How to Pair Halloween Candy and Wine
Cheers!
Halloween candy is great on its own, but it's even better when you pair it with wine.
Vivino, a wine review website, recently shared their picks for enjoying your favorite seasonal sweet with a glass of wine.
Grab the glasses.
Tootsie Rolls + Amarone
In order for a chocolate and wine pairing to work, the wine needs a lot of horsepower. Amarone, with its rich tones of leathered blackberry, strawberry, and currant has the strength to stand up to one of life's greatest pleasures, chocolate. - Joel Caruso, Beverage Director at Pizzeria Ortica
Caruso's suggestion: Corte Guala Amarone
Hershey's Kisses + Zinfandel
The best wine contrasts creamy milk chocolate with ripe berry flavors. Americas sweetheart, Zinfandel, turns every bite into a raspberry cordial on the palate. - Laura Burgess, Sommelier
Burgess' suggestion: Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel
Pixy Stix + Sauvignon Blanc
These fruity tubes of sugar rush-inducing powder beg to be paired with something equally peppy and funSauvignon Blanc! The juicy tropical fruit and refreshing acidity match well without any sugar to get in the way. - Courtney Schiessl, NYC Sommelier
Schiessl's suggestion: 2014 Tiefenbrunner 'Turmhof' Sauvignon Blanc
Whoppers + Cabernet Sauvignon
The huge malty character of whoppers needs a wine with backbone and depth to keep from being overpowered by the malt and chocolate. I love dessert wine with Whoppers, but something more accessible is a ripe, bold Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Paso Robles. - Joel Caruso, Beverage Director at Pizzeria Ortica
Caruso's suggestion: Parrish Family Silken
M&Ms + Port
The dark, sweet, black fig and dried fruit character of Port is a great counterpoint to the milk chocolate in M&Ms. The hard crunch of the candy shell is perfect with the soft pillow of lavishly textured Port. - Karen MacNeil, Author of The Wine Bible
MacNeil's suggestion: Grahams Six Grapes Reserve Port
Reese's + Sherry
Reach for a bottle of Oloroso Sherry to toast the now-probably-sainted person who first married chocolate and peanut butter. Toasted nuts, caramel, raisins, and brown sugar, accented by sea salt, blend harmoniously with the rich flavor of a Reeses. - Courtney Schiessl, NYC Sommelier
Schiessl's suggestion: NV Bodegas Grant La Garrocha Oloroso
Swedish Fish + Lambrusco
Swedish Fish holds the title for best gummy Halloween candyyup, I said it. Theyre not too sweet, bursting with flavor, and just plain fun! Lambruscos berry and cherry flavors mirror those of the Swedish Fish, while underlying earth and floral notes add complexity. - Courtney Schiessl, NYC Sommelier
Schiessl's suggestion: 2015 Cleto Chiarli Vecchia Modena Lambrusco di Sorbara
Candy Corn + Moscato
Moscato and candy corn are a fantasmagorica of sweetness. Think candyland on steroids. The sugar in the candy corn amps up the fruitiness in the Moscato. Both taste better as a result. - Karen MacNeil, Author of The Wine Bible
MacNeil's suggestion: St. Supery Moscato
Sweet Tarts + Riesling
Rieslings labeled Sptlese are sweet, but not dessert-level sweet, making them a great match for sour candy. Dominated by intense orange and candied lemon with touches of minerality, they make the candy taste less sour, enabling the eating of way too many packets at once! - Laura Burgess, Sommelier
Burgess' suggestion: S.A. Prm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Sptlese
Jolly Rancher + Gewrztraminer
You need a dynamic wine with enough acid and depth to stand up to the berry Ranchers and mesh with citrus ones. Grand Cru Alsatian Gewurztraminer has strong lychee tones and low acidity, so the candy the reigns without drowning out the flavor of the wine. - Joel Caruso, Beverage Director at Pizzeria Ortica
Caruso's suggestion: Maurice Schoech Alsace Grand Cru Kaefferkopf Gewrztraminer
Starburst + Moscato D'asti
The best Moscato dAsti wines bring a refreshing sparkle to trick-or-treating frenzies with seductive orange aromas and candied citrus flavors. Like Starburst, Moscato dAsti balances fruity sweetness with a tart tang. - Laura Burgess, Sommelier
Burgess' suggestion: Michele Chiarlo Moscato dAsti Novile
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