Red Wine and Chocolate -- Decadence, in a good way

Valentine's Day is over, but Presidents Day weekend in the Yakima Valley has a romance all its own.

Each year, winemakers up and down the Valley pair their finest reds with indulgent chocolate for a weekend of decadence. It's an inherently romantic combination.

"It's got the highest amount of romance for any of our events," says Barb Glover, executive director of the industry group Wine Yakima Valley.

Among the highlights this year is the opportunity to taste the high-end, low-production wines at Cote Bonneville outside of Sunnyside. Cote Bonneville, which has won acclaim and 90-plus point scores from Wine Spectator, normally is open only by appointment. But on Saturday and Sunday, visitors will be able to sample those wines alongside gourmet truffles made by Joreen Mensonides, the pastry chef at Sunnyside's Bon Vino's Bistro and Bakery.

"She is specially making the truffles to go with these wines," says Cote Bonneville co-owner Kathy Shiels.

That opportunity, combined with the fact that Red Wine and Chocolate is not quite as busy as Spring Barrel Tasting, helped Shiels decide to open for the weekend.

"It's not so overwhelming," she says. "You get a chance to visit with people. And they get to learn about what you're doing. And the pairing of foods is a natural."

There is a $20 tasting fee at Cote Bonneville, but that is waived for holders of Wine Yakima Valley premier passes. The winery, which produces only 2,000 cases a year, offers terroir-based wines from DuBrul Vineyard.

The pairing of Bon Vino truffles and Cote Bonneville wines is not the only such partnership. Yakima's Gilbert Cellars will offer truffles from Essencia Artisan Bakery. Eaton Hill Winery outside of Zillah will offer raspberry-infused chocolate from Patricia's Chocolate Emporium of Zillah. The list goes on. Other wineries such as Paradisos del Sol outside of Zillah will offer a full range of small-bites -- three chocolate, two savory and one sweet -- with its wines. Masset Winery outside of Wapato will have its own handmade truffles.

One of the most talked-about local wineries of the past year, sparkling wine specialists Treveri Cellars, will have mini double-chocolate cupcakes as well as shortbread bites dipped in dark chocolate. But, more interestingly, the winery will make available its sparkling syrah demi-sec, which is normally available only to Treveri Bubble Club members. The winery also will pour its syrah brut.

"They're very dimensional as far as flavor," owner Julie Grieb says. "And chocolate has its own appeal. Both have really deep, rich flavors. Those flavors seem very complementary."

There is something decadent about red wine and chocolate, but the appeal is larger than that, she says.

"The indulgence -- yeah," Grieb says. "But the exploration of that deeper flavor level is very appealing to people. It's so different, it's really interesting to explore that. It's something new."

Treveri is showcasing sparkling reds this weekend, but its entire lineup of sparklers has been a hit since the winery opened in 2010. Treveri will be poured at a prestigous James Beard Foundation dinner in New York in April and it already has been served at State Department holiday functions in Washington, D.C.

Of course, the longer-standing wineries in the Yakima Valley are not to be overlooked either.

"The Rattlesnake Hills is known for its reds," says Shannon Hitchcock, director of the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail industry group. "There will be some fabulous wines at places like Portteus (Winery) and Masset (Winery)."

And winemakers at both places will be on site to discuss wine and chocolate pairings with customers, she says.

"It's fun to educate people on their palate and talk about the different tastes they're going to experience," Hitchcock says.

Generally that education is a little more fun when there's chocolate involved.

"The overall consensus is you can't go wrong with wine and chocolate," Hitchcock says.

* Pat Muir can be reached at 509-577-7693 or pmuir@yakimaherald.com.

If you go

WHAT: Red Wine and Chocolate.

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday (and Monday at some wineries).

WHERE: Wineries throughout the Yakima Valley.

HOW MUCH: Tasting fees vary. Discounts and specials for holders of Wine Yakima Valley premier passes ($30) and Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail passports ($10).

MORE INFO: www.wineyakimavalley.org and www.rattlesnakehills.org.