Halloween Wine Recommendations: What Wine to Serve on Halloween?

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"Halloween Wine – Nothing says Halloween like Graves. Located just southeast of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Garonne River, this gravelly sub-district of the greater Bordeaux area is known for its intense red wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon and its whites which are often blends of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. My suggestion for this Halloween is to try the 2005 Chateau Trebiac. This Merlot-based red has a concentration of flavors that are simply haunting – cedar, currants, head stones, eau de ghoul, fermented grape blood, and a hint of bat venom. The 2005 vintage is one of the best in recent history, but don’t worry about holding onto this wine; it’s ready to open the cask-et and drink. No tricks here, simply a treat. (About $16)"  - Ben Spencer, Cellar Master at Bernardus Winery and IntoWine Featured Writer

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"What could be scarier than an over oaked high alcohol California Cabernet or Chardonnay that costs over $100?  Of course, that recommendation won’t give you anything to drink at your Halloween Party. I am going to propose Ghost Block wines.These are not inexpensive, but they are very good. Their Cabernet is around $55 and is as good as many costing twice the price. These should match well with miniature Snickers or Baby Ruth’s.  They also make a Sauvignon Blanc, which I have not yet tried, for around $20. This may be priced better for large parties.  Happy haunting." - Loren Sonkin is an IntoWine.com Featured Contributor and the Founder/Winemaker at Sonkin Cellars. 

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"I’d recommend the Niebaum-Coppola Rosso (approx $20), a blend of red Italian grapes made by Francis Ford Coppola, the filmmaker of Dracula. Score: 88/100." - Natalie MacLean, author of the best selling book Red, White and Drunk All Over, offers a free e-newsletter at www.nataliemaclean.com.

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"Sparkling hard cider. My recommendation is the Eric Bordelet Sydre Doux (Approx $10). Eric Bordelet makes amazing sparkling ciders from apples ("sydre") and pears ("poiré"). They're inexpensive, very low in alcohol, as complex as many wines, and way fun to drink. Although these ciders deserve year-round consumption, they evoke the autumnal post-harvest season particularly well. The Sidre Doux is off-dry and ought to go well with caramel apples, although I honestly haven't tried them together yet!" - Mark Middlebrook, Paul Marcus Wines, Oakland, California

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"Pumpkin Wine. My specific bottle recommendation is Prairie Pumpkin Wine (about $12). Made from Pumpkins, this lightly sweet wine is surprisingly tasty. Just the wine to enjoy with those caramel apples, popcorn balls or candy corns." - - Efrain Madrigal, Wine Director, Sam’s Wines & Spirits, Chicago, Highland Park and Downer’s Grove, Illinois