CONGRATULATIONS TO @TheNancy2880, winner of this prize. Your prize has been shipped to you in time for Valentine’s Day!

It’s easy to win. What’s your favourite wine and chocolate pairing? Perhaps strawberries and Champagne or a Barolo with extra dark chocolate?

Tweet #TWLValentinesContest and re-tweet as often as you like! One winner will be picked at random.

Simply tell us your favourite pairing!!Visit The Wine Ladies Facebook Page and LIKE US. Winner will be drawn at random and announced on The Wine Ladies Facebook page The Wine Ladies Friday February 6th,2015 at noon. Good luck everyone.

Win one grand prize of a BRIX Tasting Party Gift Set plus a selection of matching wines as recommended by us. Prize includes of 4-3 oz bars BRIX Extra Dark Chocolate,Medium Dark Chocolate,Smooth and Milk, Solid Cherry Cutting Board,Matching Knife and Tasting Guide,plus wine. ( Value: $100.00 including shipping)

To purchase the Tasting Party Gift Set

We do love the idea of pairing wine with chocolate, and with Valentine’s Day around the corner the timing couldn’t be any better!

It’s easy as 1-2-3

1.Make sure that you follow both of us on Twitter @TheWineLadies

2. From Friday, January 23rd,2015 9:00am EST until Friday February 6th,2015 at noon,Friday,NOON EST tweet and re-tweet and follow @TheWineLadies. Below is an example that you can use and modify as you see fit.

Example Tweet:

@TheWineLadies Enter me #win!$100.00 gift set #TWLValentineContest #wine & #chocolate #romance

@TheWineLadies my favourite pairing dark #chocolate & #Barolo #TWLValentinesContest I wanna win!

3.Each time you tweet (or re-tweet our Tweets) using the hash tag #TWLValentinesContest your name will be entered into our draw for a chance to win the prize. Keep entering as often as you like. Be sure to add @TheWineLadies at the end of your Tweet as well to help track it.

4.If you don’t TWEET you can also enter on The Wine Ladies FACEBOOK Fan page too right here.

The winner will be randomly selected at 6:00pm on Friday, February 6th, 2015 and will be notified via TWITTER and FACEBOOK.

Good Luck everyone! Georgia and Susanne

A few tips on wine and chocolate tasting.

For planning your Valentine’s Day date, think about offering a range of chocolates, maybe five or six, with a varying degree of cacao content resulting in different levels of sweetness and pure chocolate strength. Consider too, chocolates that contain nuts or toffee, opening up additional possibilities. Next select a range of wines, keeping in mind that in general sweeter wines such as icewines, sherry, tawny port or a Banyuls from France pair really well with chocolate. Throw in a fruity Zinfandel too for a different experience! don’t forget, it’s all about personal taste! Many sommeliers and experts love the pairing of dry Cabernets or fruity wines with dark chocolate while others opt for the classic, and romantic chocolate dipped strawberries and Champagne.

Consider BRIX Chocolate.

Another option, making life simple and taking out the guesswork would be to consider the absolutely delicious chocolate on the market called BRIX; the first ever to be crafted specifically to pair with wine. After much trial and error, the founder Dr. Proia an Ohio pulmonologist (who appreciated the antioxidants found in both wine and chocolate) developed three blends of chocolate with their root being of single origin Ghanaian chocolate known for their red fruit tones particularly suited to wine.

A few chocolate tasting tips that we’ve picked up over time include the advice of chocolatiers and connoisseurs to not bite into the chocolate, but rather to allow the chocolate to slowly melt in your mouth maximizing the full range of flavors, texture and finish.

Sample the wine first on its own, and then sample the chocolate.

Next taste the wine again along with the chocolate in your mouth. Is the sum of the parts greater than the whole? Notice if certain flavors of either the wine or the chocolate are heightened or perhaps diminished? Share your taste experience and your thoughts with the others.
Be sure to provide your guests with several palate cleansers such as fresh bread, simple crackers and pitchers of water. A selection of fresh cheeses accompanied by fresh fruit would round out the evening beautifully!