Chocolate Company Friend Wine

Posted onOctober 24, 2011 - 5:03 pm by Admin | 0 Comments

Tonight, I was treated to many special surprises. First, my daugher’s Mexican Ballet folklorico group just danced a very beautiful version of “La Bruja,” a traditional dance from Veracruz Mexico in a dress rehearsal for the upcoming el dia de los muertos. It was one of those moments when the seven-year-olds are being seven-year-olds, when suddenly, they rise above the moment and reveal something quite beautiful. After the hard work of the rehearsal, my wonderful Venezuelan friends, Dayana and Francisco, spontaneously invited me and our girls (husband Aaron is out of town for work) for a delicious grilled pork sirloin dinner. Surprise number two. Then, after dinner, we were chatting and they bring out, surprise number three–a surprisingly rich Malbec from Argentina (see photo). 

This one was so mellow, was never tart or fresh, but deeply rich like a velvety raisin. It was so smooth. I’ve never had a Malbec so smooth. Surprise number three, quickly paired with surprise number four—Venezuelan chocolate!

Last night I gathered up the troops and had a fun chocolate and wine tasting! Ghirardelli came out with a new line of Intense Dark Pairings chocolates, all of which help benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Awesome, right? After working with them for my job, Ghirardelli generously offered to help me throw a fun shindig where my friends were able to test out the chocolates, drink wine and just have a good time. Sounds like a pretty sweet (pun!) deal, right?

I thought so. Give me chocolate and I’ll be your best friend. Give me wine with chocolate and you’re never going to get rid of me. I was hoping my friends were the same.

Turns out they are! I had about 12 friends over and we plowed through the chocolate and wine. Seriously, this was the end of the night:

But let’s rewind a bit. Ghirardelli sent me four of their chocolate varieties for us to test out:

  • 60% cacao
  • 72% cacao
  • 86% cacao
  • Toffee Interlude

They also provided me with tasting guidelines, so I would know what types of wines to pair the chocolate with, along with yummy snacks so people weren’t gorging on chocolate. Perfect for someone like me, who doesn’t know much about wine but sure likes to drink it.

I picked up a white, red, dry red and cabarnet sauvignon, and snacks like crackers, caramel popcorn, pretzels and toasted almonds. The biggest food hit (other than the chocolate)? My step-dad’s homemade jam! Thanks for letting me take some home, Ed, everyone loved the stuff!

Another hit of the night? This fabulous pumpkin plant I picked up on my way home from work.

I’m in love with it.

Anyway, I had a lot of great company throughout the night and was really happy to spend time catching up with so many people. Theodora stopped by and we talked magazines and running a lot, but decided we do actually have lives outside of those two discussion topics.

Other friends popped in too, like Nina, Iwa and Emily…

And of course my fabulous roomies were there, along with semi-roomie Andrew.

(Nice lighting on this one, I know)

Overall, it was a great night and everyone loved the chocolates. The Toffee Interlude was a huge hit for many, I loved the 60% cacao and Theodora was a fan of the 86% cacao.

Wondering which one you would like the most? Now you can test it out for yourself! Ghirardelli not only sent chocolates for my own tasting, but they’ve agreed to send one lucky Check My Pulse reader a box of one of the new flavors — your choice!

To enter the giveaway, you can do one (or all) of the following:

  • Leave a comment telling me what flavor you’d love to try the most and what you would pair it with! (mandatory)
  • Follow me on Twitter & leave a separate comment telling me you did so
  • “Like” me on Facebook & leave a separate comment telling me you did so
  • “Like” Ghirardelli Chocolate Company on Facebook & leave a separate comment telling me you did so
  • Tweet something along the lines of, “I entered the sweet Ghirardelli chocolate giveaway from @samanthaxrachel!” with a link to this post & leave a separate comment telling me you did so

So that’s up to five chances at winning this delicious box of goodness! I can’t wait to see what you all want to test!

This giveaway ends Sunday, October 16 at 12:00 midnight EST. Giveaway is open to U.S. readers only. 

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I did receive complimentary boxes of chocolate to host the tasting party, however all thoughts and opinions are my own. 


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