7 Wine and Chocolate Pairings You *Need* to Know

Because we love you and want you to be happy.

Stemware, , Drink, Drinkware, Wine , Barware, Text, wine, Tableware, Line,
(Image credit: Design by Jennifer Baumgardner)

Chocolate. Wine. Two of the greatest things in existence. (If you're one of the people who doesn't like chocolate, you're the reason I have trust issues.) So what happens if you put the two together? Magic, that's what. (Oh, and probably a chocolate-stained wine glass.) We went ahead and did the dirty work for you, so you can get to eating and drinking and eating some more. You know what—you should probably go ahead and break out the cheese while you're at it.

, Stemware, Sweetness, Food, Drinkware, Strawberry, Fruit, Strawberries, Drink, Tableware,

(Image credit: Design by Jennifer Baumgardner)

A nice chardonnay (or a sparkling wine, like a Crémant de Bourgogne) goes fantastic with white chocolate or a chocolate-covered fruit, like a chocolate orange or chocolate-covered cherries. The crisp, citrus flavors let white chocolate shine—and fruit with fruit is kind of a no-brainer.

Recommended wine: JJ Vincent et Fils Brut Sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne

Drink, , Stemware, Barware, Wine , Text, Drinkware, Liquid, Tableware, Alcoholic beverage,

(Image credit: Design by Jennifer Baumgardner)

Basically, anything chocolate with nuts pairs well with an awesome Pinot Noir—so think Snickers or a Mr. Goodbar. "The ripe, red fruit, lighter body, and silky tannins of a medium-bodied Pinot Noir works well with smooth milk or dark chocolate and nutty flavors," say the experts at Josh Cellars wine. Hob Nob wine experts agree, and say that the saltiness of the nuts bring out rich flavors from the Pinot. The experts at Chelsea Wine Vault agree x 3, and recommend hazelnut truffle squares (like these from Li-Lac Chocolates) because, you know, you already ate your jar of Nutella.

Recommended wines: Pacifica, Evans Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012; Josh Cellars Pinot Noir; Hob Nob Pinot Noir

Stemware, Drink, Wine , , Drinkware, Barware, wine, Liquid, Dessert wine, Alcoholic beverage,

(Image credit: Design by Jennifer Baumgardner)

A dark chocolate treat (like this one) pairs well with a smoky Shiraz, according to the experts at Chelsea Wine Vault. "Dark fruits and an oak finish pair well with the cocoa and almond."

Recommended wines: Kilikanoon, Shiraz "Killerman's Run" 2013

, Stemware, Drink, Wine , Drinkware, Barware, wine, Cocktail, Tableware, Dessert wine,

(Image credit: Design by Jennifer Baumgardner)

"Refreshingly sweet without being sickeningly so, brachetto pairs well with dessert, but especially milk chocolate," say the experts at Chelsea Wine Vault.

Recommended wine: Icardi Brachetto "Suri Vigin" 2013

, Stemware, Drink, Wine , Drinkware, Barware, Liquid, , Line, Dessert wine,

(Image credit: Design by Jennifer Baumgardner)

Big tannins in a Cabernet Sauvignon stand up to the semi-sweet bitterness of dark chocolate while the ripe, berry flavor of the Cab is brought out by the raspberry.

Recommended wine: Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Stemware, , Wine , Drinkware, Barware, Drink, wine, Dessert wine, Liquid, Alcoholic beverage,

(Image credit: Design by Jennifer Baumgardner)

The medium-bodied wine makes the perfect companion to Hershey's kisses—melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Recommended wine: Josh Cellars Merlot

, Drink, Liquid, Stemware, Barware, Wine , Drinkware, Alcoholic beverage, wine, Dessert wine,

(Image credit: Design by Jennifer Baumgardner)

Hob Nob recommends pairing their "Wicked Red Blend" with M&Ms. "Notes of hazelnut and mocha from the wine pair perfectly with these chocolate bite-sized favorites."

Recommended wine: Hob Nob Wicked Red Blend

Follow Marie Claire on Instagram for the latest celeb news, pretty pics, funny stuff, and an insider POV.

Samantha Leal
Senior Editor

Samantha Leal is the Deputy Editor at Well+Good, where she spends most of her day thinking of new ideas across platforms, bringing on new writers, overseeing the day-to-day of the website, and working with the awesome team to produce the best stories and packages. Before W+G, she was the Senior Web Editor for Marie Claire and the Deputy Editor for Latina.com, with bylines all over the internet. Graduating from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University with a minor in African history, she’s written everything from travel guides to political op-eds to wine explainers (currently enrolled in the WSET program) to celebrity profiles. Find her online pretty much everywhere @samanthajoleal.