10 Spooky Halloween-Themed Wines

Halloween is a holiday that is enjoyed by both kids and adults. If you are hosting a ghouls and ghost party this year, and are planning on providing adult-friendly beverages, consider the following drinks to match the theme of Halloween.

1. Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon

‘Sip the blood of the vine’ is this wine’s tag line. Made from grapes from Mt. Veeder in the Napa Valley region, this winery offers a number of different wines and spirits, all with the vampire-themed label. They’ve even opened the Vampire Lounge & Tasting Room in Beverly Hills.

For those who enjoy a full-bodied wine with a nice finish, the Vampire cabernet fits the bill. Other red wines available from this winery include merlot and pinot noir. If white is more your style, try a Vampire chardonnay or pinot grigio.

This winery also bottles wine under other haunting names, including Dracula, Trueblood, and Chateau du Vampire.

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2. Banshee-Mulled Wine Recipe

Rather than offering the normal party drinks, such as beer and wine, be unique and make a big batch of a warm, spiced wine. Not only does it have a Halloween theme, but this hot beverage will keep guests warm on a cool, fall night.

Combine all of the ingredients in a crock pot and slowly warm them up for about 25 minutes, stirring every once in awhile. The following recipe can be modified to serve a bigger crowd:

• One bottle of red, such as zinfandel, merlot, or cabernet sauvignon
• One lemon, peeled and sliced (add the zest to the pot to enhance flavor)
• One orange, peeled and sliced (add the zest to the pot if you wish)
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 5 cloves, whole
• 2/3 cup cognac or brandy
• ½ cup honey or sugar
• ½ cup water

Ladle the mulled wine into glasses and add plastic spiders to the handles to add a spooky factor to the drink.

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3. Halloween Sangria

Another fun recipe to offer at your costume party is Halloween sangria. This make-ahead concoction is festive, and it allows you to enjoy your own party without having to worry about serving complicated drinks. It is also very versatile, and you can change up the ingredients.

• 2 bottles of red wine
• 4 cups club soda or ginger ale
• Variety of fruit (grapes, peaches, oranges), peeled and cut
• ¼ cup sugar
• Splash of grenadine, optional
• Gummy bugs, gummy worms, and candy eyes
• Ice

Mix the wine, fruit, and sugar, and chill in the fridge overnight. Just before serving, add the soda, syrup (for extra ‘blood’ color), ice, and spooky candy.

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4. Ghostly White Chardonnay

Another great white wine to serve at your Halloween get-together is Ghostly White Chardonnay from Elk Creek Vineyards.

This chilling chardonnay is full of freakish flavor, crisp aromas and complex notes of citrus, apricot, melon and apple. If you’re looking for a white wine for your Halloween party, it’s hard to beat this one. Just the bottle alone is worth having around. Another white wine to consider from this same vineyard is Ghostly Sweet Mellow White.

If your guests prefer a red wine, we’d recommend Bone Dry Red Cabernet from this same vineyard. More on this one below.

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5. Trueblood Wine

For fans of the popular television show True Blood, Trueblood wine is the perfect addition to your Halloween party. Only the best barrels and best grapes are used in producing these Napa Valley wines. In 2009, Trueblood was purchased by Vampire Vineyards, and the tradition of delivering high quality wine continues.

There are three wine varietals with the Trueblood label, including chardonnay, pinot noir, and cabernet sauvignon. The chardonnay grapes are aged in French Oak Barrels for a minimum of 9 months, which results in an elegant wine. Flavors include tropical fruits, pear, apple, vanilla, caramel, and hints of spice.

The pinot noir has floral, brown sugar, clove, and cherry aromas, with berry, cherry, and vanilla flavors. The cabernet will satisfy your guests who appreciate a full-bodied wine. The aromas hint of sweet herbs, blackberry, and licorice, and the flavors include cedar, boysenberry, and chocolate. The cabernet that is made with grapes from Mt. Veeder has earned 90 points and gold medal status from LA International Wine & Spirit.

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6. Bone Dry Cabernet

From the same Kentucky vineyard as Ghostly White Chardonnay, this cabernet is another spooky wine that is perfect for any Halloween party.

Featuring a paranormal photo of a skeleton and skull on the front of the bottle, Bone Dry Cabernet from Elk Creek Vineyards is aged over time in tiny oak barrels to preserve its gentle balance. The resulting wine is well-balanced with character and richness. With a medium body, this dry wine has a lush ruby color, dark cherry nose and hints of spice, chocolate, and red berries.

This is definitely a must-have wine for Halloween.

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7. Black Cat

Nothing screams Halloween like the image of a black cat. Why not serve Black Cat wines to impress your costumed friends?

As a boutique winery in Napa Valley, the Black Cat Vineyard produces small batches of a number of red varietals, so you can please all of your wine-loving guests.

Its signature wine is the Estate Syrah. It has plush tannins and layers of fruit. There are two cabernets available, one from Howell Mountain and one from Rutherford. The Rutherford Cabernet has luxurious aromas, light spice, and fruit layers. The Howell Mountain Cabernet is a powerful wine that has dense and rich fruit flavors.

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8. Charles Smith Wines

Produced in Walla Walla, Washington, Charles Smith offers a wide variety of wines that would be perfect to serve at a Halloween bash, as the art on the bottles definitely fit in with a darker-themed party.

Our three favorite labels that would fit into your Halloween theme, is the the Velvet Devil Merlot, the Broncho Malbec, and the King Coal Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah. While these are all red wines, they still offer many white wines that you may prefer.

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9. Phantom

Produced by the famous Bogle Winery, the Phantom is another perfect wine for Halloween.

Aged in oak barrels for over two years, Phantom is full of intense flavor and aromas that will continue to haunt you long after you finish your glass.

Made with a blend of petite syrah, zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, and mourvedre, the result is a high intensity wine with red cherry fruit and black pepper spice.

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10. River of Skulls from Twisted Oak

The name itself invokes scenes of a dark, spooky forest, and the Twisted Oak Winery delivers with its bottles as well.

For an especially ghoulish wine, we’d recommend trying the River of Skulls or Calaveras Rosa, as both bottles feature a picture of a skull front and center.

Whether you are hosting a party, or you want to bring your host a gift, these themed wines are perfect for your Halloween festivities.