Our favorite Autumn holiday is fast approaching. Halloween was already a riot as a kid — the costumes, the candy, the late-night wandering! And now as an adult it’s even more fun — the costumes, the parties, the wine!! Our younger selves would never believe that giving up the trick-or-treat lifestyle could be so appealing.
If you’re planning on hosting (safely, with masks!) this year, you might want to start thinking about what beverages you’re going to offer, now. It’s never too early to begin preparations for your fall event of the year. Heck, we started on November 1st.
And over the last 11 months we’ve become experts on bringing a refined, viticultural element to your spooky celebration. Here’s a quick guide to picking the right wines for a Halloween party, as well as a few labels we recommend from our collection at Argaux.
How to Choose the Best Wine for a Halloween Party
The best wines for any kind of party are affordable, drinkable, and delicious. If you’re hosting an event that promises to go well past the witching hour, you want to supply your guests with bottles that will last. Ideally, they will be lower in alcohol content while simultaneously impossible to mistake for fruit juice.
You should also think about the kind of Halloween party you’re planning on throwing. How many people are coming? Will all of your guests be of wine-imbibing age? Or will the wine be there as a grown up goody for adults acting as trick-or-treat chaperones?
In other words, how much candy is going to be at your party? If the answer is lots and lots and lots, think about finding beverages that pair well with super-sweet desserts. If you have a favorite halloween candy variety pack, think about how to pair wine with some of those specific treats.
Classic chocolates go fantastically well with bolder reds like Zin or Cabernet Sauvignon. Gummy candies, both sour and sweet, perfectly pair with dryer whites like Sauvignon Blanc. Caramels can be uplifted and brightened by a sweeter red. Even candy corn, one of the most controversial Halloween candies on the market, is transformed when munched alongside a glass of Prosecco.
If your party platters are taking a more savory approach, it’s difficult to go wrong with a super-dark and thematic red or party-ready bubbly.
Best Red Wine for a Halloween Party
- 2019 Domaine de la Tour Vieille Banyuls “Rimage” 500ml – $30
Sweet, fruity, and strong, this ripe-with-tradition wine was crafted in a style originally used to make libations for sailors on long and tumultuous sea voyages. Ideal for hosts planning on wearing their best pirate gear to the party, it also pairs extremely well with a classic Hershey’s bar and a dark and stormy night.
- 2019 Weingut Griesbauerhof DOC St. Magdalener Classico – $28
Honestly, we mostly chose this one for the label art. But just LOOK at it: the flowing script and blood-red wax stamp conjure seasonal images of haunted castles, dashing Draculas, and running through darkened hallways in flowing white robes with nothing but a candelabra to light your way. Notes of ripe fruit and almonds in this dry red make it an excellent contrast to any sweeter treats which might be gracing the table.
- 2018 Domaine Bohn AOC Alsace Par Nathur Pinot Noir – $45
Every good Halloween party has to feature at least one bottle of Pinot Noir. And this is THE Pinot for an Autumn celebration where ghosts and goblins are the guests of honor. Blueberry, cherry, white pepper, and cinnamon in the nose keep spirits high. And dark red fruit, mushrooms, and a deep flavor of forest floor offer a grounding and contemplative experience that’s perfect for Samhain.
Best White Wine for a Halloween Party
- 2017 Young Inglewood VENN Skin Contact Sauvignon Blanc – $35
Orange is one of the main team colors for Halloween cheerleaders, so we just HAD to include at least one orange wine on our list. This beautiful skin-contact Sauvignon Blanc is spicy, fruity, and reminiscent of a delicious autumnal baked good both in aroma and flavor. Stock up on these for your party: guests won’t be able to get enough.
- 2014 Alma 4 Blanc de Blanc Uco Valley – $25
An affordable Chardonnay bubbly that tastes way more expensive than it is and pairs beautifully with Halloween candy as well as some of the more sophisticated party snacks you might have on hand. Acidic, fruity, and buttery all at once, this is the sparkling wine you want when you make your Halloween toast.
Best Rosé Wine for a Halloween Party
- 2019 Clos Signadore Patrimonio Rose MAGNUM – $75
This gorgeous Rose is also available in a smaller bottle but hey, it’s a party, so you might as well go for the Magnum. This Rose is light, floral and fruity, lending a sense of summer nostalgia to any deep-autumn event. But it goes great with dessert, and distinct notes of blood orange lend it a special thematic quality that’s perfect for Halloween.
- NV Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups Triple Zéro Rosé Pet Nat – $39
Double, double, toil and trouble, cauldron fill with fun pink bubbles! A sparkling blend of Grolleau and Gamay, this magical brew lends a refreshing twist to your fall festivities.
How Argaux can Help
We’re willing to bet you’ve never thought about pairing wine and Halloween candy before. But you know who has? Vanessa Price, author of Big Macs and Burgundy: Wine Pairings for the Real World. Vanessa has done her research and found the perfect vino to go with everyday eats of all kinds, from guilty pleasures like hot cheetos to more sensible choices such as grilled salmon.
And Argaux has collaborated with Vanessa to make learning about wine even easier, with our Food and Wine Pairing 101 Kit, which comes complete with 2 to 4 bottles of hand-selected wines from our collection, as well as a truly invaluable copy of Big Macs and Burgundy. Order yours today to find the perfect pairing for your giant bowl of Halloween treats.
You might also enjoy:
