Taste of the Wild: Chocolate and Wine Pairings in the Alaskan

The clever idea here is simple: match Alaskan chocolate with five locally made wines, then learn why certain flavors work together. You begin downtown, ride in a comfortable van to 61 Degree North Winery, and spend the evening tasting, listening, and comparing notes.

I like the small maximum of nine people, which gives the guide room to answer questions and keeps the tasting social rather than crowded. I also like the Alaska-focused storytelling, especially the tales of local heroes that made this more than a plate of samples. The main concern is practical: one booking suffered a serious pickup failure, so confirm your reservation and meeting details before the 5 pm start.

Key points to know before booking

• Five wines and a chocolate flight: You taste five locally crafted wines alongside Alaskan chocolates.
• Small-group format: The van holds no more than nine participants, a good size for conversation.
• Alaska stories with the tasting: Guides such as Chris add local history and stories about Alaskan heroes.
• Downtown start and finish: Meet at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center and return there after about three hours.
• A social choice for solo visitors: The relaxed setup makes it easy to meet other people without joining a large bus tour.
• Plan for an evening activity: The tour starts at 5 pm, making it a useful addition to a day of sightseeing in Anchorage.

Chocolate first, wine second

This tasting works because it asks you to pay attention. Instead of simply handing you a glass and a sweet, the guide begins with a selection of Alaskan chocolates at 61 Degree North Winery. You can sample the treats on their own before wine changes the way you taste them.

That order matters. Chocolate can seem sweeter, darker, creamier, or more intense after a sip of wine. A wine may taste fruitier next to one chocolate and sharper next to another. The supplied tasting cards give you a basic framework, so you are not left guessing what to notice.

The chocolate flight is the dessert portion of the experience, while the wine samples are the main tasting. The emphasis is on local craftsmanship and natural, high-quality ingredients. You should not expect a full dinner, though. If you arrive hungry, eat beforehand or plan a meal afterward.

The guide also explains how local ingredients are used in the chocolates. The information provided does not list every chocolate flavor or ingredient, so you should expect a changing selection rather than a fixed menu with specific pieces guaranteed.

What happens at 61 Degree North Winery

After meeting downtown, you board an air-conditioned van for the ride to the winery. The vehicle keeps the group together and removes the need to arrange your own transportation between the meeting point and tasting location.

At the winery, you sample the chocolates before moving into the wine tasting. The setting gives the activity a clear sense of place, and the tasting cards help turn the experience into a hands-on comparison instead of a string of unrelated sips.

You will try five locally crafted wines. The supplied information does not identify the exact wine varieties, vintages, or alcohol levels, so do not book this expecting a particular bottle. The appeal is the overall tasting and pairing process, not a guaranteed list of labels.

At the end, you can purchase favorite wines and chocolates to take home. That is useful if you find a bottle or confection you would not otherwise encounter. Ask the guide which items travel well and which are best enjoyed soon, since no packing or shipping details are provided.

The stories are part of the flavor

Wine and chocolate can easily become a quiet, inward-looking activity. Here, the guide adds stories about Alaska’s culinary traditions and local heroes. That extra layer helps explain why a small tasting can feel connected to Anchorage rather than like a generic food stop.

Chris receives especially warm praise for being friendly, informative, and willing to go beyond the basic schedule. If Chris is leading your departure, you can expect plenty of conversation and a guide who takes questions seriously. Guides can vary, so the exact tone may depend on who is assigned that evening.

One of the strongest features is the relaxed pace. The experience has been described as chill and fun, not stiff or overly formal. You still get structure from the tasting cards and five-wine format, but there is room to talk with the guide and the other people in the van.

I would ask about Alaska’s food traditions, local ingredients, and the stories behind the wines and chocolates. The tour is built for questions, and this is where the experience gives you more value than a self-guided purchase at a shop.

Why the nine-person limit matters

A maximum of nine people is a real advantage. In a large group, you often wait for someone at the back to catch up, struggle to hear the explanation, or receive only a quick pour-and-move-on tasting. This smaller format should feel more personal.

It also works well for solo visitors. The downtown meeting point and shared van create a natural chance to meet people, while the tasting gives everyone an easy subject to discuss. One solo participant had a particularly good experience connecting with others while learning about Alaska.

Couples and small groups may appreciate the intimacy too. You are not booking a private tour, and the group can include people with different interests, but nine people is small enough for the evening to feel conversational.

The tradeoff is that small tours can be more vulnerable to scheduling problems. A large operator may have spare vehicles or guides available. With a small local company, a single missed booking notification can disrupt the whole outing, which is why confirming the reservation is sensible.

The price: what $109 buys you

At $109 per person, this is not a budget snack stop. You are paying for roughly three hours, transportation in an air-conditioned van, chocolate samples, five wine samples, a guide, and the convenience of starting and ending downtown.

The value depends on how much you enjoy guided tasting. If you only want a glass of wine and a box of chocolate, you can spend less elsewhere. If you want someone to explain the pairings, tell local stories, handle the transport, and create a small social setting, the price is easier to justify.

The tour also saves you from planning an evening around separate food and drink stops. You meet at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center at 5 pm, ride together to the winery, and return to the same point. That simple structure is useful after a day of Anchorage sightseeing.

I would consider the price fair for someone who values the guide and the setting. It is less appealing for a serious wine collector seeking rare bottles, technical tasting notes, or a complete meal. The five wines are samples, not a full evening of drinking, and the chocolate is also served as a tasting flight.

Timing your Anchorage day around the 5 pm start

The start time makes this a natural late-afternoon and evening plan. You can spend the day exploring Anchorage, then walk or use public transportation to reach the downtown meeting point near 5th Avenue. The tour ends back at the same location after about three hours.

The exact return time is not stated, so leave some flexibility after the scheduled duration. Do not book a tightly timed dinner reservation immediately afterward unless the restaurant is close and willing to accommodate a late arrival.

The downtown start also helps if you are staying nearby or arriving without a car. The meeting point is near public transportation. The tour itself provides the vehicle for the winery portion, so you do not need to organize a separate ride between stops.

Bring a valid booking confirmation on your phone. The ticket is mobile, and confirmation is provided at booking. Since one serious pickup problem was linked to a booking-software notification failure, I would also check your confirmation and contact the operator if anything looks unclear before the day of the tour.

Who will enjoy this most

This experience fits you best if you enjoy tasting food and drink while learning the story behind them. You do not need to be a wine expert. The tasting cards and guide’s explanations give beginners enough structure, while the five-wine lineup offers variety for people who already enjoy wine.

It is also a good fit for solo visitors. You are placed in a small group rather than left to make your own way around Anchorage, and the tasting supplies an easy social focus.

Couples looking for a low-key evening should find the format appealing. It has a sense of occasion without the formality of a high-end dinner. Friends can use the tasting cards to compare their favorites and decide what to buy afterward.

I would be more cautious if you need a substantial meal, dislike alcohol, or want a fixed list of wines and chocolates before paying. Alcoholic beverages are included, but the activity is built around wine, and the menu does not offer a nonalcoholic tasting option in the provided details.

Most people can participate, but the experience is not described as fully accessible in every specific way. If you have mobility, seating, or dietary concerns, ask the operator before booking rather than assuming the van and winery setup will meet your needs.

A note about reliability

The overall rating is 4.6 from 15 reviews, with strong praise for the wine, chocolate, guide, stories, and friendly group atmosphere. Chris is singled out for making the experience informative and going beyond the basic plan.

There is also one serious service failure to consider. A group arrived for the pickup and the organizer, owner, and driver did not appear because a booking-software problem failed to notify the guide. The operator apologized, offered a longer replacement experience with a meal and extra sightseeing, and issued a full refund when the group could not wait.

That response does not erase the inconvenience, but it is relevant context. Most of the available feedback is very positive, yet the missed pickup shows why you should verify the booking, meeting point, and start time in advance. If the operator changes anything, you want to know before standing outside the convention center.

The company also requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met and the activity is canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted.

The activity is offered in English. A mobile ticket is accepted, and the tour starts and ends at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center, 555 W 5th Ave, Anchorage, Alaska 99501.

The van is air-conditioned, alcoholic beverages and chocolate samples are included, and the group is limited to nine people. The listed start time is 5 pm, and the approximate duration is three hours.

Since the experience averages 48 days of advance booking, popular dates may fill well before your Anchorage visit. That does not guarantee every date will sell out, but it is a useful reason to book once your schedule is firm.

Should you book Taste of the Wild?

Book it if you want a small, social Anchorage evening built around local chocolate, five wines, and stories about Alaska. The strongest reasons are the nine-person limit, the easy downtown meeting point, the guide-led pairing process, and the chance to buy the wines and chocolates you like.

Skip it if you want dinner, a guaranteed wine list, a formal sommelier lesson, or a completely risk-free schedule with no need to confirm details. For most people who enjoy wine and sweets, $109 buys a pleasant and distinctive way to spend three hours, especially for a solo visitor or a couple looking for something beyond standard sightseeing.

FAQ

How much does the chocolate and wine tour cost?

The price is $109 per person.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 5 pm.

Where do I meet the tour?

Meet at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center at 555 W 5th Ave, Anchorage, Alaska 99501.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the downtown meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is nine people.

What is included in the price?

Alcoholic beverages, chocolate samples, and transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle are included.

How many wines will I taste?

The guided tasting includes five locally crafted wines.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.