It’s fairly common to assume that enjoying a glass of champagne can be taken to another level when paired with chocolates, right? Well.. not exactly! If you’re guilty about giving away these two treats combined to celebrate special occasions, you might want to consider thinking twice before sending the package after reading this article.

Leading sommelier and co-founder of a Michelin-starred Kitchen table in London, Sandia Chang, revealed to FEMAIL that the bitterness of chocolate actually intervenes with the acidity of champagne, leading to a loss in both their flavours.

Image Credit: Istock​

She suggests food enthusiasts to pair chocolates with sweeter, fortified wine instead. On the other hand, fizz with food leaning towards the simpler side: oysters, or truffle popcorn.

“I find that the bitterness in chocolate really confuses the taste of wine and especially champagne, which has a higher acidity…” Sandia said.

“A better pairing for Valentine's Day would be champagne and oysters because the minerality in the oysters matches really well with the chalky notes of champagne. If you're opting for lobster or seafood then fuller-bodied champagne, such as Olivier Horiot, 5 Sens, Extra Brut, is the perfect accompaniment.”

She added that oysters are great a great choice for occasions like Valentine’s Day because they are an ‘aphrodisiac’, making it a fantastic accompaniment for fizzy drinks like champagne.

Moreover, if you’re planning to have a delicious slab of steak for a romantic dinner, Sandia recommends pairing it with ‘Rose champagne rather than a classic glass of red’

“Skin macerated rosé champagne has a great amount of structure and tannins as well as being a bit lighter and more refreshing than red wine” she explained.

If you’ve got the sweet tooth and prefer to stick with chocolate, she suggests pouring a glass of rich, sweet wine to go with it instead.

“I tend to go for richer sweet wines such as Recioto della Valpolicella or a fortified wine such as a madiera” the food expert added.

She continued to share better alternatives and tips for when you’re experimenting with flavours:

“White chocolate, however, actually goes well with champagne. I would pair white chocolate with full-bodied, oaky style champagne. Or pair champagne with something simple such as truffle popcorn, crisps, charcuterie and cheese.”

“I don't think there are any other gift pairings that are totally wrong—but things that you wouldn't expect to go with champagne are junk food dishes like pizza and fried chicken. A romantic night can be as simple as sharing a bottle of Champagne and a pizza.”

Watch the legend herself create food pairings for champagne in the video below:

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[Thecla]

Who would have thought it!!! No to champagne and Chocolate.......over 40 years ago my hubby must have known that. After we left our wedding reception and on the way to our hotel room he stopped at a local pub to buy a bottle of bubbles and was feeling a little hungry so purchased the two meat pies that were there in the pie warmer......went down an absolute treat back in our room!!!!

 

[leanneh]

I totally agree on no chocolate with champagne. I just love Rosé champagne and my wonderful hubby gave me a bottle for Valentine's Day. We always have cheese and crackers with our champagne but oysters sounds yummy. I'm not a huge chocolate eater but we sometimes have a small piece of dark chocolate with our evening coffee. We enjoy it even if it's not strictly a correct pairing.

 

[WADuck]

Not a big Rose fan but at Christmas bought a 'bubbly' dozen from Qantas wines and found the Rose Champagne was quite a treat as for oysters any day any time paired with anything. As a kid we used to open the shells growing on the rocks rinse in the salt water and eat.