Valentine’s Day is on the way, and what better way to celebrate with your special someone than by sharing some fancy chocolate, delicious red wine and spicy sweet rum?

Vosges Haut-Chocolat, a Chicago-based chocolatier crafting interesting and elegant “experiential” chocolates, is where we start. With studies at Paris’ prestigious Le Cordon Bleu and an apprenticeship in Spain under Ferran Adria, Vosges’ head chocolatier, Kristina Markoff, brings a worldly and refined palate to the creation of some of the finest chocolates available. My husband and I sampled the Smoke & Stout Caramel Bar and the Black Salt Caramel Bar, paired with Witching Hour, a California red blend I picked up after tasting it at our local Total Wine, and with Old New Orleans Cajun Spice rum.

The bitterness of the stout and dark chocolate in the Smoke & Stout bar paired very well with the dry but slightly sweet red blend. On the contrary, the Old New Orleans Cajun Spice rum’s sweetness brought out the lighter chocolate flavors and intense caramel sweetness in the Black Salt bar.

If you’re looking for a simple way to make your Valentine’s Day special, why not pick up some fancy chocolate for your love and pair it with a wine, a special spirit, or both?

Happy Valentine’s Day!