by myTHself

Many people believe that a wine chocolate gift basket is a great gift but unworthy of their time and effort. While it is true that putting together a wine chocolate gift basket can be a tough job, by following a few simple rules it can easily become a cake walk. By following these rules you can easily construct a gift that will deliver a smile to the face of whoever receives it.

Don’ts

Choosing the right wine is one of the most important things to remember when putting together a wine chocolate gift basket. In fact, most people make a little mistake when choosing the wine which disturbs the overall gift. Some wines should not be mixed with chocolate especially dry wines. Be sure to avoid the following wines: Semillon, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Gewurtraminer. If you insist on giving dry wine replace the chocolate with cheese or bread. Also remember certain wines pair better with certain chocolates. For instance, light bodied wines should be mixed with light, creamy chocolate while full bodied wines should be mixed with strong, dark chocolate.

Mixing Wines and Chocolates

Once again certain wines are better when paired with certain chocolates. When giving red wines it is best to give dark chocolate. Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon when paired together with some type of dark chocolate make a perfect wine chocolate gift basket that anyone would be thrilled to receive. Milk chocolate seems to work great with Pinot Noir and Merlot.

Building a wine chocolate gift basket can be difficult when using white wines. It is extremely difficult to find the perfect chocolate to complement drier wines. If you insist of giving white wine the try pairing milk chocolate with Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling. Chardonnay and French Vanilla chocolate can also be paired together to created a nearly flawless wine chocolate gift basket.

Dessert wines are unique as their have their own set of guidelines. To build a quick and easy wine chocolate gift basket combine Champagne or Sparkling wine with almost any type of chocolate. Port wine should be given with dark chocolate while Sherry wine works best with white chocolate.

Following the Rules

After reading this article you should be able to determine that building a wine chocolate gift basket is actually relatively easy. Just follow the rules and you should be alright. You should start by choosing either a wine or chocolate that you feel the receiver would love. Then simply follow the rules and find the correct wine or chocolate that would pair best with it. You will quickly see how much these rules actually help. People will even be asking you to build them a wine chocolate gift basket!

Those attempting to build a wine chocolate basket for the first time should experiment with a dessert wine. Going with Champagne and Sparking wines can make the process almost effortless since the two work great with almost any type of chocolate. If you feel more comfortable with your new found talent then try mixing red wine with either milk or dark chocolate. Now you should be able to make the perfect wine chocolate basket.

Greetings! One last recipe before we go. I was preparing these to give to the neighbors and figured what the heck, I’ll share the recipe with you. these are super simple and delicious. Last year I made several batches for my mom to give to her co workers. One of them, who is a world traveler, said that he had never had a better scone, even in Ireland! that was a wonderful comment! I hope you give these a try, if not for Christmas, than some other time. There has not seemed to be enough time to share everything that I wanted to in this series, but next year, I’ll have a head start with the lists that I have already made. As always happy eating and Merry Christmas!

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