Temecula Valley Wineries Pair Wine with Their Favorite Scary Movies for Some Fa-boo-lous Halloween Fun
Usually, around this time of year, the wine and Halloween candy pairing stories start appearing everywhere. And, while we love the idea of stuffing our faces with Halloween treats while sipping Temecula Valley wines, in practice, most wine doesn’t actually taste that good with candy corn.
We think a much better sounding idea around Halloween is to pour ourselves a glass of our favorite Temecula Valley bubbly, crisp white, juicy rosé, or brooding red (or all of the above!) and curl up on the couch with a super scary movie. Nothing soothes the racing heart and sweaty palms that come from watching a spooky flick quite like a delicious glass of wine.
With that in mind, we asked our Temecula Valley Wine Country personalities to pair their favorite wines with their favorite horror movies… and the results were spine-chilling and glass-filling. Side of Smarties and Tootsie Rolls optional.
Nick Palumbo, Palumbo Family Vineyards and Winery
Movie: Cabin in the Woods
Wine: 2016 Cellar Dweller Red Blend
“It’s a not-so-common blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Mourvèdre, and 20% Grenache that’s full of mystery and intrigue. In the movie, college students are manipulated by mind altering drugs into the cellar of a remote cabin to be attacked by various dwellers.”
Valerie Andrews, Oak Mountain Winery
Movie: Hannibal
Wine: 2017 Temecula Hills Syrah
“The dark, brooding aromas of our 2017 Syrah will keep you as captivated and on the edge of your seat as the movie.”
Rick Buffington, Cougar Winery
Movie: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Wine: 2018 Kaleidoscope
“The wine is a blend of many red wines; some darker red, some lighter red, but all red (insert sinister laughter here)!”
Kristen Troxell, Hart Winery
Movie: Hocus Pocus
Wine: 2019 Tres Hermanos
“Sit and sip to the theme of threes! Enjoy Tres Hermanos while watching the three Salem witches scheme during Halloween. Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre make up this Rhône blend. The entry is soft and rich, brimming with cherry and clove flavors that lead into a velvety mid-palate with a hint of caramel – perfect for a spooktacular evening.”
Julie Hulse, Gershon Bachus Vintners
Movie: Zombieland
Wine: 2017 Caelus Petite Sirah
“We felt like the movie deserved a deep, bold wine to pair with all of the blood, guts, and humor.
Sharon Canon, Akash Winery
Movie: A Nightmare on Elm Street
Wine: 2021 Dreamville Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc
“Surely it has to be a Chianti with Silence of the Lambs… Are we classifying that as a horror movie? On a serious horror note, it has to be the original Freddy Kreuger paired with Akash Dreamville Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc. Because as Freddy’s screen time was kept to less than 10 minutes in the original film, the same time frame goes when it comes to a bottle of the bubbles – it’s hard to not finish it in under 10 minutes!”
Jessy Hyle, Bel Vino Winery
Movie: The Haunting
Wine: 2017 Long Valley Long Valley Red
“My favorite scary movie is the 1963 version of The Haunting. It pairs well with our 2017 Long Valley Red – a comforting wine with aromas of chocolate and cherry, and flavors of jam, toasted oak, spices, and vanilla…perfect for a scary night.”
Erin Cahoone, Robert Renzoni Vineyard
Movie: The Exorcist and Vecchio Frate.
Wine: 2016 Vecchio Frate
There is only one wine that Father Damien Karras will reach for after a long day of exorcising demons…that is of course, Robert Renzoni’s Vecchio Frate or “Old Friar”. This deep, intense wine not only takes the edge off after a long day of exorcising demons, but it also bears the name “Old Friar” which brings Father Karras an extra veil of comfort and protection that is needed to complete his fatherly duties.
Gus Vizgirda, Wilson Creek Winery
And, as always, Gus, Wilson Creek’s well-known and much-loved winemaker understood the assignment perfectly and over-delivered, providing not one, but three brilliant pairings.
Movie: IT
Wine: Plethora
“Most people ask what grapes are blended in IT, making this wine an ideal candidate when watching IT. The flavor notes of blueberry, green peppercorn, and tobacco will help calm your nerves during the most suspenseful parts.”
Movie: Silence of the Lambs
Wine: Family Reserve Zinfandel
“Looking for a concentration of flavor, intensity of aroma, and full-bodied character? We recommend our Zinfandel. A perfect pairing with liver and fava beans.”
Movie: Leatherface
Wine: Petite Sirah
“This wine displays notes of blackberry, herbs, and ripe plum with undertones of black pepper and smokey leather, making this wine frighteningly good. Order pizza, and watch as Leatherface terrorizes his victims.”
We suggest grabbing a bottle of every suggestion, calling up a few of your favorite people and planning the ultimate wine-soaked Halloween movie marathon.
