Halloween is the perfect excuse to indulge in our favorite candy and dress up as our alter egos. But why not take this spooky holiday to the next level by pairing your favorite Halloween candy with the perfect bottle of wine?
Whether you prefer the chewiness of Skittles, the creaminess of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, or the sourness of Sour Patch Kids, there’s a wine out there that can complement your candy cravings and make your Halloween party or movie night extra special.
So, grab your favorite candy bag and get ready to explore the wild world of wine and Halloween treats!
HALLOWEEN CANDY & WINE PAIRINGS
Snickers With a Ruby Port
When it comes to pairing wine with Snickers, you might want to consider a wine that has enough sweetness and body to stand up to the rich chocolate and caramel flavors, while also providing a contrast to the salty peanut component.
A good option to consider could be a Ruby Port. Ruby Ports are fortified wines from Portugal that have a rich and sweet flavor profile with notes of dark fruit, chocolate, and nuts. The sweetness of the wine will complement the caramel and chocolate in the Snickers, while the tannins will help to cut through the richness of the candy.
Another option could be a Late Harvest Zinfandel. These wines are made from grapes that have been left on the vine longer than usual, resulting in a higher concentration of sugar and flavor. Late Harvest Zinfandels are known for their rich and jammy flavors, with notes of blackberry, raspberry, and chocolate. The sweetness and acidity of the wine will complement the flavors in the Snickers while providing a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the candy.
Candy Corn With a Riesling
Personally, I say just toss your candy corn right in the trash. But that’s just me.
Since candy corn is a very sweet candy with a unique flavor, it can be challenging to pair with wine. However, you may want to consider a light-bodied, slightly sweet wine that won’t overpower the candy corn’s gross delicate flavor.
One option to consider could be a Riesling. Rieslings are known for their fruitiness, floral notes, and sweetness, which can complement the candy corn’s sweetness and enhance its subtle flavors. Look for a Riesling with low alcohol content, as it will help balance the sweetness of the candy corn without being too heavy on the palate.
Another option could be a Moscato d’Asti. Moscato d’Asti is a sweet, lightly sparkling wine from Italy that has notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and honey. It’s an excellent choice for pairing with candy corn because it’s not too heavy and has enough sweetness to match the candy’s flavor. The slight effervescence can also help cleanse your palate between bites of candy corn.
M&Ms With a Red Zinfandel
When it comes to pairing wine with M&Ms, you may want to consider a wine that has enough sweetness to match the candy’s flavors while also providing a refreshing contrast to the candy’s texture.
One option to consider Red Zinfandel. Zinfandel is known for its bold, jammy flavors of dark fruit, spice, and chocolate. The wine’s boldness can match the intensity of the M&Ms’ flavors, while the tannins can help balance out the candy’s sweetness. A red Zinfandel can also provide a refreshing contrast to the candy’s texture, making it a great pairing option.
If that’s not your jam, you could also go with a Ruby or Vintage Port. These fortified wines from Portugal have rich and sweet flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, and nuts that can complement the M&Ms’ sweetness and enhance their chocolate flavor.
Sour Patch Kids With a Prosecco
Pairing wine with sour candy can be challenging because the candy’s acidity can clash with the wine’s flavors. However, there are some wine options that can complement the sourness and sweetness of Sour Patch Kids.
One option to consider could be a sparkling wine, such as a Brut Champagne or a Prosecco. The effervescence and acidity of sparkling wine can cut through the Sour Patch Kids’ sweetness and help balance the candy’s acidity. Plus, the light and refreshing nature of sparkling wine can make it a perfect pairing option for a sweet and sour candy like Sour Patch Kids.
Another option could be a sweet Riesling. A sweet Riesling can provide a fruity and floral complement to the Sour Patch Kids’ flavor profile while also matching the candy’s sweetness. The acidity in Riesling can also help balance the candy’s tartness.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you could also try pairing it with a fruity red wine, such as a Beaujolais or a Lambrusco. These wines have a fruity and slightly sweet flavor profile that can match the candy’s sweetness and provide a refreshing contrast to the candy’s sourness.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups With Cabernet Sauvignon
When it comes to pairing wine with Reese’s cups, you might want to consider a wine that can complement the chocolate and peanut butter flavors while also providing a contrast to the candy’s sweetness.
For Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups you could go with a Cabernet Sauvignon. These are typically a full-bodied red wine with notes of black fruit, chocolate, and spice. The wine’s tannins can help cut through the richness of the Reese’s cups, while the fruity and chocolate notes can complement the candy’s flavors.
If you prefer a sweeter wine, you could also consider a late-harvest Zinfandel or a Banyuls. These wines have a sweet flavor profile with notes of dark fruit and chocolate that can complement the Reese’s cups’ sweetness and provide a refreshing contrast to the candy’s texture.
Skittles With a Moscato d'Asti
Skittles are a fruity and sweet candy that has some bold flavors. There actually are some wine options that can complement Skittles’ sweetness and provide a refreshing contrast to their fruity flavors.
One option to consider could be a Moscato d’Asti. Moscato d’Asti is a sweet, lightly sparkling wine with notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and honey. Its sweetness can match the Skittles’ sweetness, and its effervescence can cleanse the palate between bites of candy. The wine’s fruitiness can also complement the candy’s fruity flavors.
Another option could be a Gewürztraminer. Gewürztraminer is an aromatic white wine with notes of lychee, rose petals, and spice. The wine’s sweetness and floral notes can complement the Skittles’ fruit flavors while providing a refreshing contrast to the candy’s texture.
If you prefer a red wine, you could also consider a fruity and low-tannin red wine, such as a Beaujolais or a Pinot Noir. These wines have a fruity and light character that can match the Skittles’ flavors without overpowering them.
In Conclusion
So, in conclusion there are plenty of wines that’ll work for a variety of different Halloween candies. Whether you’re going for dark chocolate, milk, chocolate, sweet, sour, or extra sugary it can be fun to pair them with a wine that you may have never tried before.
Happy Halloween. Drink responsibly.
