Press Room
Enstrom Chocolates and Palisade Wines: the quintessential Colorado pairing
By Bronwyn Long, Colorado Wine Examiner
Chocolate and wine: what's not to love? There was a lot to love last Friday night, September 16, at the Enstrom's Chocolate & Wine Tasting at the 20th Annual Colorado Mountain Winefest. In fact, with all of the possible health benefits of red wine and dark chocolate in particular, you could almost say attending this event was as good for the heart as it was for the soul. One look around the room it was clear Willy Wonka had nothing on this feast!
The chocolates were provided by Enstrom Candies, a fourth-generation family business. Owner Jamee Simons, founder Chet Enstrom's granddaughter, paired nine varieties of chocolate, ranging from 38% cacao white chocolate to 91% "Nocturne" bittersweet chocolate, with Colorado red, white, and dessert wines. The chocolate samples were from Guittard Chocolate Company in Burlingame, California, another fourth-generation family business and one of Enstrom's suppliers. Enstrom's signature milk and dark chocolate blends were there to taste as well.
The abundance of antioxidants was almost overwhelming upon entering the room. Where to begin? In the center of the room with the chocolate buffet, or perhaps the molten chocolate fountain? The periphery of the room was lined with wines, both sweet and traditional, and the Enstrom and Guittard samples. The buffet included Enstrom's famous toffee, as well as platters of gourmet chocolates. Tasters were free to sample in any combination, as there was no shortage of chocolate in many forms.
Colorado's exquisite dessert wines were there in force, including Garfield Estates' scrumptious chocolate port, Vin Au Chocolate, and its ice-style wine, Vin De Glace; Graystone Vineyards' rich array of ports; Whitewater Hill's inviting Late Harvest Riesling; Desert Moon Vineyards crisp Shiver; Plum Creek Winery's Sauternes-style Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc; and the Meadery of the Rockies' fruit-infused chocolate meads, including Raspberry Chocolate Satin and Chocolate Cherry Satin.
There were a number of alternatives to sweet wines, including Spero Winery's award-winning Syrah and Cabernet Franc, which paired wonderfully with dark chocolate, and Talon Winery's and Whitewater Hill's wines to sample with dark and white chocolate.
Sláinte!