skip to main content

Lodi Winegrape Commission

  • Home
  • Wineries
  • About
  • Visit
    • Visitor Center
  • Club
  • Events
  • Store
    • LODI RULES Sustainable Certification
    • White Wines
    • Rosé Wines
    • Red Wines
    • Sparkling/Dessert Wines
    • Old Vine Wines
    • Merchandise
  • Blog
TOP

Letters from Lodi

An insightful and objective look at viticulture and winemaking from the Lodi
Appellation and the growers and vintners behind these crafts. Told from the
perspective of multi-award winning wine journalist, Randy Caparoso.

Randy Caparoso
 
February 2, 2015 | Randy Caparoso

Wines, chocolates, chili: matches made in heaven (and for Wine & Chocolate Weekend!)

Chocolate in the raw: one of the world’s most natural, sensuous wine matches!

Chocolate in the raw: one of the world’s most natural, sensuous wine matches!

CHOCOLATES AND WINES, FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS

How fortuitous that two of the most wonderful things in the world – wines and chocolates – go so well together!

Wine & Chocolate Weekend

Wine & Chocolate Weekend

In fact, it has been suggested that chocolate may be as natural a match for wines as cheese! This is why, during the past three vintages, the official sponsor of Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend (coming up this weekend, February 7-8, 2015!) has been the high-end confectioner, Brix Chocolate.

There are reasons why we are into Brix Chocolate. Brix is the first line of chocolates specifically blended to compliment wine. Based on the finest single origin chocolate from Ghana, Brix masterfully combines the outspoken character of the single origin chocolate with the smoothness of the highest quality confectionary chocolate.

Dr. Nick Proia, an Ohio pulmonologist, developed Brix when it became obvious to him that no chocolate on the market paired well with wine. It seemed foolish to Dr. Proia to eat these fat-laden cheeses after dinner, while trying to benefit from the health effects of wines. As a result he developed four basic variations of Brix Chocolate; each designed to match with many of the styles of wine found particularly in Lodi wine country:

Brix Extra Dark (70%) is specifically formulated to pair with the deepest, sturdiest varietal red wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Malbec, Mourvèdre, and more unusual "big" reds such as Charbono, Tannat, Touriga and Aglianico. Having a very high cocoa content, this Brix blend can stand up to the generous tannins found in these styles of red wines – a wine/chocolate match made in heaven!

Brix Medium Dark Chocolate (60%) may be the most versatile of the Brix blends. While its cocoa content is high, it remains composed enough to enhance the fruit forward wines it was originally designed to match; such as softer, rounder styles of Merlot, Cabernet Franc or Syrah, most Zinfandels or Primitivo, as well as zesty, medium bodied reds such as Barbera, Sangiovese, Grenache (a.k.a. Garnacha), Tempranillo, Graciano, or Alvarelhão.

Brix Chocolate for Wine

Brix Chocolate for Wine

Brix Smooth Dark Chocolate (54%) was originally designed in 2011 to match with sparkling wines; but it is perfectly balanced so it complement a number of lighter, fragrant white wines, both dry and sweet, while carrying enough structure to stand up to medium-bodied or aged reds as well. Brix's 54% is an easy match with fine, perfumed styles of Pinot Noir, but may be even better with Port style dessert reds or "Late Harvest" styles of Zinfandel. You may also be surprised by how well Brix's Smooth-Dark goes with aromatic varietal whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris, Albariño, Verdejo, Verdelho, or Vermentino.

Brix Milk Chocolate (46%) is a chocolate designed for lighter, fruit-forward reds or sweet dessert wines. The addition of high quality milk chocolate to the single origin Ghanaian product results in a milk chocolate like no other, both creamy and spicy. Enjoy 46% Chocolate especially with medium-sweet Muscats, or easy drinking pink wines (soft White Zinfandel or even dry rosés made from grapes like Grenache, Sangiovese or Barbera).

Chocolate chili & Harney Lane Zinfandel

Chocolate chili & Harney Lane Zinfandel

CHOCOLATE CHILI – ANOTHER LODI WINE COUNTRY TRADITION

You can also expect to find a number of Lodi wineries serving their versions of "chocolate chili" during Wine & Chocolate Weekend.

Why? Because chilis made with the use of pure, unsweetened chocolate as an ingredient goes so darned well with the rounder, lusher, juicier styles of red wines grown abundantly in Lodi. As the Andrews Sisters once sang, it’s just a fact, mon.

Chocolate chili & Harney Lane Zinfandel

Brenda & Mike Metcalf

For some 20 years, Mike Metcalf and his wife Brenda have been serving some of Lodi’s best breakfasts and lunches at Avenue Grill on W. Lodi Avenue – it is where the Lodi locals eat. The Metcalfs also make a killer chocolate chili; a recipe for which they have graciously shared with us, giving you an idea of what you may be savoring during Lodi's annual wild and wonderful Wine & Chocolate Weekend (purchase tickets here!):

Avenue Grill’s Lodi Chocolate Chili

  • 2 tbs. vegetable oil
  • 2 ½ lbs. ground chuck
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ½ tbs. ground black pepper
  • 1 ½ cups diced yellow onion
  • 1 ½ cups diced green bell pepper
  • 64 oz. diced tomato in juice
  • 1 pkg. Carroll Shelby’s Original Texas Brand Chili Kit
  • 3 tbs. unsweetened cocoa
  • 2 tbs. ground cumin
  • 16 oz. can Hormel Chili, no beans
  • 32 oz. pinto beans
  • 32 oz. kidney beans
  1. In an 8 quart pot, heat oil on medium high heat, add ground chuck
  2. Season with salt and pepper and cook until almost done (slightly pink)
  3. Add onions and bell peppers and cook until onion is translucent
  4. Add diced tomatoes, Texas Chili mix, cocoa, cumin and chili
  5. Simmer covered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally`
  6. Add beans and continue to simmer 20 more minutes

Pop open a Lodi Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo or Garnacha, and enjoy!

Lovin' Lodi wines and chocolates at Macchia winery

Lovin' Lodi wines and chocolates at Macchia winery

Tweet
Pin It

Comments

Commenting has been turned off.
Blog Search
Recent Posts
  • January 19, 2021
    French students break down Lodi winegrowing, marketing, and its Alta Mesa appellation
  • January 13, 2021
    Alternative style Lodi wines reflecting the wave of the future — part 2, new interpretations of heritage grapes
  • January 11, 2021
    Alternative style Lodi wines reflecting the wave of the future — part 1, an unfamiliar white and red
  • January 5, 2021
    Discerning wines of the immediate future through what we know about the past and what's going in Lodi
  • December 29, 2020
    Lodi 2020: The year in pictures
  • December 27, 2020
    The small steps of Lodi growers led to giant leaps for Lodi wine country
  • December 22, 2020
    Looking on the bright side of fading old vine plantings in Lodi
  • December 17, 2020
    Our list of nice Lodi reds, rosés and fortified dessert wines for Christmas gifting and sipping
  • December 15, 2020
    A Lodi white makes the world's Top 100 list, and other Lodi whites for Christmas shopping and sipping
  • December 9, 2020
    The 1980s and 1990s — start of Lodi wine country's modern era
Our Writers
  • Randy Caparoso (804)
Blog Archives
2021
  • January 2021 (4)
2020
  • December 2020 (7)
  • November 2020 (7)
  • October 2020 (6)
  • September 2020 (7)
  • August 2020 (7)
  • July 2020 (7)
  • June 2020 (8)
  • May 2020 (8)
  • April 2020 (8)
  • March 2020 (8)
  • February 2020 (6)
  • January 2020 (6)
2019
  • December 2019 (7)
  • November 2019 (6)
  • October 2019 (6)
  • September 2019 (5)
  • August 2019 (5)
  • July 2019 (7)
  • June 2019 (6)
  • May 2019 (6)
  • April 2019 (6)
  • March 2019 (6)
  • February 2019 (5)
  • January 2019 (7)
2018
  • December 2018 (7)
  • November 2018 (7)
  • October 2018 (9)
  • September 2018 (6)
  • August 2018 (7)
  • July 2018 (8)
  • June 2018 (7)
  • May 2018 (9)
  • April 2018 (8)
  • March 2018 (9)
  • February 2018 (8)
  • January 2018 (8)
2017
  • December 2017 (6)
  • November 2017 (8)
  • October 2017 (10)
  • September 2017 (5)
  • August 2017 (6)
  • July 2017 (7)
  • June 2017 (6)
  • May 2017 (5)
  • April 2017 (7)
  • March 2017 (6)
  • February 2017 (5)
  • January 2017 (7)
2016
  • December 2016 (7)
  • November 2016 (8)
  • October 2016 (7)
  • September 2016 (7)
  • August 2016 (5)
  • July 2016 (7)
  • June 2016 (7)
  • May 2016 (6)
  • April 2016 (6)
  • March 2016 (7)
  • February 2016 (6)
  • January 2016 (5)
2015
  • December 2015 (8)
  • November 2015 (6)
  • October 2015 (7)
  • September 2015 (5)
  • August 2015 (6)
  • July 2015 (7)
  • June 2015 (6)
  • May 2015 (5)
  • April 2015 (6)
  • March 2015 (6)
  • February 2015 (7)
  • January 2015 (5)
2014
  • December 2014 (8)
  • November 2014 (5)
  • October 2014 (7)
  • September 2014 (5)
  • August 2014 (3)
  • July 2014 (5)
  • June 2014 (6)
  • May 2014 (7)
  • April 2014 (7)
  • March 2014 (5)
  • February 2014 (4)
  • January 2014 (7)
2013
  • December 2013 (8)
  • November 2013 (6)
  • October 2013 (7)
  • September 2013 (5)
  • August 2013 (6)
  • July 2013 (4)
  • June 2013 (4)
  • May 2013 (4)
  • April 2013 (5)
  • March 2013 (2)
  • February 2013 (2)
  • January 2013 (4)
2012
  • December 2012 (7)
  • November 2012 (9)
  • October 2012 (9)
  • September 2012 (7)
  • August 2012 (9)
  • July 2012 (8)
  • June 2012 (8)
  • May 2012 (9)
  • April 2012 (8)
  • March 2012 (9)
  • February 2012 (7)
  • January 2012 (9)
2011
  • December 2011 (7)
  • November 2011 (8)
  • October 2011 (7)
  • September 2011 (7)
  • August 2011 (8)
  • July 2011 (8)
  • June 2011 (9)
  • May 2011 (7)
  • April 2011 (9)
  • March 2011 (8)
  • February 2011 (8)
  • January 2011 (7)
2010
  • December 2010 (8)
  • November 2010 (6)
  • October 2010 (2)
  • September 2010 (6)
  • August 2010 (5)
Additional Resources
  • Media & Trade
  • Lodi Winegrape Commission
  • Donation Requests
  • Returns & Cancellations
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
Contact

Lodi Wine Visitor Center
2545 West Turner Road Lodi, CA 95242
209.365.0621
Open: Thursday - Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm

Lodi Winegrape Commission
2545 West Turner Road, Lodi, CA 95242
209.367.4727
Open: Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm

Have a question? Complete our contact form.

  • © Copyright 2021 Lodi Winegrape Commission
  • Winery Ecommerce by WineDirect