Gourmet's Guide
Wine & Chocolate Weekend, Now Three Days: Feb. 4, 5, & 6 2011
Dove Chocolate Discoveries, New Event Sponsor
The Prize for the Unsual Pairing: Lake View Wine Cellars – Smoky, Salty & Sweet
Tickets are available on our website HERE or please call 877-326-6561.
As many know by now, the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail has a new name: Lake Erie Wine Country. This association of 23 wineries in western New York and Pennsylvania is also pleased to announce a sponsorship with Dove Chocolate Discoveries for the popular Wine & Chocolate Weekend, now in its tenth year.
The wineries have used the company’s chocolates in their food and wine pairings – some savory and some sweet. In order not to overwhelm the participants with desserts, the Trail traditionally asks six wineries to provide main course offerings during Event weekends and Merritt, Presque Isle, and South Shore have done this with their gourmet pasta dishes. But we have also heard that some attendees would prefer more savory foods and for this weekend, eleven wineries will offer savory food and the other ten, dessert.
This weekend is also distinguished by the number of wineries who are providing creative food which utilizes that Valentine favorite in unique ways. How else would you describe the Chancellor Chili and Cornbread being prepared by Quincy Cellars? Chocolate in both dishes. Chocolate-infused sauces are popular in Latin America cuisine and in tomato sauces and this is seen in three other dishes on the Trail, including Vetter Vineyards’ Spicy BBQ Pork, Sensory’s Chocolate Whisky Ribs, and Sparkling Ponds’ Meatball Sauce. Willow Creek, in partnership with Sunbay Restaurant, also want you to test the theory that their chocolate wine can pair successfully with Pasta Bolognese. Likewise, Courtyard is preparing an interesting Chocolate Hazelnut Soup. But the prize for the unusual goes to Lakeview Wine Cellars, who in partnership with Finney’s Chocolate, will be serving Dove chocolate-dipped hickory-smoked bacon. Who can wait to try this interesting combination paired with Shipwreck Red?
We won’t forget the desserts and when it comes to chocolate purveyors, western Pennsylvania can boast some of the best and this fact seems to have rubbed off on the wineries. The offerings at Mazza’s Vineyards, Mazza Chautauqua Cellars, and Burch Farms begin to sound like those in a high-end gourmet chocolate shop: Forte Truffles, Chocolate Cherry Torte, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles. What better way to end the day on the Trail?
Appetizers and Soups:
Chocolate Hazelnut Soup, Ruby or Cabernet Courtyard Winery
Savory Crab Stuffed Mushrooms, Burgundy Heritage Wine Cellars
“Smoked, Salty and Sweet”, Shipwreck Red Lakeview Wine Cellars & Finney’s Chocolates
Main Courses:
Creole Shrimp & Pasta Mélange, Riesling Merritt Estate
Shrimp in Wine Sauce over Tortellini, Chardonnay ’07, Vidal ‘09 Presque Isle Winery
Chancellor Chili with Chocolate Corn Bread , Chancellor Quincy Cellars
Chocolate Whisky Baby Back Ribs Sensory Winery
La Genovese Pasta, Noiret South Shore Wine Co.
Chocolate Whisky Baby Back Ribs Sensory Winery
La Genovese Pasta, Noiret South Shore Wine Co.
Serafini’s Meatballs in Rich Chocolate Tomato Sauce, Fatal Attraction Sparkling Ponds
Barbara’s Sweet & Spicy Chocolate BBQ Pork, Chambourcin Vetter Vineyards
Pasta Bolognese, Chautauqua Chocolate Wine Willow Creek & Sunset Bay Rest.
Desserts and Candy:
Quick “Pain Au Chocolate”, Cherry Wine Blueberry Sky Winery
Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles Burch Farms
Petit Dolce De Leche Cheesecake, Marechal Foch Johnson Estate & Sapore Rest.
Inside-Out German Chocolate Cake, Cabernet or Purple Haze Liberty Vineyards & Winery
Petit Dolce De Leche Cheesecake, Marechal Foch Johnson Estate & Sapore Rest.
Inside-Out German Chocolate Cake, Cabernet or Purple Haze Liberty Vineyards & Winery
Forte Truffles, Forte of Cabernet Franc Mazza Chautauqua Cellars
Flourless Chocolate Cherry Torte, Cream Sherry Mazza Vineyards
Mini-Chocolate Pies, Strawberry Dreams or Pastavino Noble Winery
Brownie Surprise, Chancellor Penn Shore Vineyards
Spicy Chocolate Fondue, Girl’s Best Friend 7 Vines Winery
Peanut Lover’s Dream Bar, Cherry Wine Woodbury
Spicy Chocolate Fondue, Girl’s Best Friend 7 Vines Winery
Peanut Lover’s Dream Bar, Cherry Wine Woodbury