Love is in the air

Jason Clarke, Contributor

"First, we have to create the mood ... Percussion ... strings ... winds ... words ...

There you see her

Sitting there across the way

She don't got a lot to say.

But there's something about her

And you don't know why

But you're dying to try

You wanna kiss the girl."

No one said it better than the miserable and anxious crustacean Sebastian in the Disney classic, The Little Mermaid. The time of year is upon us where, as men, we profess our love and demonstrate it with fancy dinners, chocolates, roses, and not to mention, wine. Over-the-top romantic gestures are always welcome, but sometimes simple can be equally nice - but it's all in the subtle details that have a resonating impact.

Chocolate is such a decadence to be enjoyed on the other 364 days of the year outside of Valentine's Day. Its silky, smooth texture and its sweet taste make it truly spectacular. Milk chocolates, dark chocolates, even white chocolates, are all extremely decadent and work amazingly well with wine.

One can take two approaches to chocolate and wine enjoyed at home or out on the town - whether it comes at the beginning or the end, both lend themselves to a delightful evening. Both reds and whites can stand up to the intensity of chocolate, it's all about the right pairing to make a match made in heaven. The media have highlighted and emphasised champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries as the benchmark of Valentine's Day decadence. And, although they work incredibly well together, one or both may be a challenge to procure on the basis of price or availability.

With a little help from my friends at Chocolate Dreams, I did a little chocolate expedition to find the best pairing options. Sweet reds are incredible wines, as they offer a bit of fruity sweetness that is generally appreciated by women, and, more important, works very well with chocolates. Lamothe Parrot is one such sweet red. It goes beautifully with milk and dark chocolate, highlighting all the nuances. I tried it with red velvet truffles, salted caramels and, my favourite - chocolate-covered coffee bean. Talk about a match made in heaven. This particular wine is available in most of the main supermarkets across the island and is the perfect mood setter.

One can never think about chocolate and not consider the ever-popular moscato. Moscatos are sweet by themselves, but perfectly complement chocolate or can be enjoyed entirely on their own. I always enjoy the Bolla, Cavit, and Capasaldo moscatos. There are lots of moscatos readily available, so you can take your pick. Although moscatos aren't the only white wines you can have with chocolate, a guiding thought is that your white wine should be slightly sweeter than your chocolate. If you are more on the daring side and open to trying something different from a white, zinfandel will complement the bittersweet taste of dark chocolate.

I am pretty sure most restaurants will have some kind of chocolate cake on their menu, even if it's only for one night. I couldn't help but try the white chocolate cheesecake and a Mionetto prosseco (Italian sparkling). The combination is absolutely delicious and the perfect end to dinner. If you are looking for a wine-and-chocolate evening, my two favourite wine bars, Uncorked in Sovereign North, and Bin 26 in Devon House, will have a treat for you.

But, whatever you decide to do, have fun with it, and, most important, enjoy the wine.

Cheers!

I am not an expert, merely a wine enthusiast sharing my thoughts and experiences. Feel free to share your own experiences at wineenthusiastja@gmail.com.