Tim Tams are an iconic national treasure in Australia and to celebrate Tim Tam Day (16 February – apparently it’s a thing!) we’ve put together some Tim Tam and wine pairing suggestions.
Wine and chocolate is hardly controversial, but wine and chocolate biscuits is an area of research and discussion which is sorely neglected! So get on to these delicious flavour combinations and up your Tim Tam game!
Forget milk, tea or coffee – wine is the new best friend of your Tim Tams. The right wine can complement the rich chocolatey flavours of these Aussie classics, creating a symphony of taste in your mouth. Here are some of our top picks:
- Sparkling Red: A chilled sparkling Shiraz (or any other sparkling red) is a match made in heaven for dark chocolate Tim Tams. The bubbles cut through the richness, while the fruity notes enhance the chocolatey goodness. Is this the ultimate elevenses?
- Fortified Wine: For a truly decadent experience, try pairing your Tim Tams with a fortified, such as a Port (Tawny Port in particular) or Muscat. The sweet and nutty flavours of these fortified wines complement the caramel notes in the biscuits perfectly. Don’t forget – Australian fortifieds won’t call themselves Port so look out for wines labelled Tawny or Vintage Fortified Shiraz (or other grape variety).
- Your Favourite Shiraz or Cabernet: Big reds and chocolate can work well together so after dinner, pass on the coffee and have another glass of red. Aim for something with pronounced flavours, like a Shiraz or Cab Sav. Anything more delicate will be swamped by the luscious mouthfeel of the chocolate.
- Late Harvest Riesling: A match for white wine lovers is a little trickier but a late harvest Riesling should have the strength to stand up to the chocolate. And don’t forget that many producers make fortified wines from white grapes, so one of those is definitely worth checking out.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget the classic Tim Tam Slam! While the wine won’t be hot, and so won’t have quite the same effect as dunking your Tim Tam in a tea or coffee, it’s still worth giving it a crack!
Now – we know that Tim Tams are available in a whole range of flavours (I recently bought some white chocolate ones) but these wine pairing suggestions work best with the classic (or dark chocolate, or double dip). If you’ve got an amazing pairing for white, salted caramel or Jatz … let us know in the comments!
