wines, raisin wines, obtained by various vinification methods, starting with the work in the vineyard. 

For example, there are sweet wines made from a late harvest, or ice wines, from grapes which over-ripen on the vine even at very cold temperatures. Or botrytised wines, such as the "Botrys" Moscadello di Montalcino DOC Vendemmia Tardiva 2014, affected by Botrytis Cinerea, a noble rot which develops on the grapes during drying and concentrates the juice, giving these wines unique nuances. 

 
Wine and chocolate: the best pairings

Each type of chocolate has its own favourite wine: dark chocolate goes very well with wines such as Amarone DOCG, a great dry raisin wine, with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG or with Recioto della Valpolicella, which are also perfect with fruit cakes and tarts, pastries and brownies.    

Milk chocolate prefers wines such as Montefalco di Sagrantino DOCG Passito 2018, sparkling wines and Moscato wines, which also go well with white chocolate, together with a good Pinot Grigio. For those who prefer a fruit and chocolate mix, a Brachetto d'Acqui “Gatiè” DOCG 2021 or a sparkling Lambrusco will surprise you.

 
Which wines to pair with other types of desserts?

 
England boasts a large number of delicious desserts; why not enhance them with the right wine? With spoon desserts, such as Puddings, Strawberry Fool, Syllabub or the classic Eton Mess, perhaps all enhanced by some excellent custard, and with fried desserts, the best pairing is with Passito di Pantelleria or a good Moscato d'Asti, also perfect with hazelnuts and caramel. With fruit tarts or berry desserts, the "Rosis" Moscato Rosa Alto Adige DOC 2020 or an excellent "C'era una volta" Sangue di Giuda dell'Oltrepò Pavese Frizzante 2021 will take the tasting to another level! With leavened pastries and cakes, on the other hand, like the traditional Spotted Dick, Treacle Tart or Dorset Apple Cake, an Extra Dry Sparkling Wine will enhance the taste and make the palate dance! With soufflés or crêpes, try a glass of "Pasithea Oro" Gewürztraminer Alto Adige DOC 2019! 

 
How to pair the right Italian wine with desserts and chocolate?

As in all food and wine pairings, there are two important rules to follow: contrast and concordance, i.e. considering the characteristics of both the dessert and the wine, to balance and enhance both of their flavours. For example, we should look for wines with the same amount of sweetness as the dessert; desserts made with syrup and flavoured fruits go well with wines of equal aromaticity. Succulent desserts and dry pastries, on the other hand, prefer sparkling wine to degrease the palate or to restore salivation.
 
Now that all the secrets of pairing wine with chocolate or sweets have been revealed to you, we're sure your mouth will be watering. Taste your favourite desserts with fine wines selected for you by the experts at Svinando!