LitFest '25 Wine & Chocolate Tasting
With chocolatier Chantal Coady & author Joanne Harris
The 2025 Isle of Wight Literary festival saw the coming together of several extraordinary women who have each forged a career though their senses: chocolatier Chantal Coady, author Joanne Harris and in perfumed spirit, fragrance designer Sarah McCartney. This multi-sensory event was a celebration of their work and our own senses. It was my pleasure to host and to bring my wine and chocolate skills to the mix. Here’s what we tried:
The Chocolate Detective, Caramelised Provençal Almonds
£16.50 from The Chocolate Detective & Jack Thompson, Cowes.
Always a best-seller, these crunchy dusted almonds have just the right balance of nut, mellow dark chocolate and caramel.
Paired with
L’Occhiolino Sparkling Rosato Modena
£10.99 from Laithwaites
An off-dry, light Lambrusco di Sorbara from Modena DOP in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. Think ripe, red berry fruit, floral hints and a zingy, fresh acidity.
The Chocolate Detective, Madagascar Menako Chocolate Buttons
£16.50 from The Chocolate Detective & Jack Thompson, Cowes.
Superb fruity single origin chocolate for snacking or cooking.
Paired with
JJ Cabernet Sauvignon
£11.99 from Laithwaites
A fully powered, lush and fruity Australian Cabernet Sauvignon showcasing juicy cassis and vanilla notes with dark cherry and mulberry spice.
The Chocolate Detective, Dark chocolate with whole sour cherries
£16.50 from The Chocolate Detective & Jack Thompson, Cowes.
Fruity dark chocolate and whole organic sour cherries. Simple but difficult to beat.
Paired with
M&S Collection Amarone
£25 from M&S
Rich and full-bodied, this structured, yet velvety red is all about dark cherry and cocoa with subtle notes of baking spice.
The Chocolate Detective, White chocolate with fennel & cardamom
£16.50 from The Chocolate Detective & Jack Thompson, Cowes.
Broken shards of white chocolate flavoured with foraged wild fennel seed, cardamom and a touch of Blackthorn Scottish sea salt. Finished with the lightest brush of gold colouring.
Paired with
L’Or du Ciron Sauternes
£13 (half bottle) from M&S
Made with botrytised Sémillon and Sauvignon grapes from France’s famous Sauternes region, this an aromatic, delicately sweet wine wit zippy, citrusy acidity keeping it fresh and light.
Jack Thompson Salted Caramel Seagull Eggs
£14.95 from Jack Thompson, Cowes.
Layers of dark and milk chocolate are filled with a buttery ganache and gently salted caramel before being wrapped in a fine sugar shell and life-like speckles.
Paired with
Cockburn’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port
£25.25 from Sainsbury’s
A sumptuous, viscous Tawny Port from world famous producer, offering complex, nutty aromas of salted caramel, candied peel and vanilla, thanks to a decade ageing in oak.
The Chocolate Detective, Dark Chocolate Orangettes
£16.50 from The Chocolate Detective & Jack Thompson, Cowes.
Crystallised citrusy orange peel coated in mellow Ecuadorian origin dark chocolate.
Paired with
Delamain Pale & Dry XO Cognac, £115 from Majestic Wines
The House of Delamain has produced exceptional Cognac for over two centuries and this XO has been aged for an average of 25 years. Made exclusively from eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne, which is widely considered Cognac’s finest terroir. It’s remarkably delicate and elegant, with notes of apricot, orange peel and spice.
Join me at more tasting events as I team up with The Epicurean Sailor for a host of Corks & Canapés evening this Autumn and Winter. See more here!