Wine and chocolate pairings seem to be on the rise these days. A quick "google" on the topic reveals international attention, and more than a handful of our own SA producers presenting their wines alongside various cocoa-based delights.

Opinion from the "experts" is divided, with some sommeliers and well-regarded critics claiming it's "just wrong". But really, if you like wine and you like chocolate… what's not to like? The "rule of thumb" seems to be that it's best to try and keep the wines sweeter than the chocolate, and like with wines on their own if you have a variety of chocolates to taste work your way from light to dark.

Interestingly, you the visitors voted Leopards Leap your favourite stand at The Wine Show this year by a convincing margin. That stand was a Mecca for those who like their wine with a little chocolate (and their chocolate with a lot of wine) with no fewer than 8 of Leopards Leap wines on offer expertly paired with delicious Lindt gourmet chocolates of all sorts.

What better way to help celebrate Leopards Leap winning "Best Stand" than to task our beloved Taste Team with working their way through those wines and chocolates for this months Taste Task. With chocolate only just getting beaten by diamonds as a girls best friend, and ladies taking up 4 of the 6 tasting positions on our Team, the results weren't as straight forward as we'd expected!

With wines priced from R29.99 through to R79.99 Leopards Leap has something delicious for every taste and budget. The Team were impressed with the range and there were even a few suprises. Robyn actually found a Sauvignon Blanc she enjoyed, Ellen revealed she doesn't really like chocolate and David was so bowled over by the wines "bang for buck" he was unable to award his monthly "Star of David" award for best value.

Noluthando accidently super-glued her hands to the kitchen table during a freak airfix accident and sent her apologies.