Helen McGinn We’re nearly there. Last full week of the Easter Holidays (fist bump) culminating in a long chocolate-fuelled weekend (thumbs up). Now when it comes to finding the right wine to go with chocolate, sweet wines tend to work better than most. We’re talking tawny ports, Banyuls or Maury from France, or anything made from Muscat. Having said that, a smooth mellow red (think Australian Shiraz, Californian Zinfandel, Argentinian Malbec) slips down with dark chocolate quite happily. This week, I’ve included a chocolate-loving sweetie to go with those eggs along with one of the best bargain dry whites I’ve tasted recently. Happy hunting.
Current sweet wine in the fridge: De Bortoli Noble One
Price: £19.99 - Buy From Waitrose
Made from mouldy grapes but much, much better than it sounds. The so-called ‘noble rot’ is a fungus that grows on grapes when conditions are right, leaving little sugar bombs on the vine. In turn, they make wines with incredibly rich, honeyed flavours. This one goes with pretty much any chocolate but is especially good with anything nutty or – sigh – salted caramel.
Current white in the fridge: Albanta Albariño
Price: £7.99 - Buy From Aldi
A gloriously fresh white full of citrus fruits and a touch of the florals, this one’s made from the Albariño grape grown up in the northwest corner of Spain in vineyards not far from the coast. Properly good value, it’s a fridge door banker. Salty snacks essential.
