Halloween Wines

Host a Scary Wine Tasting Party





Celebrate the holiday with Halloween wines. Find wines with spooky wine labels and names for a fun Halloween themed tasting. (See recommended list below.)

Invite 8-12 friends over for some spooky cheer. Too many people will make it difficult to sample and discuss.

You can simply open each wine one at a time and taste as you go, but organizing a blind tasting adds some interest to the tasting. Cover the wines with wrapping paper or aluminum foil so no one knows what each one is. Label each bottle with a number.








Provide each person with a scoring sheet to write on as they sample each wine. People new to wine tasting will especially enjoy having a list of things to consider about each wine. Click here for an easy scoring template courtesy of Mirassou Winery.

Another option is to lay an index card and pen next to each bottle. Ask guests to sample and mark one check mark if they like the wine and two if they love it. Either method will let you figure out which Halloween wine is the favorite for the party.

Recommended Halloween Wines





Velvet Devil Merlot 2012 by Charles Smith Wines, Washington State
Velvet Devil Merlot is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker's Notes: "Classic Merlot aromas of dark cherries, cedar, pipe tobacco. Anise, stone and cherry blossoms. Yeah, believe it! Super smooth....a true Velvet Devil." You should be able to find this find from $10-$13 at Beverages and More, Total Wine, or a local shop.





Phantom by Bogle Vineyards, Clarksville, California
Phantom is a blend of 51% Zinfandel, 47% Petite Sirah, and 2% Mourvèdre.
Winemaker's Notes: "This ruby red spectre entices with rich blackberry and briary boysenberry. Provocative dark fruits envelop the nose and palate, leaving the essence of flavors brought forth by the grapes during winemaking. Black cherry and anise abound, leading to a sturdy finish of black pepper, pipe tobacco and spicy oak."
Available at local wine shops, Total Wine, at the winery, or online at Wine.Com.
Priced $16-20.




Poizin . . .the wine to die for! 2012 Zinfandel by Armida Winery, Dry Creek Valley, California
Winemaker's Notes: "A lush, delicious and "serious" wine but in a fun package! The nose is fruit driven with fresh plum, bing cherry, spicy peppercorn and zinberry. The mouthfeel is soft with a hint of milk chocolate, sweet oak, and a long vanilla finish. The deep color and firm structure are enhanced by the addition of the Petite Sirah and the firm tannins softened by moderate oak." Find this wine from $18-$25 at Total Wine or a local shop." (For approximately $50 more you can purchase the Poizin Reserve which comes in a small wooden coffin.)




7 Deadly Zins 2011 by Michael David Winery, Lodi, California
Produced from Zinfandel coming from seven different vineyards, 7 Deadly Zins has also been blended with Petite Sirah.
Robert Parker awarded this 88 points and comments: "Fuller and richer with more texture and deeper fruit, it reveals hints of tapenade, new saddle leather, black cherries and black currants. It offers a lot of flavor for its price.” Many stores (including local grocery stores) have this Halloween wine for sale. Find it also at Total Wine and Beverages & More. You can find it priced between $10-$17.





Dearly Beloved by Truett-Hurst
Dearly Beloved is a blend of Merlot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Franc from grapes grown on California's central coast. Flavors of mixed berries and sweet spice make this a very easy to drink wine. This wine has a hint of pepper as well. Sold exclusively at Trader Joe's. $8





Vampire Wines by Vampire Vineyards, Napa Valley, California
Vampire Vineyards produces a variety of reasonably priced wines under the Vampire Label. These include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Grigio, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
Winemaker's Comment regarding Cabernet Sauvignon: "Full-bodied with Blackberry and Dark Cherry aromas, with just the right amount of Oak flavors leading to a lingering finish. Classic, small-lot fermentations, followed by aging with Oak, gives full expression to the rich varietal flavors in this wine." I was able to find both the Merlot and the Cabernet Sauvignon at Total Wine. It's also for sell on their website. Priced from $10-$13.





Recas Castle, Cabernet Sauvignon from Transylvania, Romania
There's nothing scary about this label, but this wine is the real thing! It comes from Transylvania, famous for its vampires and the ever infamous, Dracula. Enjoy the full-bodied flavor served, of course, at room temperature. I found it for sale at Total Wine for around $7 a bottle.




Zombie Zin by Chateau Diana, Dry Creek Valley, California
Zombie Zin is 95% Zinfandel blended with 5% Syrah.
Winemaker's Comment: "The Zombie Zinfandel is very dark in color, almost a black-purple. The aromas are of ripe, dense black fruits and a hint of dried herbs. The flavors are complex and rich, sporting succulent blackberries, powdered cinnamon, cola and cherry jam. Just a hint of black pepper in the long finish." Priced at $9-$12. Available at local shops, at the winery, or online through their website.








Benefactor Cellars, from Australia.
Benefactor wines include a Chardonnay, Syrah, and a Cabernet Sauvignon. Purchase all three varietals at Trader Joe's for $4.99 a bottle. They're an excellent value for the price and perfect for a Halloween party!





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