8 Affordable Wines and Mocktails to Pair With Almost any Chocolate

Here are four excellent, chocolate-friendly wines along with four curated mocktails that are usually available for price tags under $25 in the United States. These were selected for their versatility, being able to enhance the most chocolate experiences across desserts and confections alike.

1: Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage Port

Usually around $18–22.

This is probably the most bang-for-your-buck choice when looking for pairing versatility. It suits darker chocolates, truffles, brownies and cakes, but it can work for fruity or nutty chocolates as well. Rich cocoa notes bolster tannins, and blackberry notes help manage balance.

2nd: Taylor Fladgate Ruby Port

Usually around $15–20.

Ruby Port tends to be sweeter and fruitier than most ports, making it more palatable to the casual wine drinkers. Chocolate covered fruit and a Ruby Port support each other’s flavors, while the wine also serves milk chocolates, mousse, and creams. The flavor profile will act to highlight milk chocolate’s decadence, rather than undermine it.

3rd: Quady Elysium Black Muscat

Usually around $16–22.

This Muscat pairs very well with almost any fruity chocolate flavors, especially raspberry. A blend of rose, cocoa, and berries each complement or enhance most chocolate experiences. In addition, it suits both milk and dark chocolate, highlighting the flavors of the former, while balancing the notes in the latter.

4th: Layer Cake Primitivo

Usually around $15–18.

While not technically a desert wine, there are enough jammy notes to bridge the gap. This is not ranked as highly as the others, as it is a recommendation for those who like drier wines with unique notes of pepper and spice rounding out the flavor profile. The drier tones of Primitivo suit sweeter chocolate accompaniments like caramel, as well foils such as sea salt or spice.

Best Mocktails on a Budget

Similarly to the top four wine recommendations, four alcohol-free beverages will be ranked using flavors that are adaptable to different experiences.

1st: Raspberry White Mocha Iced Latte

Usually around $10-15 for several drinks.

This is about as safe of a bet one can make when pairing chocolate and a mocktail. Raspberry naturally complements white, milk, and dark chocolates, while white mocha can complicate sweeter chocolates or soften bitter ones. The drink has enough acidity and bitterness to stand up to richer desserts, regardless of where that richness comes from.

2nd: Green Oasis

Usually around $8-14 for several drinks.

This tropical cocktail is easily made alcohol-free. While tradition may dictate that tropical fruits align with the buttery sweet base of white chocolate, pineapple and coconut have more diverse applications. Pineapple’s juicy tang juxtaposes milk chocolate nicely, while coconut uses toasted, sweet, and nutty flavors to make the whole taste more cohesive. Dark chocolate shines opposite the Green Oasis, with coconut softening the intensity of high-cacao chocolate, and pineapple being able to cut through the richness.

3rd: Citrus Vanilla Sparkler

Usually around $10-15 for several drinks.

This drink balances the smoothness of vanilla and the acidity of orange and lime to cleanse the palate when enjoying more decadent chocolates. It can pair with white or milk chocolate, but shines against dark chocolate and specialty chocolates with caramel, sea salt, citrus, or hazelnut notes.

4th: Chocolate Cherry Cooler

Usually around $12-18 for several drinks.

While not as pairable to a box of chocolates, this mocktail makes for an excellent “dessert pairing”. The cherry and cocoa combination offers a broad range of applications. Almond, milk chocolate, toffee, berry, and some stone fruit flavors are appreciated with the Chocolate Cherry Cooler. Conversely, sea salt, dark chocolate, chili, and nuts are flavors that suit this drink when pairing with truffles, chocolates, and especially with bars.