Valentine's Day is around the corner, and you won't have to travel far to find something sweet for someone special. The chocolatiers of Madison and Dane County have much to offer this time of year, with beautiful, hand-crafted chocolates and curated selections that highlight chocolate-making techniques from around the world. Ready to start shopping? Read on and discover 5 of the best chocolate shops around Madison, perfect for your Valentine's Day gifting needs.

• Madison Chocolate Co. – 729 Glenway St., Madison, WI 53711
  Whether you want something delicious that's locally produced or you're searching for a rare chocolate bar from around the world, Madison Chocolate Co. has you covered. Shop from a wide selection of chocolate bars from around the world, grab some of their decadent caramels or bring home one of their gourmet hot chocolate drinks for Valentine's Day. Their shop also features a gluten-free house bakery, with a fresh selection of sweet baked goods available every morning.
  
  
• Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier – 2083 Atwood Ave., Madison, WI 53704
  Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier has been named one of the top 10 chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional, and you can purchase their outstanding chocolates in Madison just in time for Valentine's Day. Their gift ideas start at under $10, and there are also great luxury chocolate options available. Give the gift of a chocolate subscription, like 12 on the 12th, which includes deliveries of 12 truffles on the 12th of every month, with 3, 6, and 12-month subscriptions available.
  
  
• Candinas Chocolatier – 11 West Main St., Madison, WI 53703
  In addition to their large factory and retail store in Verona, Candinas Chocolatier operates a lovely retail boutique in downtown Madison. The boutique features a huge selection of items fresh from the factory, with chocolates created by Swiss-trained confectioner Markus Candinas. One unique aspect of the chocolates served here is that they have no preservatives. This means that they need to be eaten relatively quickly after purchase – not a problem, given the delicious quality of the chocolate they create.
  
  
• Sjölinds Chocolate House – 219 E. Main St., Mount Horeb, Wisconsin 53572
  Sjölinds Chocolate House is a great example of the "bean to bar" chocolate shop that has really grown in popularity over the past 10 years. Their small-batch chocolates are created entirely in-house, from roasting the raw beans to the final step of tempering the chocolate to give it that great snap and shiny appearance. Stop by to give the gift of small-batch, locally-produced chocolate for Valentine's Day this year.
  
  
• Driftless Chocolates – 209 E. Main St. #E, Mount Horeb, WI 53572
  Looking to give the gift of variety this Valentine's Day? Driftless Chocolates offers a range of curated chocolate boxes, each highlighting different aspects of their excellent recipes. The 12-piece Wisconsin Supper Club box is always a favorite, featuring carefully selected, locally inspired chocolates. Their caramel chocolates are among their most popular offerings, with Sea Salt Honey, Chunky Pecan, and Creamy Liquid Caramel flavors available. Their chocolate bars, including the popular Door County Cherry Chocolate Bar, are made fresh in-house as well.

Get in touch to buy, sell, and learn more about homes in the Madison, WI area.