Much like wine, high quality chocolate is something to be savored and appreciated. The fermentation of grapes for wine and cacao seeds for chocolate is what gives both their complex flavors. Some dark chocolate is even aged like wine to bring out more of its delicious qualities. With so many similarities, it is no surprise that wine and chocolate are a lovely pairing.

Chocolate is a common flavor profile found in wines aged in oak barrels. Some Missouri wineries, such as Ladoga Ridge, Pirtle, Riverwood, Mount Pleasant and Westphalia, produce chocolate flavored wines great for sipping. These wines are often seasonal, so don’t wait or you might miss them!

A general rule for enjoying wine and chocolate together is that the wine should be as sweet or sweeter than the chocolate. A raspberry or cherry fruit wine would go well with white and milk chocolates. Dry reds enhance the taste of dark, bittersweet chocolate. As we all know, rules are sometimes meant to be broken, so experiment with what sounds good to you.

Missouri-made, high-quality chocolates compliment Missouri wines. Here are some pairings to try:

• Askinosie Chocolate (Springfield, Mo.): A sweet sparkling wine is the perfect match for their rich, buttery Davao White Chocolate Bars.
• Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier (St. Louis, Mo.): Their dark chocolate cranberry pecan bark is a customer favorite. Indulge in these treats after dinner with a glass of full-bodied Norton.
• Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates (Kansas City, Mo.): Sip a fruity Vignoles with the tropical retreat for you taste buds that is Christopher Elbow's passion fruit caramels. *Bonus* There’s a winery right next door, KC Wineworks.
• Kakao Chocolate (St. Louis, Mo.): Pair the intense grape aroma of Concord with Kakao's hand-dipped truffles made from fresh cream, real butter and vanilla bean seeds.
• Patric Chocolate (Columbia, Mo.): The flavors of plum and butter-hazlenut toffee in Patric Chocolate's 67% Madagascar dark chocolate bar pair well with port-style wines.
• The Candy Factory (Columbia, Mo.): Their signature chocolate covered potato chips sound odd, but are magnificent, especially paired with a Missouri Chambourcin wine.

When the right wine and chocolate come together, there is no denying their chemistry.

Missouri Wines pair well with chocolate!