After Todd purchased the Vinebox Advent Calendar and reviewed it, we had a terrific conversation with the folks at Vinebox about more of their products and gifts in particular. They were kind enough to send me their Chocolate Pairing Tasting 3-Pack to review for you!
What Is the Vinebox Chocolate Pairing 3-Pack?
The Chocolate Pairing Tasting Kit (currently $46) is a selection of 3 wines specifically chosen to pair with dark chocolate, milk, chocolate, and white chocolate. It includes 2 red wines and 1 white wine, each 100 mL. That is around 3.4 ounces per tasting— or 10 ounces total. My particular kit included Chenin Blanc (white chocolate pairing), Cabernet Franc (milk chocolate pairing), and Cabernet Sauvignon (dark chocolate pairing).
How Is It Packaged?
The tasting kit came in a sturdy black outer box printed with “Cheers” on the inside. It then had another box inside with a colorful sleeve around it. Once you removed the sleeve, it doubled as your tasting guide, with descriptions of all three of the wines.
Would It Make a Good Gift?
While I loved trying this tasting kit myself, I think it would make a PERFECT gift. At less than $50 including shipping, it is a great price point for Mother's Day, Christmas, Valentine's Day, a birthday, etc. If you are looking for something more expensive, they do have a holiday pack this is 3 sets of 3 wines for around $100. Or you can even order a subscription for 3-12 months of tasting kits.
What Are the Shipping Costs and Details?
One of the great things about this pairing is that it ships free! There does have to be someone over 21 to sign for the package because it has alcohol in it. If you are curious about whether it will ship to your state, Vinebox lists all of the shipping states on their website when you buy. Because state laws change frequently on alcohol shipments, it is best to check with Vinebox right before you make your purchase. Shipping was VERY fast! I was notified via text when it shipped (within 48 hours, I think) and it arrived that week.
Does It Come with Chocolate?
The Chocolate Pairing is exactly that… the wine pairings. You can then use any kind of chocolate that you want. I am a traditionalist and wanted a true pairing, so I got bars of pure milk, white, and dark chocolate to go with mine. But you could also use truffles or even chocolate with nuts or other additions.
Was It Worth It?
It's hard to find even a cheap bottle of wine to ship for less than $30 these days. So a wine pairing set with high quality wines for less than $50 wasn't a bad price. It's not meant to be a wine club with big bottles. It's meant to be a tasting of each. My husband and I actually split the wine tastings so that we each were able to experience it, and it was enough with the chocolates to make a nice dessert for 2.
He was lucky in that his favorite wine is white and his favorite chocolate is white! I usually prefer white wine, but I love dark chocolate and don't particularly like white chocolate. That said, because the wines and chocolates paired so well, I actually enjoyed all of them— even the white chocolate.
Watch my video below to see a full unboxing and visit Vinebox to see this tasting kit and more!
