Wines for Valentine’s day, Grenache and Chocolate.

Wines for Valentine’s day, Grenache and Chocolate. – Episode # 623

February 13, 2009

What wine goes with Valentine’s day? Well of course you want to serve Chocolate so Gary talks about the Grenache grape and its merits.

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Comments on this episode(196) Leave a comment ›

“I have been loving Grenache for years now!!! #1 for me by far… absol…” by Chris
“Being a chocolate taster, aka you can buy a tasting with me, pairing …” by Anders
View all 196 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2004 Chat De Tourettes Grenache D’endesProvence
2007 Marquis Philips GrenacheAustralian Grenache
2006 Eno Grenache Eaglepoint Ranch.Sonoma Red Rhone Varieti

196 Responses

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October 18, 2009

Chris
I have been loving Grenache for years now!!! #1 for me by far… absolutely my favorite.

try a Cannonau di Sardigna sella&Mosca 2005… 14,95 CDN wonderful secret weapon to bring to any dinner or tasting.
July 23, 2009

Anders
Being a chocolate taster, aka you can buy a tasting with me, pairing chocolate with red wine is hard but fun. Grenache, Barbera D’asti , Monastrell and Zinfandel are usually very good grapes for chocolate. Now doubt is dessert wines like Port, Sherry, Madiera and other sweet ones from grapes “afflicted” with noble rot the best play with chocolate.

QOTD: well so much chocolate and so little time and money. Best at the moment on my palate is Valrhona Ampamakia 2008 (doh vintage chocolate!!). Valrhona is a good manufacturer from France. Actually from Tain L’Hermitage, Yes, the Hermitage appallation in Rhone. Best All time Amedie Porcelana, Amedie a Italian maker just outside Pisa , yep Tuscany another wine region.
March 25, 2009

Fredly
Not quite fair to refer to Marquis-Philips as “world-famous” since the brand only exists in the U.S. It was originally a joint venture of winemaker Sparky Marquis (now of Mollydooker) and U.S. importer Dan Philips of The Grateful Palate for a line of wines that would only be sold in the U.S.
March 14, 2009

JudeMurphy
There’s an amazing chocolate brand in France called Michel Cluizel…
mmm… I want some chocolate now!
March 1, 2009

Sharon
Ah, Grenache and chocolate, got it. I also think Zin goes well w/Chocolate in theory.
QOTD: I like Godiva chocolate truffles. And hot fudge in a hot fudge sundae.
February 25, 2009

Lawrence Leichtman
Grenach is far and away my favorite from Spain, France and California. I have liked Grenach blends from Australia but have yet to drink one by itself that I thought was good. My favorite chocolate is Scharffenberger for its bitterness and richness.
February 24, 2009

Daniel O
QOTD: My fave chocolate is Snickers!
February 22, 2009

lawschooldrunk
I’m an equal opportunity chocolateer.

but, as far as candybars, Skor, 5th avenue, and twix are up there.
February 22, 2009

Neil
hmm Not sure i should be taking on the wine Oracle that is the GV but i kinda think you might be wrong on the most planted variety front. Most sources state that it is Airen from spain, a rather simple white grape mostly used for distilling. Other sources point out that although it has less acreage than Airen the grape that produces the greatest crush is the grape known in Italy as Trebbiano and in France as Ugni Blanc. This is another simple neutral easy to grow grape that is used a lot in distilling (in France).

Did you mean the most planted WINE grape? I guess if you excluded the stuff used for distilling it might knock these out of the top ranks… But then again i have read various sources claiming that Cabernet and Merlot both come in above Granache…

I am of course nit picking but then i am something of a pedant…

Your show rules though. No doubt about it!
February 20, 2009

Sonia
Vosges Haut-Chocolat Woolloomooloo Bar.
February 20, 2009

C-Lo
Love Grenache! haven’t had a good one for a while! I’ll have to go find one soon…

Marquis Philips has disappointed me in the past….

QOTD: I kill for the location specific dark chocolates from TJ’s. We are talking 70+ Cacao. Love it so much i think i’m going to have some right now….
February 19, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
This episode = epic fail? Shame things didnt pair so well, but hey if some people out there like the pairings good for them. QOTD: Bittersweet chocolate ( at least 70% or higher ) made into truffles with ONLY heavy cream and pure vanilla extract. I made some truffles like that for friends around the country and made 6 kinds with normal, orange blossom honey, raspberry, 30 year port, lavender, and cayenne. They were absolute perfection. Nothing beats truffles with just chocolate, cream, and pure flavorings.
February 19, 2009

TEd
GV,

Great show great content, awesome job to bring choco in and then go back and re-taste after, and your honesty shows in thsi epsisode, great one!
February 19, 2009

M
I’m a fan of fun facts. Not so much a fan of chocolate.

I had a good grenache based Gigondas this week.
February 18, 2009

bob c
favorite chocolate…..ghiardelli chocolate squares, baby ruth,and mounds…
February 18, 2009

SaraMHCRU
Thanks for the food pairing episode. These are always helpful and informative.

it’s all about the cadbury crunchie for me. though I am a total sucker for a twix.
February 18, 2009

Andrew
Ver interesting episode. I think its very cool how a wine changes with food.

DARK Chocolate Milky Way
February 18, 2009

innA
Not sure if it was just my screen, but all these wines looked so light for grenache?

I’m a bit of a chocoholic, but I feel American chocolates in general are quite horrible – especially anything with the ridiculous name of ‘bittersweet’ – dark chocolate simply doesn’t have to be bitter! The Scharffen Berger, Hersheys, Paul Newman Ghirardelli et al are worlds behind in taste and quality.

Michel Cluizel, Valrhona and Thierry Mulhaupt are my favourite 3 producers – amazing chocolates.. especially anything above 65% cocoa.

QOTD – Michel Cluizel’s Hacienda ‘Los Anconès’
February 18, 2009

Ray Barnes
QOTD – Generally I hate milk chocolate and love the dark stuff, no specific preference. Very good show.
February 17, 2009

dcpatton
QOTD: scharffen berger nibby bar.
February 17, 2009

Andy and Edie Hanson
M&M’s! Is it just me or are the videos not working in full screen on internet explorer anymore? Ever since the episode of Gary in the restaurant a few eps back. Any other ones before that work in full screen. Thanks!

-Andy
February 17, 2009

Matthias
“Carlitos

Gary,

Little correction. Grenache would be most planted RED grape! I think the most planted grape period is Airén, also in Spain, mostly La Mancha to be used for their bulk wines.”

Right! That is what i had learnt during my study of viticulture, too.
February 17, 2009

Carlitos
Gary,

Little correction. Grenache would be most planted RED grape! I think the most planted grape period is Airén, also in Spain, mostly La Mancha to be used for their bulk wines.

QOTD. I just brought a 70% with coffee bits from Colombia that was pretty awesome!
February 17, 2009

Beau Mitall
Gotta go with old skool HoHo’s back when they wraped them in real foil. Don’t know what they would have paired well with though besides 1% milk.
February 17, 2009

pawncop
Good episode and good information. I have become a big fan of the “Le Gormand” that you had in a secret pack last year. It goes great with chocolate.

QOTD – Any good quality milk chocolate.