Anchorage: Chocolate and Wine Tasting Tour

Anchorage is not wine country, but that is part of the fun. This three-hour outing pairs Chugach chocolates with five wines at 61 Degree North Winery, giving you a taste of how Alaska’s food makers work with local ingredients and imported raw materials.

I like the small group of up to nine people, which gives the guide room to answer questions. I also like the tasting cards, a simple touch that helps you compare chocolate and wine instead of treating the session as a quick round of samples.

The main consideration is age and scope. You must be 21 or older, bring ID, and pay extra for additional wine samples. This is a focused food tasting, not a broad tour of Anchorage or a visit to a growing vineyard.

Key points to know

• Up to six chocolates: Sample handcrafted Chugach chocolates before matching them with wine.
• Five wine samples included: The tasting takes place at 61 Degree North Winery in Anchorage.
• Chris may lead the tour: His stories about Alaska and easygoing style earned especially strong praise.
• Small white van: Meet in front of the Egan Center on 5th Avenue for transport.
• Three hours door to door: The tour begins and ends downtown, with about 45 minutes at Chugach Chocolates and one hour at the winery.
• Adults only: Every participant must be at least 21 and carry a passport or ID card.

Why this Anchorage tasting is different

Most Alaska food outings lean toward seafood, salmon, or king crab. This one takes a sweeter and more unusual route. You begin with chocolate, then test how those flavors change when paired with Alaskan wine.

The setting matters. Alaska does not have vineyards in the usual sense, so the wines tell a different story from those made in classic wine regions. You are tasting local production and craftsmanship in Anchorage, not comparing a Napa Cabernet with a Bordeaux. That makes the outing useful for anyone curious about how northern food businesses adapt to their surroundings.

I like that the tour does not treat chocolate as a quick dessert stop. You get up to six pieces, then use a tasting card to note flavors and combinations. That small exercise gives the tasting some structure and helps you remember which pairings worked best.

The tour also brings in Alaska stories and history. The guide is not only moving you from one sample to the next. The strongest feedback singled out Chris for answering questions, explaining the chocolate and wine, and keeping the group entertained. If Chris leads your departure, expect a guide who can add local context without making the session feel like a classroom.

Starting at the Egan Center in downtown Anchorage

Your meeting point is in front of the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center on 5th Avenue. Look for a large white van. Since this is the pickup and return point, the tour fits neatly into a day based in central Anchorage.

I would arrive a little early. The meeting instructions are simple, but downtown pickup points can be easy to miss when you are watching traffic, checking a map, or arriving from a cruise transfer. Have your ID ready before you meet the guide. The age rule is firm: you must be 21 or older.

Transportation is in a comfortable van, with no more than nine people in the group. That size is a real advantage over a large coach. You can hear the guide more easily, ask questions without shouting, and get a more personal introduction to the city’s food scene.

Alcohol cannot be consumed in the vehicle, and drinks are not allowed inside. That is a practical rule, but it means your drinking begins only once you reach the winery.

Chugach Chocolates and the first 45 minutes

The first tasting focuses on locally crafted chocolate from Chugach Chocolates. You can sample up to six pieces, giving you enough variety to notice changes in texture, sweetness, and added flavors.

The point is not simply to find the sweetest piece. Your guide explains how local ingredients and Alaskan ideas are used in the chocolates. The information supplied for the tour does not list every flavor or ingredient, so you should expect explanation rather than a fixed menu of named pieces.

The tasting lasts about 45 minutes. That is long enough to look at each sample and ask questions, but not so long that chocolate fatigue takes over. If you have a strong sweet tooth, this will likely be the high point of the afternoon. If you prefer savory foods, the chocolate portion is still important because it sets up the wine pairings that follow.

The tasting cards are useful here. Write down the chocolates you prefer before the wine arrives. Once you start pairing, it is easy to forget which piece had the flavor or texture you liked best.

Food allergies require care. The tour is not suitable for people with food allergies, so this is not a good outing if you need strict ingredient control. The available information does not promise substitutions or an allergy-free tasting.

Five wines at 61 Degree North Winery

The next stop is 61 Degree North Winery, where the wine tasting lasts about one hour. Five locally crafted wines are included. The selection can include bold reds and lighter whites, though the exact wines are not specified in advance.

This is where the tour becomes more interactive. Rather than drinking the wine on its own, you try it alongside the chocolates. A chocolate that seems too sweet by itself may work better with a stronger wine. Another may bring out fruit or spice in the glass. Your tasting card lets you record those changes in your own words.

I appreciate the chance to customize the tasting to your preferences. One visitor specifically noted being able to shape the wine samples around personal tastes. That matters if you already know you favor whites, reds, lighter styles, or fuller flavors. It also helps if one wine does not appeal to you. You are not expected to pretend every sample is your favorite.

The winery offers the tour a comfortable indoor setting and a clear sense of place. You are not visiting a famous international wine region, and the attraction is not scenic vineyard views. Instead, the interest comes from seeing how a local Anchorage business presents wine in a state better known for seafood and wild ingredients.

Additional wine samples cost extra. The five included pours are enough for the scheduled tasting, but you should budget separately if you want to extend the session or try more than the included selection.

How the chocolate and wine pairing works

The pairing is the heart of the outing. You sample the chocolates first, then test them against the five wines. The guide helps you notice how sweetness, acidity, body, and flavor intensity affect one another, though the exact teaching style can vary with the guide and group.

You do not need to be a wine expert. The tasting card gives you a useful starting point, and the format encourages personal reactions rather than right and wrong answers. If you already enjoy wine, you can focus on detailed comparisons. If you are new to tastings, you can simply record which combinations you like.

I see this as a better choice for curious eaters than for anyone seeking a formal wine course. The tour gives you practical guidance and local stories, but its goal is enjoyment and discovery. It is also a nice option for couples or friends who want an activity that feels different from another restaurant meal.

The chocolate adds a clear Alaskan angle, even though wine is not a traditional vineyard product here. Together, the two tastings show how Anchorage’s food culture can be inventive and flexible.

The guide makes a real difference

The tour provider is Alaskan Sights and Bites. Chris is the guide named most often in the feedback, and the comments about him are specific: he was friendly, explained the chocolates and wines clearly, answered questions, and shared Alaska information with humor.

That combination matters in a small group. A guide who only handles transportation would leave the tasting feeling flat. Here, the stories help connect the products to Alaska, and the informal tone keeps the session from becoming overly technical.

You should still expect some variation. The advertised language is English, and the named guide may not lead every departure. The tour promises an expert guide with stories and insights about Alaska, but it does not provide a fixed script or detailed list of subjects.

The best part of the guide-led format is the chance to ask questions. You can ask about the chocolate-making process, local ingredients, Alaska’s food businesses, or how the wines are made. That personal exchange is harder to get at a self-guided tasting.

Price, timing, and what the three hours buy you

The price is $110 per person. That is not a bargain for a simple box of chocolates and a few sips, but the comparison is not quite fair. Your fee covers transportation from downtown, a small group, up to six chocolate samples, five wine samples, a guide, and about three hours of organized time.

I consider the price reasonable if you value the guide and the pairing format. The van saves you from arranging transport, and the small group creates a more personal session than a large public tasting. The value is weaker if you only want to purchase chocolate or wine, or if you are already planning to visit the winery on your own.

The official schedule gives roughly 45 minutes to Chugach Chocolates and one hour to the winery. The remaining time covers transport, introductions, and the return to the Egan Center. This is a compact outing, so it can fit around other Anchorage plans.

At the end, you can buy favorite wines and chocolates to take home. That is useful if you find a product you cannot easily locate elsewhere. Purchases are separate from the tour price.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve now while paying later. Check the available start times before committing your day, since the exact departure schedule is not given here.

Who should book this tasting

I would recommend it most to:

• Couples looking for an adults-only Anchorage activity
• Wine drinkers who enjoy trying unusual regional products
• Chocolate fans who want more than a retail stop
• Food-focused visitors with a free three-hour block downtown
• Local residents looking for a different weekend outing
• Small groups who prefer conversation over a large organized tour

The tour is also a good fit if you have already seen Anchorage’s major sights and want something tied to local food production. One local participant chose it specifically for a unique outing, which makes sense. You do not need to be visiting from far away to find the format worthwhile.

I would skip it if you are under 21, have food allergies, dislike sweet foods, or want a full culinary meal. This is a tasting, not lunch, and the supplied details do not promise substantial food beyond the chocolates.

Practical tips for a smoother afternoon

Wear comfortable shoes. You will be getting in and out of the van and moving between tasting stops, so formal clothing is unnecessary.

Bring a camera if you want to record the products or the outing, but the tasting cards are the more useful souvenir during the session. Use them to mark favorite chocolates, wines, and pairings while the flavors are fresh.

Carry a passport or ID card. You must show valid identification and be at least 21. Even if you look well over 21, do not leave your ID behind.

Plan to buy anything you want to take home at the end. The tour provides a chance to purchase favorite wines and chocolates, but those items are not included in the $110 price.

Remember that alcohol stays out of the van. You can enjoy the wine at 61 Degree North Winery, but you cannot drink during transport or bring drinks into the vehicle.

The tour has a five out of five rating from six available reviews, with praise centered on the fun atmosphere, clear information, chocolate selection, and Chris’s guiding. That is a small sample, so I would treat it as a positive signal rather than a guarantee that every departure will feel identical.

Should you book the Anchorage Chocolate and Wine Tasting Tour?

Book it if you want a social, adults-only food outing that combines Alaska stories with a guided chocolate and wine pairing. The small van, tasting cards, five included wines, and personal guide attention give the $110 price a fair case.

I would choose this tour over a standard sightseeing ride if you are curious about Anchorage’s food makers and enjoy trying products outside the usual Alaska menu. Just keep your expectations clear: you are not touring vineyards, eating a full meal, or covering the city’s main sights. You are spending three focused hours with chocolate, wine, and a guide who can help connect both to Alaska.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins and ends in front of the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center on 5th Avenue in downtown Anchorage. Look for a large white van.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts three hours. About 45 minutes are scheduled for the Chugach Chocolates tasting, and about one hour is scheduled at 61 Degree North Winery.

How many chocolates are included?

Up to six chocolate samples are included.

How many wines are included?

The tour includes a tasting of five locally crafted wines. Additional wine samples are not included in the price.

Do I need to be 21?

Yes. Every participant must be at least 21 and must bring a passport or ID card.

Can I drink alcohol in the van?

No. Alcohol cannot be consumed in the vehicle, and drinks are not allowed inside the van.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Transportation is provided in a comfortable van between the downtown meeting point and the tasting locations.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve the tour and pay later.