2011 Wine & Chocolate Weekend

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. 

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

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