Chocolate wine is a mix of chocolate and red wine so basically, it’s a wine liqueur. This dessert drink, which is a perfect ending to any meal, has light creamy, vanilla, and fruity notes. So, this unusual alcoholic drink will go well on a festive table and will cheer anyone up on a cold winter day.
History. Chocolate wine originated in 18th century England. Back then both claret (any dry red Bordeaux wine) and strong port wine were used as base alcohol.
Here’s the classic recipe for this drink:
- Bring 750 ml of red wine to a boil. Ignite and let the alcohol burn out.
- Turn the heat down and keep boiling the beverage down until its volume decreases fivefold.
- While the beverage is still boiling prepare a chocolate mass by adding a crushed bitter chocolate bar into a glass of hot milk and bringing it to a boil while stirring.
- Slowly pour the boiled down wine into the chocolate milk mass, stir, and bring to a boil. Then blend until smooth and cool down.
Simple Chocolate Wine Recipe
The main advantage of this method is that you can do without igniting and boiling.
Ingredients:
- Red wine – 50 ml
- Brandy – 100 ml
- Cocoa powder – 100 grams
- Fresh milk – 100 ml
- 2 egg yolks
- Cinnamon and other spices – to taste (optional)
Recipe:
- Mix red wine and brandy. Add cinnamon and other spices to taste.
- Mix cocoa, milk, and yolks in a separate container and whisk.
- Mix wine and milk mixture, blend until smooth.
- Serve chilled.
Hot Homemade Chocolate Wine
This drink resembles mulled wine and works great to get warm.
Ingredients:
- Dark bitter chocolate – 1 bar
- Water – 4 tbsp
- Dry red wine – 400-500 ml
- Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, pepper, cloves – to taste
Recipe:
- Melt bitter chocolate in a water bath and dilute with water.
- Mix hot chocolate and wine. You can also add spices if you want: cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, pepper, cloves, etc.
- Heat the drink to 60-70°C until it gets hot but don’t boil it as this will seriously affect its taste.
- Serve hot or warm.
Famous Chocolate Wine Brands
Chocovine. This Dutch chocolate wine has 14% ABV. It’s made with Cabernet wines and has a deep “silky” taste. There are also Raspberry and Espresso wines.
One of the popular chocolate wine brands
Rubis. A Spanish wine of Tempranillo variety, 15% ABV, rich “silky” bouquet with hints of dried fruits.
Red Decadence. Hints of black cherries, blueberries, plums, and bitter chocolate. This drink is made in the USA, Washington, D.C.
Chocolate Shop. 12%, another representative of the US pleiad. Its bouquet is rich with dark chocolate and black cherry hints. You can also notice cocoa nuances.
Cocoa Vino. 14% ABV, a blend of red wine and milk chocolate. There’s also a Mint version.
Cocoa Di Vine. 14% ABV, its bouquet has tones of vanilla and caramel.
Rapidan River Chocolate. This wine is made with Merlot variety. Its taste has hints of dark and white chocolate and hazelnuts.
Choco Noir. Californian variation, 14% ABV.
One of the key features of these and similar brands is that they all are affordable, with the price for one bottle of chocolate wine ranging from $8 to $20.
Pseudo-Chocolate Wine
Some red wines have delicate hints of chocolate without containing any chocolate but thanks to tannins or aging in a burnt oak barrel: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other varieties.
How to Drink Chocolate Wine
The classic version of this drink is served in wine glasses cooled to 14-17°C along with ice cream, desserts or fruits.
An ice cube can be added to the wine glass, in which case the drink is served at room temperature or slightly heated. Usually, manufacturers indicate the best way of serving on a label.
