Dekka and Rhiannon are bringing out the flavours of wine through the magic of chocolate. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
Rain is streaming down the windows outside, washing the autumn colours so they radiate even more brightly.
We sit on our bar stools leaning up on a barrel inside the cosy front room at Brindabella Hills Winery and look out across the multi-hued leaves of the vineyards that cascade across the hills all around us. A toasty fire is crackling beside us, and we feel the eyes of at least five cows regarding us from their frames on the wall.
This location is magical, set up on the hilltop with glorious views from every window.
We plan to come back for lunch soon, but today, we are snuggled up in our corner to indulge in some wine tasting with a difference. Pairing wine with the superbly unique handcrafted Fudgemental chocolate fudge. Dekka Phillips has some type of savant palate; it is truly a gift the way he just knows what flavours go with what.
Macadamia Pear Belgian chocolate fudge. Photo: Fudgemental.
Dekka explains how it works.
“It’s a wine tasting with a difference because we’re not essentially pairing chocolate with wine; we’re carrying flavours from mother nature that will lower acidity and play off tannins. And because we’re using plant-based chocolate, it doesn’t interrupt the flow and connection to flavours that we’re trying to establish. By sipping and tasting the chocolate in between, you are getting better registration of the flavours that you’re reading,” Dekka explains.
“Wine and chocolate is a collaboration that just works.”
Eleven years ago, he was challenged by his boss to make his chocolate fudge recipes vegan-friendly. Just months later, he crossed paths with his first winery, which encouraged him to explore the world of chocolate and wine pairing. Both the winery and Dekka were amazed at the success of the pairings.
Over time, Dekka has developed more flavours, and we are excited to taste them.
Rhiannon Hatley and Dekka (Derek Phillips) take us on a delightful journey of taste sensations for the next hour or so.
As we sit at our little table, the lovely Rhiannon pours us the wine and tells us all about how it is created and the flavours to look for. Then Dekka brings out the chocolate fudge he is pairing with that wine.
Dekka reminds us that between sips of our wine to take the chocolate and let the flavours land on the pallet.
“‘When you return to the glass, you will see the difference.”
We start with the sparkling rosé, a beautiful Shiraz base that is nice and light on the palate. Rhiannon encourages us to detect subtle notes of cherries.
The rosé is paired with the Turkish Trio. The chocolate dissipates immediately, a whisper of pure Belgian excellence, but it’s carrying three flavours of real Turkish delight: pineapple, orange and lime, and dry roasted pistachio.
Sips of our Marsanne Viognier Roussane are beautiful dry acidity to begin with, cut through with its crisp apple and pear flavours. Dekka pairs his macadamia pear fudge with this wine.
The oil from the macadamia smooths the wine’s acidity, but the relationship of the pear flavour with what’s in the glass is inappropriate. I’d ask you to sip and look away. It’s too much PDA.
How could you not be engaged with fun descriptions that bring these pairings to life? I am not a wine drinker, yet I thoroughly enjoy every wine and absolutely every chocolate fudge that we try.
We finish with Christmas in a bottle, a Sparkling Nouveau Rouge, getting a beautiful elevation of spices, rose petals, cherries and a hint of spice. The wine is paired with Strawberry Winter Gin, which Dekka tells us, “In the Belgian chocolate is The Canberra Distillery’s Winter Gin – a basil infused gin, along with wild strawberry Turkish delight and topped with a cocoa nib. The play of wild strawberry sits perfectly with the delicate hues of basil, dispelling any tannin and demonstrating the suitability of this wine with either savoury or sweet courses. Every pairing we deliver is to show you the wine.”
For your own pairing experience, you will find Dekka and Rhiannon pouring and guiding customers each weekend at Brindabella Hills Winery on a unique pairing that will surprise and tease the palate. Walk-ins welcome.
Brindabella Hills Winery is located at 156 Woodgrove Cl in Wallaroo. The winery is open on weekends from 10 am. Follow Brindabella Hills Winery on Facebook and Instagram to discover more and keep up with their events.
Follow Fudgemental on Facebook and Instagram to salivate over all his Belgian chocolate flavours.
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