Recipes & Pairings
Dessert Board with Dark Chocolate, Berries & Sweet Cookies Paired with Rioja Reserva
End your evening on a high note with a dessert board that’s as elegant as it is effortless. You don’t need a pastry chef’s skill to impress — just a thoughtful selection of flavors that come alive with a glass of Rioja Reserva. This rich, beautifully aged wine brings harmony to sweet, dark, and tart notes, creating a finale your guests will remember.
Ingredients
- Assortment of dark chocolate (70% or higher, bars or truffles)
- Fresh berries: raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, or cherries
- Sweet Cookies: shortbread, amaretti, or biscotti
- Cheese option (optional): aged Manchego or a creamy blue for contrast
- Roasted nuts: almonds or hazelnuts for added texture
- Honey or fig jam for a touch of sweetness
Assembly
- Select a large wooden board or marble slab. Arrange elements in small clusters for visual balance.
- Place the dark chocolate in the center as the star — break bars into natural, rustic pieces.
- Add berries in small bowls or scattered for color and freshness.
- Include cookies for crunch and sweetness, alternating shapes and tones for variety.
- Finish with accents like nuts, honey, or a small wedge of cheese for depth.
Pairing Suggestion
To elevate the experience, pour a glass of Rioja Reserva. Its velvety tannins and layers of red fruit, vanilla, and spice enhance the bittersweet richness of chocolate and highlight the natural sweetness of berries. The subtle oak notes harmonize beautifully with buttery cookies and roasted nuts, rounding out every bite.
A Rioja Reserva moment turns a simple dessert board into an indulgent, shared experience — a celebration in every bottle.