Create a Trader Joe’s Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Tasting
A wine, cheese, and chocolate tasting is a fun and interactive way to entertain. Using selections from Trader Joe’s, I put together and taught a guided tasting for friends featuring four wines, each paired with a cheese and chocolate.
Each guest had an individual tasting board to taste the wines, cheeses, and chocolates separately, then together to see how the different flavors complemented or contrasted with one another.
I also added crackers, grapes, truffle potato chips, and a few other Trader Joe’s finds around the table for everyone to enjoy throughout the tasting.
BEHIND THE POUR
Before getting into the pairings, I walked everyone through a simple approach I used when teaching wine classes: see, sniff, swirl, sip, and savor.
Start by looking at the wine and noticing its color and clarity. Smell the wine, then gently swirl the glass to release more of its aromas and smell again. Take a sip and notice the flavors, acidity, body, and finish. Finally, savor the wine and think about what stands out to you.
Then cleanse your palate and taste the cheese on its own before trying them together. Does the wine change the way the cheese tastes? Does the cheese bring out something different in the wine? Is the combination better together than either is on its own?
Pairings can work by complementing similar flavors or creating contrast. The goal is to find a combination where the wine and food enhance each other without one overpowering the other.
For this tasting, I selected four wines and paired each with a cheese and chocolate. These are the wines I used, but Trader Joe's selection can vary by store and season. If a specific bottle isn't available, choose a similar wine in the same style.
La Burgondie Crémant de Bourgogne Brut
Triple Cream Brie + Milk Chocolate
The crisp acidity and bubbles contrast with the rich, creamy Brie, while milk chocolate adds another smooth, creamy element.
Domaines Brocard Sainte Céline Chablis
Port Salut + Hazelnut Chocolate
Bright acidity and minerality balance the creamy Port Salut, while hazelnut adds a complementary nutty note.
Liberté Pinot Noir
Gruyère + Cherry Chocolate
Red fruit and earthy notes complement the nutty Gruyère, while cherry chocolate plays off the fruit in the Pinot Noir.
Corvelia Cabernet Sauvignon
Unexpected Cheddar + Dark Chocolate Truffle
The fuller body and tannins stand up to the sharper, savory cheese, while dark chocolate complements the Cabernet’s deeper fruit flavors.
BEHIND THE EXPERIENCE
For your tasting, arrange the cheese and chocolate in the order you plan to taste the wine.
I used wine tasting glassware I already had from teaching wine classes, which allowed everyone to compare the wines side by side. You don't need specialty glassware to recreate this at home. Use the glasses you have and focus on how each wine changes when tasted with the cheese and chocolate.
Give each guest a tasting sheet and pen so they can make notes as they work through the pairings. Encourage them to note what they taste on its own, what changes when the wine, cheese, and chocolate are tasted together, and which combinations they enjoy most.
For a more casual setup, cover the table with butcher or kraft paper and arrange the wines, cheeses, chocolates, and glasses directly on top. Write the names of each selection and pairing notes on the paper to create an easy tasting guide right on the table.
Most importantly, encourage everyone to talk about what they're tasting. There isn't always one correct answer. Comparing which combinations everyone enjoys and how the flavors change is part of what makes a wine pairing both educational and fun.
One of my favorite parts of the tasting was seeing everyone discover new wines, cheeses, and flavor combinations along the way. Several guests found favorites they continued buying afterward, and the Triple Cream Brie was a standout. One friend even said she would never go back to regular Brie.
That's part of what makes a guided pairing so much fun. Guests aren't just enjoying wine and food together. They're comparing what they taste, discovering what they like, and often leaving with a few new favorites.
