Red Wine and...
Pacific Northwest Chocolate

       With thoughts these several coming months turning to Easter, our mothers and our fathers, it's a great time to consider that sensual companion to fine red wines... chocolate, of course.

        We challenge you to imagine receiving a gift of your own that includes a bottle of fine Pacific Northwest red wine and a box or a bar of fine Pacific Northwest chocolate.  Besides, with all those endorphins and health benefits being proclaimed for both red wine and dark chocolate, you can assure your loved one that your gift is from the heart... and for the heart.

         For true connoisseurs, the business of tasting chocolate is as nuanced as tasting wine or coffee. When savored slowly, the flavors intensify and linger longer. What could be better? 

         We've done some research and brought together lots of mouth-watering information about some of the Pacific Northwest's chocolate producers, chocolatiers and chocolate shops. 

OREGON      WASHINGTON       IDAHO     BRITISH COLUMBIA

  O  R  E  G  O  N 

Alma Chocolate (Chocolatier)
140 NE 28th Ave
Portland, OR 97232
503-517-0262
www.almachocolate.com

Alma Chocolate uses fresh, fair-traded, and organic ingredients to make chocolate you can believe in. For our hand-crafted confections, we use real vanilla, fresh herbs, and organic butter and cream, with no additional oils, fats, preservatives, or artificial flavors.

OregonWineCountry.com - A brand new player on the Portland scene, this chocolate shop uses fair trade chocolate, fresh herbs and other local ingredients to craft elaborate Buddahs, Virgin Mary’s and just about anything else owner Sarah Hart can come up with. 140 NE 28th in Portland, OR, 503.473.4278,

Cacao (retailer)
414 SW 13th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97205
503-241-0656
http://cacaodrinkchocolate.com/

A chocoholic's dream come true. A gorgeous space dedicated entirely to the decadent treat. On offer are smooth and soul-warming helpings of rich drinking chocolate and more than 200 chocolate bars from all over the world. Celebrating chocolate in all its forms, Cacao features a hand picked selection of chocolate from around the world, including an extensive range of premium solid chocolate bars, select handmade chocolates, and exclusive drinking and hot chocolates. Friendly chocolate-savvy staff members help guide customers through the many options. They are happy to create custom packages or gift boxes from our fine selection of chocolates—just let us know what you are looking for and we will do the rest. Gift certificates are also available in any denomination, with online sales available soon.

Euphoria Chocolate Company
6 W. 17th Street
Eugene, OR
541-343-9223
www.euphoriachocolate.com

Based in Eugene, Euphoria makes a line of Wine Truffles that incorporate local wines: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Cabernet.

Lillie Belle Farms
211 N. Front Street
Central Point, OR
541-664-2815
888-899-2022
http://www.lilliebellefarms.com/ 
http://www.lilliebellefarms.com/group.asp?grp=6  

Award Winning artisan chocolates, completely handmade using time-honored European techniques with a true American twist. Gift boxes available filled with our luscious artisan chocolates.  With almost two acres of organic raspberries, strawberries, and marionberries, Lillie Belle Farms utilizes its abundant crops to make delicious fruit-filled bon bons and truffles.  Almost all of ingredients are organic.

All of our chocolates are made with a proprietary blend of Organic  couvertures. We source them from around the world from equitable and fair trade sources whose commitment to organic sustainable agriculture equals our own philosophy of being careful stewards of the land.

OregonWineCountry.com - Artisan chocolates with a twist; owner Jeff Shepherd also has a two-acre berry farm where he raises many of the products used in his chocolates. Don’t miss the Raspberry Ganache and Marionberry encased in a dark chocolate shell.  

Moonstruck Chocolates Co (Chocolatier)
526 NW 23rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97210
503-247-3448
800-557-MOON
www.moonstruckchocolate.com 
http://www.moonstruckchocolate.com/Catalog_Home.aspx

Dozens of retail outlets in Oregon, Washington and Idaho… search by state and city here: http://www.moonstruckchocolate.com/Stores.aspx. Several company-owned chocolate cafés in Portland.

Oregon Wine Country.com - A Portland classic, Moonstruck has, um, struck out and is now located throughout Oregon (and in Walnut Creek, California and Chicago). Beautifully crafted chocolates good enough to make it to the Academy Awards (Moonstruck chocolates will be featured in the upcoming gift baskets given to award winners.)

Petits Noirs
622 Main Street
Milton-Freewater, OR
541-938-7118
http://www.petitsnoirs.com/
http://www.petitsnoirs.com/boutique/store5/agora.cgi

A boutique chocolatier located in the lush region of the Walla Walla Valley, where vineyards and fruit orchards scale the fertile terroir.  Chocolate creations here are not only inspired by the fresh produce grown in the Valley, but also derived from the various complex notes found in the beautiful wines produced in the area. With interesting flavors such as thyme, lavender, clove, and cassis, it is obvious that our chocolates are a natural accompaniment to wines.

  WASHINGTON 

SEATTLE AREA
 

The Chocolate Box
108 Pine Street
Seattle, WA 98101
206-443-3900
http://www.sschocolatebox.com/

Dilettantes Chocolates Co (Chocolatier)
416 Broadway E
Seattle, WA 98102
206-329-6463
http://www.dilettante.com/ 

Dilettante has been creating fine chocolates, coffee beverages and pastries for Seattleites for more than 30 years. Founder Dana Davenport, third generation chocolatier, draws inspiration from family history, records and hundreds of documented recipes spanning 108 years of creative tradition. Shop on line or visit one of our luxurious Mocha Cafes to experience a rich tradition that pleased the crowned heads of Europe.

http://www.dilettante.com/DilettanteGifts/BrowseGiftIdeas.aspx - gift ideas

Fiori Chocolatiers
Bellevue, WA
425-957-4777
Where to buy

Fiori Chocolatiers, based in Bellevue, Washington, addresses the freshness issue by selling many of its chocolates in small batches through upscale coffee shops and other retailers around the Pacific Northwest, while serving additional retailers by shipping small parcels of its product around the country. Lee Johnson spent 10 years marketing software but he never had fun like this. Since 2004, he and his wife have been creating hand-crafted artisan chocolates at his Fiori Chocolatiers in Bellevue

"Our approach is to make socially conscious chocolates, where small farms growing cacao get a fair share of the profits," said Johnson. He purchases his cacao from environmentally friendly farms in Venezuela, Java and Ecuador, blending his couverture from a mix of chocolates.

Fran's Chocolates, Ltd. (Chocolatier)
1300 East Pike Street  (Corporate offices)
Seattle, WA 98122
206-322-0233; 800-422-3726
http://www.franschocolates.com/home.php?cat=32 - Gifts

The chocolatier Fran Bigelow blazed a trail in Seattle in 1982 when she opened her European-style Fran's Chocolate boutique.  Today, she is one of the country's best all around chocolate makers.

University Village Store
2626 NE University Village St
Seattle, WA 98105
206-528-9969

Bellevue Store
10036 Main St
Bellevue, WA 98004
425-453-1698

Intrigue Chocolates (Chocolatier)
Seattle, WA
206-335-6336 
http://www.intriguechocolates.com/catalog/

At Intrigue Chocolates, the freshness and balance of the French tradition is emphasized. The ingredients are always natural, and organic whenever possible. Some of the most intriguing truffles are only available seasonally, when the produce can be found at local farmers' markets.  Currently, no retail location, but an active search is underway.

Oh! Chocolate
Three Seattle-Area Locations
Toll Free: 800-887-3959
http://www.ohchocolate.com/
http://www.ohchocolate.com/sep/chocolate-gift-boxes.htm

More than 40 years ago, Carl and Gertie Krautheim began creating signature chocolates the old-fashioned way, by hand, using only premium chocolate in the tradition of French chocolatiers.  The Oh! Chocolate tradition continues as three generations of family follow the recipes and techniques perfected by Carl and Gertie to produce the finest handmade chocolates available.

Rose Hill Chocolate Company
700 3rd Street
Mukilteo, WA 98275
425-353-1183
http://www.rosehillchocolate.com/

All of our artisan quality chocolates and fudge are handmade on the premises.  Each chocolate confection is individually crafted to exacting standards by our chocolatier, using finest quality  European chocolate. Flavors to spark the imagination while tempting the palate.

Theo Chocolate (Chocolatier)
3400 Phinney Avenue N.
Seattle, WA 98103
206-632-5100
http://www.theochocolate.com/

Premium organic, fair trade specialty chocolate… Located in Fremont, a neighborhood chockfull of funky boutiques and coffee shops, she points out the Theo headquarters, a combination cocoa bean roastery, chocolate factory and retail shop/tasting room that has been in operation for less than two years.

SPOKANE, WA 

Halletts Chocolates
http://www.hallettschocolates.com/
http://www.hallettschocolates.com/shop_online1.html 
509-484-6454

Handmade chocolates made from only premium, quality ingredients. Choose from most popular selections online, or call to create a custom offering tailored to specific tastes.

Retails Locations:

1419 E. Holyoke Avenue
Spokane, WA  99217

227 West Riverside
Spokane, WA  99201

  I  D  A  H  O 

Cowgirl Chocolates
P.O. Box 8961
Moscow Idaho, 83843
888.882.4098
http://cowgirlchocolates.com/truffles.shtml

Head Cowgirl Marilyn Lysohir founded Cowgirl Chocolates in 1997.  Her two favorite things in the world are art (she has a notable career as a ceramic sculptor) and chocolate. In fact her first job was working in a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania. Marilyn mingled some favorite memories with some new ideas to create an American original, Cowgirl Chocolates.
 

  BRITISH COLUMBIA 

Charlie's Chocolate Factory
Burnaby, B.C.
604-437-8221
www.charlieschocolatefactory.com

Charlie's Chocolate Factory, located in Burnaby features a chocolate river of 136kg circulated chocolate and is a favorite with visitors. The factory offers viewing of the chocolate production area from its retail store, and has hundreds of Valentine's Day offerings including chocolates in an edible box. Each Valentine's, the factory creates and displays a 70kg chocolate heart that is donated to a community cause.

Chocolate Arts
2037 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver V6J 1N3
British Columbia
604-739-0475
http://www.chocolatearts.com/

It all began when Chocolatier Greg Hook, a distinguished local pastry chef at the time, was determined to produce chocolates that not only were a delight to taste, but were also beautiful to look at. Now, over a decade later, Greg's passionate style has evolved into one that is uniquely his own.

In fact, it's one that's beginning to be recognized amongst chocolate aficionados throughout North America. Greg's passion for quality and his desire to create artistic chocolates led to his partnership with Robert Davidson, one of British Columbia's (and Canada's for that matter) premier artists. Robert has supplied Chocolate Arts with original high detail molds, in his much celebrated First Nations style, from which our chocolate medallions are produced.

Denman Island Chocolates
Denman Island, BC
250-335-2418
www.denmanislandchocolate.com

Thus was born Denman Island Chocolate, a business which caters to those who like their chocolate organic and dark. Denman Island Chocolate bars are sold in retail outlets across Canada and the United States, making it possible to eat good chocolate while looking at either the Atlantic or the Pacific, the prairies or a mountain range.

Finding that a great many of their fellow islanders were already self-sufficient in vegetables, they turned (as ever) to chocolate, a shared love that dates back to their search for the perfect fuel while bicycle touring in northern France.

Denman Island Chocolate, located in British Columbia's beautiful Gulf Islands, was created in 1998 by Daniel and Ruth Terry. Long interested in the organic food movement, the Terrys left the big city for Denman Island in 1994, looking for a more rural lifestyle in which to bring up their two sons and thinking of starting a market gardening business

An organic chocolate truffle is sold only at the factory but a wide range of chocolate bars and Valentine's Day hearts are distributed throughout Canada and the USA.  Denman Island is situated approximately 2 1/2 hours north of Victoria and a 10-minute ferry sailing from Vancouver Island.

Euphoria Chocolates
79103 Glover Road
Langley, BC V1M 3S3
604-888-9506
http://www.euphoriastore.ca/index.php

Quality ingredients produce quality chocolates... that's the Euphoria Chocolates philosophy.   They use real butter, cream, and pure Belgium chocolate with no confectioners fat or preservatives. Euphoria chocolates do not contain any wax or trans fat. Each truffle is hand rolled and dipped in the traditional style.  Creating extraordinary truffles is an art and Angela, the chocolatier, is undeniably a gifted artist. From her Venetian and Hazelnut to her Pumpkin Spice and Aztec truffles, Angela has something for chocolate purist and the most adventurous connoisseur alike.

Mink Chocolates Inc & Mink… A Chocolate Café
863 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
604-633-2451
http://www.minkchocolates.com

Newly married and self-confessed chocoholic Marc Lieberman got caught with his hand in the baking drawer once too often.  Admonished for his unfettered consumption of bulk chocolate chips, he was challenged by his new bride to channel his chocolate lust into something more productive.  A painstaking assessment of chocolate from some of the world's best chocolatiers culminated in a vision for a retail store that showcases dark chocolate extensively in chocolate bar or tablet form.  Marc developed a line of 30+ chocolate bars, most of which fuse the taste and flavor profiles of ganache-filled bon bons, but in chocolate bar form.  Combined with a full espresso bar and fondue bar, Mink... A Chocolate Café was born in time for Easter 2007.

Roger’s Chocolates
Victoria, BC
800-663-2220
Online store:  http://www.rogerschocolates.com/shop.php

The first Rogers' Chocolates were made in 1885 by Charles W. (Candy) Rogers in the back of his grocery shop in Victoria. He quickly became a popular man.

Locations:              

Victoria 913 Government Street Victoria, BC V5W 1X5 phone (250) 384-7021	Oak Bay 2234 Oak Bay Ave. Victoria, BC V8R 1G5 phone(250) 598-2911
Sidney 2423 Beacon Ave. Sidney, BC V8L 4X3 phone (250) 655-0305

 

 

Thomas Haas
128-998 Harbourside Drive
North Vancouver, BC
604-924-1847
http://www.thomashaas.com/

Committed to the art and craft of fine chocolate making, Thomas Haas Chocolates brings passion and integrity to its true artisan craftsmanship.  Selections range from fine handmade chocolates and truffles, delicious chocolate bars, delicate fruit jellies, decadent hot chocolate, its famous ‘Sparkle™’ cookie to exquisite gift boxes, elegant wedding cakes and favours and corporate gift giving, tailored to the customer's specification. The new retail shop and cappuccino bar (closed Sunday and Monday) makes available a wide selection of award-winning desserts, traditional European Patisserie and much more!

Copyright © 2008  Susan R. O'Hara.   All rights reserved.
Last revised: February 19, 2008