Red Wine & Chocolate: Nefarious Chocolate Truffles

Every February, Nefarious Cellars makes this rich dark chocolate truffle recipe for the  Red Wine and Chocolate celebration in Chelan. They recommend the Nefarious Cellars Syrah, but you can use any red wine, Kahlua or other liqueur. Be creative!

Nefarious Chocolate Truffles

Contributed by Heather Neff, co-owner and co-winemaker at Nefarious Cellars, to Savoring Chelan: Pairing Local Wines with Regional Recipes.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Set time: 1-12 hours
Cook time: 5 minutes
Makes about 20 truffles

7 oz. bittersweet chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream
1-1/2 tablespoons Syrah
1 tablespoon coffee
Cocoa powder

Finely chop the chocolate and place in a bowl. Heat the cream in a saucepan until it boils. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Mix in the Syrah and coffee.
Cover and chill for an hour, or until firm enough to scoop – the longer you wait, the easier this will be. Using a 1-1/4-inch ice cream scoop or melon baller, form balls and finish by rolling in cocoa powder. Truffles are best if chilled before serving.

Try pairing these truffles with:

• Nefarious Cellars Syrah Defiance Vineyard Lake Chelan AVA (Contributor's recommendation)
• Tunnel Hill Estate Pinot Noir 
• Wapato Point Cellars Late Harvest Riesling