Chocolate is a tempter. Indulgent, smooth, delicious. Fulfill your sweet cocoa desires with a visit to a Virginia chocolatier or an upcoming event.
Chocolate Artisans
The Ultimate Chocolate Experience by Chocolate Spike
Alexandria – Artfully Chocolate – Part art gallery, part chocolatier, part cocoa bar and completely fabulous!
Arlington – Artisan Confections – Specializing in high-quality, hand-made chocolates that are elegant in both design and flavor.
Blacksburg – Chocolate Spike – Artistic chocolate endeavors by by Genie Ranck, producer of exciting creations.
Charlottesville – Gearhart’s Fine Chocolates – An artisanal chocolate shop in Historic Downtown Charlottesville that specializes in handmade confections of uncompromising quality.
Dayton – Warfel’s Sweet Shoppe – Homemade in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley: old fashioned creme fudge, chocolate creme truffles, and “sugar free” chocolates, just to name a few.
Glass House Winery
Free Union – Glass House Winery – You read right. A winery that not only excels at wine making, but also makes their own in-house chocolates. Win-win.
Harrisonburg – Chocolate Occasions – See for yourself how the goods are made, then take home a box or two!
Lexington – Cocoa Mill Chocolate Co. – Offering a wide assortment of chocolates in dark, bittersweet, milk and white. Also featuring turtles — hand poured caramel over fresh pecans topped with milk chocolate; butter cremes, hand rolled truffles … the list goes on!
Louisa – Cooper Vineyards – Drink your chocolate! Noche Chocolate is a Virginia Norton dessert wine infused with chocolate. It’s also an award-winning wine (2012 Silver Virginia Governor’s Cup and others).
Richmond – Chocolates by Kelly – See chocolatiers make world-class chocolates right before your eyes. Take a class, buy a gift, try something new and exciting, or taste a treat that’ll make you feel like a kid again!
Richmond – Gearhart’s Fine Chocolate – Voted one of Chocolatier Magazine’s “Top 20 Artisan Chocolatiers” in the U.S., Tim Gearhart combines Single-Bean Venezuelan Chocolates, fine local and exotic ingredients, and passionate craftsmanship to create chocolates of unparalleled depth and complexity.
Virginia Beach – The Royal Chocolate – Indulge from cases filled with store made chocolates using Belgian Chocolate – truffles, creams, caramels, chocolate and caramel coated pretzels, not to mention the famous chocolate covered apples!
Williamsburg – MAD About Chocolate – A chocolate cafe by Marcel Desaulniers, author of Death by Chocolate and nine other cookbooks.
Chocolate Events
February 7 – Winchester – Chocolate Escape – Thirteen participating downtown restaurants are offering a $2 chocolate sampling menu while and 16 retailers have chocolate themed deals and offers available.
February 8 – Warrenton – 4th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza – This is a chocolate tasting fundraiser in memory of a 22 year old who lost her life to Leukemia. Six samples for $10.
Chocolate and Wine
February 7-15 – Bridgewater – Wine & Chocolate Pairing in the Tasting Room at Bluestone Vineyard – Eight wines paired with eight Warfel’s Sweet Shoppe chocolates for $12.
February 8 – Oak Grove – A Taste of Wine & Chocolate at Ingleside Vineyards – Indulge in the finest Ingleside wines with an elegant chocolate experience. Reservations required.
February 11 – Norfolk – Chocolate Wine Pairing at Mermaid Winery – Four pairings for $20. Reservations required.
February 14 – Stanley – Valentine Chocolate and Wine at Wisteria Farm and Vineyard – Join in the chocolate fondue and wine! Get a plate of dipping goodies and a glass of wine for $15.
February 14-16 – Middleburg – Wine and Chocolate Weekend at Greenhill Winery and Vineyards – Handcrafted nut-free/gluten-free chocolates by locally owned Simply Nut Free will be paired with four Greenhill wines.
February 14-16 – Purcellville – Breaux Vineyards’ Chocolate & Cabernet Tasting – Hand-rolled truffles and imported chocolate are paired with Breaux cabernet. $30; reservations suggested.
February 15 – Floyd – Valentine’s Weekend Wine and Chocolate Pairing at Chateau Morrisette – Chateau Morrisette’s wine-crafter, Rachel Lagergren and Wilbur’s Chocolates Master Chocolatier, Dona Peters will give an expert presentation of five wines paired with Wilbur Chocolates. $40 per person; reservations and pre-payment required.
Where do you find your favorite chocolate? Leave a comment to tell us!
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© Casey for Virginia’s Travel Blog, 2014
