WHAT TO SIP WHILE NIBBLING YOUR EGG

2024-03-29 -

At this time of year, there’s always a sweet treat to enjoy, so why not double your pleasure and pour yourself a

MILK CHOCOLATE Vina Araya Moscatel De Valencia

£6.50, sainsbury’s

THIS lightly fortified sweet wine, made with the muscat grape, shows off floral, peach and honey aromas and flavours. Great value.

Santa Carolina Reserva Carmenère £11.50, Ocado

CHILE’s flagship grape Carmenère is concentrated and smoky with spicy, dark fruit vibes. Pairs well with chocolate.

Taylor’s 10-Year-Old Tawny Port £27.49, Waitrose

THIS nutty, aged tawny has both the sweetness and the alcohol kick to stand up to creamy milk chocolate. Divine with chocolate fruit and nut. A 25 per cent discount if you buy six.

M&S 5-Year-Old Martinez Marsala Riserva £9, M&s

IF PORT is too pricey, try this cheaper Sicilian Marsala from M&S. It’s lighter than port and sweet, nutty, figgy and boozy enough to cleanse the palate after milk chocolate.

Chosen By Majestic Zinfandel 2020, Lodi £8.99 (mix six), Majestic

IF STICKING to normal wine, a bold, juicy red like Californian Zinfandel hits the spot with its powerful, dark, figgy fruit and damson jam flavours.

DARK CHOCOLATE Co-op Ruby Port

£9.50 (in-store), Co-op

DARK, brooding Ruby, packed full of red fruit flavour and glass of wine to go with it? here are some delicious suggestions — whatever your taste in chocolate. grippy tannins is exactly what you need with a slab of dark chocolate. It’s quite an intense but superb match. The confectionery’s bitterness is balanced well by the port’s sweetness.

Mavrodaphne of Patras NYX £8, Asda

THIS unusual, Greek fortified red is aromatic, dark and plummy with notes of fig, liquorice and black cherry. It goes very well with ganache or truffles.

Lambrusco Pruno Nero Dry

£11.99, Waitrose

LAMBRUSCO got a bad rap in the 990s, when easily available versions were frothy, sugary horrors. The artisanal version is completely different. Think vibrant magenta bubbles with tangy, yeasty, cherry pie notes. Serve well chilled.

Pillastro Primitivo £12.99, Laithwaites

ITALIAN Primitivo is one of very few dry red wine styles that can handle dark chocolate. With its juicy, honeyed damson notes and weighty texture, this one’s a great buy.

Casillero Del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon

£7 (save £2, Clubcard), tesco THERE’s a reason why Casillero Del Diablo wines are so popular; they pack a punch in the flavour-for-value department. This blackcurrant leaf-scented, juicy tipple is a perfect pairing for minty dark chocolate.

WHITE CHOCOLATE Stormhoek Fairtrade Moscato Rose

£5 (in-store), Co-op

THIS frothy, soft and apricotscented Moscato is an ideal match with white chocolate.

M&S L’Or Du Ciron Sauternes

£14, M&S

UNCTUOUS and golden with honeyed, marzipan notes, the citrus in this freshens the palate, pairing well with white chocolate.

Stellar Organics Heaven on Earth £10, Ocado

THIS South African sticky, made from

partially-dried muscat grapes, tastes like boozy marmalade, with the bitter kick and savoury finish.

Cockburn’s Fine White Port

£11 (save £3, Nectar), Sainsbury’s THE safest pairing for all chocolate is a fortified wine like port — and for white chocolate, white port is perfect. This is sweet and textured with orange peel and lemon cream notes.