Does chocolate with red wine make you smarter?

[Robin Garr]

Chocolate and Red Wine Make You Smarter

"Scientists have come to the conclusion the a limited amount of dark chocolate and red wine consumed together may actually be good for the brain, enhancing its capacities of resolving complex matters."

You have to administer the dose concurrently, though, and pairing red wine with chocolate isn't easy. My favorite: Banyuls or Maury from the French Pyrenees with dark, semisweet choc. What's yours?

Chocolate + red wine = balance the checkbook
Chocolate + sparkling wine = sex
Chocolate + graham crackers + marshmallows = camping


See, you're covered for everything.

I've tried many different wines with chocolate but have found only the Banyuls that Robin mentioned to be the only combo IMHO that is compatible and fit to consume.

[David M. Bueker]

I have my red wine, then some chocolate. Then I am too tired for balancing the checkbook, sex or camping.

Red wine makes you think you're smarter. QED.

John

I have tried Banyuls and MAury with chocolate and although it's good, dark chocolate goes better with dry red wines than those VDNs. Try it with some Grenache-based dry wines from here, or perhaps dry Zin.

An argument that will rage for all of eternity - whether chocolate goes with sweet white wines. My own, thoroughly personal interpetation is that if one wants to do them together it will be dark, high-fat content, bitter-sweet chocolate with full-bodied red wines.

As to whether the combination of wine and chocolate will make us more intelligent......I'll leave that to Dale and others to decide.

Best
Rogov

Another winning combo--chocolate-covered strawberries with a Brachetto d'Acqui.

I certainly hope so!!!

Confusion of cause and effect - people who eat dark chocolate and drink red wine are (by definition) smarter to begin with

Confusion of cause and effect - people who eat dark chocolate and drink red wine are (by definition) smarter to begin with

I think that's selection on the dependent variable.

I've never found a beverage that plays nicely with chocolate, wine or otherwise. Even Banyuls works much better with cheese cake than it does with chocolate, in my opinion.

I've never found a beverage that plays nicely with chocolate...

Melted chocolate mixed with a bit of milk and/or cream ain't too shabby.

Confusion of cause and effect - people who eat dark chocolate and drink red wine are (by definition) smarter to begin with

I think that's selection on the dependent variable.

Indeed.

Myself, I adore chocolate (milk or dark) with coffee! I will often nibble on a bit of chocolate with my iced coffee, for example, and love how it "amplifies" the dark roasted roots when you take a taste of the coffee.

For me, chocolate and coffee are very much "sister foods". And I love being with both of these sisters at the same time! So to speak...

I can't say they make me any "smarter" but they sure enrich my life!

Jeff

For me, chocolate and coffee are very much "sister foods". And I love being with both of these sisters at the same time! So to speak...

Yes, I completely agree. After all, they both come from beans grown in the same regions and which get their complex flavors from similar fermentations.

Unfortunately I can't handle caffeine. But as a fan of the complex flavors of chocolate I know I would like coffee.

Funny, I am just now drinking a homemade healthy smoothie where I put a big chunk of 100% cacao. The stuff is powerful and doesn't give you a hangover.

I would try dark chocolate with Sforzato.

Best,
Agostino

I have found that 70% cocoa dark chocolate will pair beautifully with almost any red wine. I don't understand why we keep having this discussion. We finish almost (every now an then we will serve a Sauternes) every wine class that I teach with either dark chocolate or a dark chocolate dessert, and if I didn't, I would not be asked back. They are sitting up like little puppy dogs waiting for their treat. This is a "no-brainer"! Not a matter of opinion. You may not like it, but it is one of the best wine pairings ever. Have your taste buds checked. (as I am writing this I am having a glass of '05 Vieux Chatexu Landon, Medoc with a chocolate truffle, both are very nice)

I think Moscato d'Asti is the best match for chocolate. A great combo on a hot summer night is warm flourless chocolate cake with Moscato d'Asti - preferably eaten on a deck overlooking the ocean.

I think Moscato d'Asti is the best match for chocolate.

I agree 100%