8 Wines and Chocolate Pairings for a Delightful Easter Celebration

Easter is a time for festive treats – especially everyone's favorite: chocolate. From rich dark chocolate eggs to creamy milk chocolate bunnies, there's plenty to indulge in. But have you considered elevating those Easter sweets with a perfect wine pairing? The right wine can highlight the flavors of chocolate and add a special touch to your celebrations. Below, we present four wine and chocolate pairings tailored for this occasion, each featuring wines available from Garrafeira da Ilha. Get ready to make this Easter extra delicious!

Dark Chocolate and Robust Red Wines

Dark chocolate (high-cocoa, 70% or more) has intense, bittersweet flavors. It pairs best with robust red wines that can match its depth. Full-bodied reds with firm tannins and dark fruit notes can stand up to dark chocolate’s intensity. They complement the chocolate’s bitterness and richness without being overwhelmed.

• 100 Hectares Filigrana (Douro DOC Red) – A bold Portuguese red wine brimming with black fruit and subtle toasted cocoa notes. This Douro blend has firm tannins and 14% ABV, giving it enough structure to stand up to dark chocolate's intensity. The wine’s hint of cacao and deep fruit flavor mirror the chocolate, creating a harmonious bittersweet blend.

• Trinca Bolotas Tinto (Alentejo) – A smooth yet full-bodied red from Alentejo, made with Alicante Bouschet and Touriga Nacional. It offers ripe red berry flavors, a touch of spice, and very soft tannins. Trinca Bolotas’ balanced profile complements dark chocolate by softening its bitterness. The wine’s oak-aged warmth and lingering finish match the richness of a dark chocolate truffle or chocolate egg.

Milk Chocolate and Medium-Bodied Red Wines

Milk chocolate is sweeter and creamier, with less cocoa intensity. A medium-bodied red wine with softer tannins and fruity flavors pairs wonderfully here. These wines won't overpower the chocolate’s mild cocoa and milky sweetness. Instead, they add a fruity contrast and smooth finish.

• Monte Velho Tinto (Alentejo) – This easy-drinking Portuguese red blend is known for its velvety texture and ripe plum and berry notes. Monte Velho has moderate acidity and gentle tannins, which suit the sweetness of milk chocolate. The wine’s smooth profile enhances milk chocolate’s creamy character without introducing bitter or harsh notes. Together, they create a mellow, crowd-pleasing pairing perfect for Easter desserts.

• Sunny Farm Primitivo (Puglia) – An Italian Primitivo (Zinfandel) that is jammy and medium-bodied, with flavors of black cherry, fig, and a hint of sweet spice. Its natural fruit sweetness and low tannin make it a delightful partner for milk chocolate. Sunny Farm Primitivo’s plush, fruity palate echoes the caramel and vanilla tones in milk chocolate. Each sip alongside a piece of milk chocolate bunny brings out notes of raisins and spice, elevating the treat.

White Chocolate and Sparkling Wines

White chocolate is rich in cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids, but has no cocoa solids. It’s buttery and very sweet, so it shines with a sparkling wine pairing. You can go two ways: match sweetness with a sweet sparkling, or contrast it with a dry bubbly. Either way, the bubbles and acidity help cleanse the palate between decadent bites of white chocolate.

• Santero Moscato Dolce – A sweet Italian sparkling (Moscato) bursting with floral aromas, honey, and peach. Its gentle sweetness matches white chocolate’s vanilla and cream flavors, making for a harmonious pairing. Santero Moscato’s low alcohol and frothy bubbles keep the combination light. The wine’s sweet fruit notes blend with white chocolate, almost like enjoying a strawberries-and-cream dessert.

• Pizzolato Prosecco Brut – A crisp, dry Prosecco from Italy’s Veneto region. This sparkling wine offers green apple, pear, and citrus notes with lively bubbles. Sipping a brut Prosecco alongside white chocolate creates a pleasing contrast. The wine’s high acidity cuts through the chocolate’s buttery sweetness. Each bite tastes fresher, and the light bubbly texture prevents the white chocolate from becoming cloying. This balance of sweet and crisp is ideal for a celebratory toast.

Chocolate with Nuts and Fortified Wines

Chocolate studded with nuts (like almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts) introduces crunchy texture and roasted nutty flavors. To match this, pour a fortified wine with its own nutty, caramel character. Tawny Port is a classic choice. Aged in wood, it develops walnut, almond, and toffee notes that beautifully complement nutty chocolates. Its sweetness also matches the candy, so neither the wine nor the chocolate tastes bitter.

• W.& J. Graham’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port – A decade in oak barrels gives this Port complex flavors of toasted nuts, dried figs, and caramelized sugar. It’s silky and medium-sweet. When paired with chocolate covered almonds or hazelnut milk chocolate, Graham’s Tawny highlights the nutty notes. It also adds a luscious raisin-like finish. The wine’s warmth and toffee sweetness make each bite of nutty chocolate taste even more indulgent.

• Porto Ferreira Tawny Port – A younger tawny port that is budget-friendly and delicious. It offers smooth caramel, almond, and light spice flavors. Sipping Ferreira Tawny with a piece of chocolate and hazelnut bar brings out hints of oak and vanilla. The Port’s nutty undertones resonate with the roasted nuts, while its gentle sweetness balances the chocolate. It's a wonderful after-dinner treat pairing that feels both comforting and elegant.

Make This Easter Special with Wine and Chocolate

Experimenting with wine and chocolate pairings can turn your Easter into a gourmet experience. The four pairings above are a great starting point. Feel free to mix and match to find your personal favorite. Garrafeira da Ilha offers a wide selection of wines for Easter, whether you prefer bold reds or festive bubbly. The right bottles will enrich your Easter celebration. Browse our collection to shop for Easter wines and create your own delicious wine-and-chocolate pairings. With the right bottle in hand, you'll make this Easter extra special and sweet for everyone at the table.