Wine and Chocolate Pairings

 

On Saturday, April 2, 2022, at a sold-out event at the University Club, AAFSW Program Chair Sheila Switzer and AAFSW Fun For Funds Fundraising Events Chair Joanna Athanasopoulos Owen, PhD, welcomed wine expert Bill Stefan for a fabulous presentation of pairing fine wine with delicate chocolates.

 

Mr. Stefan offered wines from Italy, South Africa, Australia, North America, Japan, Greece, and Portugal and paired them with chocolates made of dark chocolate, key lime, raspberry ganache, dark cherry, caramel, coconut, almond, and more. Through this amazing trip of aromas and tastes, Mr. Stefan taught us that after weight and body, the aromas are the most important component for matching food and wine, followed by the structure or taste which also have an impact.

 

Although Mr. Stefan recommended that we enjoy pairing wines and food the way we each enjoy and try our own pairings, he demonstrated how food and wine pairings are both art and science, as they are truly all about relationships!