How to Pair Halloween Candy with Wine Because Why the Heck Not
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You may not be able to throw on a costume and parade around the neighborhood gathering free candy anymore, but being an adult has its perks: Now you can have your candy and drink wine, too.
"Wine is a great way to put a grown-up spin on seasonal treats," says Pedro Rusk, a wine educator at Jackson Family Wines. "And pairing your wine with Halloween candy encourages you to savor each bite and take a moment to appreciate how the flavor intensifies with the perfect wine pairing."
Who can argue with that? So before you head out on a last-minute candy run, make time for a stop at the wine store-we got Rusk to share his picks for pairing popular candy options with vino. (If you're heading to Trader Joe's go ahead and pick up the best fall wine at TJ's. )
Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
Halloween Candy & Wine Pairings
M&Ms + Merlot or Zinfandel
Merlot and zinfandel are both full-bodied wines and will complement the chocolate flavor with rich, black fruit.
Buy It: M&M'S Milk Chocolate Blue Candy 2lbs, $30, amazon.com; Cannonball Merlot 2019, $14, wine.com
Starburst + Pinot Noir, Red Blend, or Sauvignon Blanc
Cherry and strawberry match up with a lush pinot noir or red blend, which have similar berry flavors. If you're a citrus fan, pair lemon and orange with a sauvignon blanc to complement the crisp notes in both.
Buy It: Starburst Original Candy 4lbs, $21, amazon.com; Tank Garage Winery 2019 Self-Love Red Wine, $40, tankgaragewinery.com or Avaline Red Blend, $20, wine.com
Hershey's Kisses + Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied wine with tannins that stand up well to rich milk or dark chocolate Hershey's Kisses.
Buy It: Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolate Candy Party Bag, $10, amazon.com; Decoy California Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, $20, wine.com
Dum-Dums + Red Zinfandel or Chardonnay
Color-coding makes wine pairing a cinch! Try cherry with a red zinfandel and banana with a chardonnay — which tends to have flavors of tropical fruit.
Buy It: Dum Dums Original Pops, 400-Count Bag, $25, amazon.com; Zinfandelic Sierra Foothills Old Vine Zinfandel 2017, $15, wine.com
Raisinets + Zinfandel
Plum and jammy flavors often found in zinfandel will rout out Raisinets nicely. (Related: The Truth About the Health Benefits of Red Wine)
Buy It: Raisinets Milk Chocolate Covered Raisins, 15 boxes, $21, amazon.com; Double Black Zinfandel Paso Robles, $14, totalwine.com
Smarties + Rieslings, Gewürztraminers, or Muscats
Rieslings, gewürztraminers, or muscats tend to be sweeter wines, which work well with tart Smarties. The key rule: Make sure your candy isn't sweeter than your wine.
Buy It: Smarties Rolls Original Flavor Candy, 125 count, $17, amazon.com; McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic Riesling, $20, totalwine.com
Popcorn + Chardonnay
Chardonnay creates a classic pairing. Look for one aged in oak barrels, which will give the wine oak and butter notes, bringing out similar flavors in popcorn. (Related: This TikTok Hack Will Change How You Eat Movie Theater Popcorn)
Buy It: Orville Redenbacher's Butter Popcorn, Pack of 36, $21, amazon.com; Butter Knife Chardonnay, $16, totalwine.com
