Valrhona Chocolate – A Chocolate Lovers Dream

“Being the chocoholic that I am, whenever I am in Europe I scope out all I can on chocolate. My first introduction to the really fine Valrhona Chocolate was when I was on a Provence River cruise several years ago and I stopped into a chocolate shop along the Rhone River. I bought a few pieces of several brands. Unbeknownst to me, the Valrhona chocolate company was just across the river. By the time I returned to Paris after the cruise, I was ready to find more. As I have mentioned before, I love dark chocolate and Valrhona has a nice selection. I know most people think the chocolate squares are the true chocolate but I like something with my chocolate – such as chocolate covered almonds, hazelnuts, (and my favorite) dark chocolate covered orange rind and so on.

Enjoy Chocolate and Wine in Train L’Hermitage

As Valrhona has contracts with cocoa bean growers in South America and Africa, they have some really fine quality chocolate. As they are in the Cote du Rhone Wine region of France, they call some of their chocolates Grand Cru. While in Galleries Lafayette, who has a Valrhona Candy department, I was looking for a business gift and found a special wooden box of special limited chocolates – Like great wines, Vintage Single Origin chocolates bear the name and sensory signature of their specific terroir. Highly anticipated by connoisseurs, Valrhonas Vintage Single Origin chocolate bars are produced in limited quantities depending on the crop. This was the perfect gift for a fellow wine and chocolate lover. Again, as Valrhona is in the wine region of France, they have many recommendations for chocolate and wine pairing and even chocolate and beer pairing.

Cruise the Rhone River and Taste Fine Chocolate at Valrhona

While on a barge or river cruise on the Rhone River, A-ROSA river cruises offer a tour and tasting at Valrhona. We also offer several barge and river cruises with chocolate as the theme. Give us a call for more information at 713-240-6753 / 888-869-7907  or email jan@europeanbarging.com  or visit our website:  europeanbarg.com