Chocolate Wine: Everything You Want To Know

  • Last Updated - 6/9/23
chocolate wine

Chocolate wine is a unique type of “wine” made by combining wine and rich chocolate flavors to create a decadent taste experience. And it’s a perfect combination of two of life’s greatest pleasures: wine and chocolate.

Table of Contents

What is Chocolate Wine?

Chocolate wine is a type of dessert wine that is made by combining the flavors of wine and chocolate. And this results in a rich, sweet, and velvety taste that is perfect for sipping after a meal or as a dessert in its own right.

There are two types:

  1. Wine-based – Crafted from wine grape varietals combined with chocolate, cream, and/or other fruit flavors extracts.
  2. Cream-based – Though they may have a sprinkle of wine, the cream-based drinks are not actually wines. These “chocolate wines” offer a sweet and indulgent taste, reminiscent of chocolate milk with alcohol.

How are Chocolate Wines Made?

The process of making this wine is relatively simple and really up to the winemaker.  

1) Wine mixed with chocolate and/or cream.

  • It can be a combination of multiple grapes such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and Merlot. Or, made by using just one red wine grape.
  • And by adding chocolate flavor, cream or fruit extracts this will soften the wines’ acidity and tannins making for a smoother, creamier wine.

2) Red Wine with chocolate flavors but no actual chocolate is added.

  • During fermentation, certain fruits like wine grapes, plums, and blackberries create chocolate wines that boast an ample amount of chocolate flavors when accompanied by spices like nutmeg.
  • And for certain chocolate wines, coffee/mocha is used for achieving the desired flavor.

What Does Chocolate Wine Taste Like?

chocolate wine flavors

The flavor of chocolate wine can vary from one winemaker to another, as each winemaker is unique in their approach and aiming for a particular set of notes. However, all will agree that cocoa-like flavors should be prevalent across the board.

And generally they will have a velvety texture and are quite sweet. Plus, they usually have chocolate, cream, and chocolate cake flavors with hints of red fruits like cherries and berries. 

And if the chocolate wine is made with mocha or coffee notes it will also be present in its flavor.

9 Best Chocolate Wines

1) ChocoVine Dutch Chocolate

ChocoVine Dutch Chocolate wine
  • Region: Holland
  • ABV: 14%
  • Cost: ~$11

This is a blend of French Cabernet Sauvignon (red wine) and Dutch chocolate, resulting in a decadent and rich chocolate flavor profile. So it’s perfect for sipping on its own or paired with heavy desserts like red velvet cake. 

2) Rubis Chocolate Velvet Ruby

Rubis Chocolate Velvet Ruby chocolate wine
  • Region: La Mancha, Spain
  • ABV: 15%
  • Cost: ~$14

This is a fortified wine using the Tempranillo grape and dark chocolate providing it with the bold, rich, and red fruity flavors.

3) Landon Winery Reserve Chocolate Finale Dessert Red

chocolate dessert landon winery
  • Region: Grapevine, Texas
  • ABV: 15.9%
  • Cost: ~$26

Another chocolate dessert wine has deep flavors of hot chocolate, and cherries with a smooth vanilla finish.

4) Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block

Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block Chocolate wine
  • Region: Franschhoek, South Africa
  • ABV: 14.58%
  • Cost: ~$30

This red wine is made with a blend of Syrah 74%; Grenache 10%; Cinsault 8%; Cabernet Sauvignon 7%; Viognier 1%.

And it offers complex flavors of blackberry, chocolate, cream, blueberries, ripe plums, and spice. Plus there are hints of cocoa, but I get more dark fruits and earthy flavors. 

5) ChocoVine Dutch Dark Chocolate

ChocoVine Dutch Dark Chocolate wine
  • Region: Holland
  • ABV: 14%
  • Cost: ~$11

ChocoVine presents yet another magnificent blend of chocolate and wine. And this complex Chocolate wine is more rich and complex than their original and has a longer finish.

6) Zonte's Footstep Chocolate Factory Shiraz

Zonte's Footstep Chocolate Factory Shiraz
  • Region: McLaren Vale, Australia
  • ABV: 14.5%
  • Cost: ~$22

An Australian Shiraz that the winery describes as a “Black Forest cake in a bottle… Be delighted by juicy black cherry and mocha notes intertwined with signature silky smooth milk chocolate tannins.”

7) The Chocolate Tube Primitivo

Chocolate Tube
  • Region: Puglia, Italy
  • ABV: 14%
  • Cost: ~$12

Crafted from Primitivo grapes, this rich chocolate wine has intense dark chocolate notes that are accompanied by a subtle hint of cherry and other ripe fruits. Furthermore, it’s a full-bodied yet smooth experience that features hints of rich cocoa throughout.

8) Red Decadence Chocolate Wine

red decadence
  • Region: Washington
  • ABV: 12.5%
  • Cost: ~$14

Red Decadence has aromas of chocolate and vanilla, which are complemented by a blend of ripe red fruit flavors. And it’s smooth yet lively palate finishes with a hint of earth and dried herbs. And on its own it can be a chocolate dessert wine!

9) Chocolate Cellar Red

The Chocolate wine cellar red
  • Region: USA
  • ABV: 12.5%
  • Cost: ~$11

You can find this rich chocolate wine at Aldi’s! And it has sweet scents and flavors like candied cherries, caramel, and creamy dark chocolate.

FAQs

Is Chocolate Wine really wine?

Yes, it’s a real wine. Because they can be made from real wine grapes and chocolate flavorings/aromas are added to the fermenting must or finished product. However, the chocolate itself does not contain alcohol.

Does it pair well with food?

Yes, they can be paired with chocolate desserts, cheesecake, or truffles.

How much alcohol is there?

Usually they have an alcohol content of 12% – 16%. But this can vary depending on the wine maker and if they add distilled spirits to it, like brandy.

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