Trader Joe’s is selling these two great holiday collections of chocolates, some with wine pairings in mind:
A perfect last minute stocking stuffer for your wine lover is chocolate, and Trader Joe’s has two collections that are excellent choices. The Chocolate Passport is almost identical to the wonderful Marcel Pralus Pyramide des Tropiques that I bought this year in Lyon and Paris. I wouldn’t be surprised if Trader Joe’s “knocked off” that item, as the company has European roots. Each color represents a chocolate from a different region in the world and the cacao percentage. They suggest a pairing of various wines, coffee or tea. 
Chocolate pairing is always an experiment but a reasonable rule of thumb is lighter red wines, like Pinot Noir, with lighter chocolates (by cacao%) and heartier, darker chocolates with fuller bodied red wines, like Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Port.
White chocolate, although not part of the Trader Joe’s offerings, works well with Moscato d”Asti and Orange Muscat.
Until next time…à votre santé!
Photos by Christine Humphrey ©2012
Darwin
16 December, 2012 at 13:29I tried them last year, and they were exceptional! I recommend buying a few more than you think you need, as they will be out of stock / out of season right after the holidays. And they make a great gift all year long.
Christine Humphrey
16 December, 2012 at 13:38I bought 6 of the passport as I missed them last year!