Masala chocolate from Dolce Bella
Skov Winery and Dolce Bella Chocolates are joining forces to satiate you with a wine and chocolate pairing on Friday August 19 at 7pm in San Jose. The event takes place at Dolce Bella Chocolate Café; reservations are required (call the cafe at 408-446-4296).
The pairing will feature four wines from Skov (Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Zinfandel) plus four extremely delicious, decadent chocolates made by Dolce Bella. Tasting fees will be $16 per person. In addition, attendees can purchase bottles of wine and other foods and chocolates from the cafe.
Scotts Valley-based Skov Winery was opened earlier this year by Annette and David Hunt, former owners of local Roudon-Smith Winery.
Dolce Bella chocolatier Audrey Vaggione is a local: she’s a graduate of UC Santa Cruz. She went on to graduate from the California Culinary Academy (baking and pastry arts). The chocolates she creates include intriguing ingredients such as raspberries, citrus, flowers, and herbs, adding vibrant flavors to the confections. In the past I have enjoyed these chocolates at events such as the Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival, where I tried Meyer lemon (white-chocolate ganache made with fresh Meyer lemons and Tahitian vanilla in a dark-chocolate shell) and Masala (fresh ginger, toasted cardamom and black pepper in bittersweet ganache in a dark chocolate shell). Dolce Bella’s awards include “Grand Master” in 2011, First Place for “Most Luxurious Chocolate Experience” in 2009 and 2010 and Second Place for “Top Artisan Chocolatier” in 2009 and 2010 at the San Francisco International Chocolate Salon.
Dolce Bella Chocolate Café is at Westgate West Shopping Center 5325 Prospect Rd., San Jose, 95129. The café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 8am-6pm Mon-Wed, 8am-10pm Thurs-Sat, and 9am-6pm Sunday.
For more information, contact Skov Winery at (831) 438-4374 or wines@scottsvalleywinery.com, or Dolce Bella Chocolate Café at (408) 446-4296.
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