Halloween Candy and Wine

“Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker.” ­ — Ogden Nash, 1902-1971, American poet; Reflections on Ice-Breaking, 1931

The spooky season of “trick-or-treating” is here! From costume parties and jack-o-lanterns, to raiding your kids’ candy stash, I’ve got the perfect wine pairings to make your Halloween candy experience even sweeter.

Selecting the right wine for your “trick-or-treat” candy creates a unique tasting experience, much like pairing wine with cheese or even chocolate.

Achieving a balance between the acidity, fruit, sweetness, and tannins in wine and the flavors present in candy—such as chocolate, nuts, sugar, fruit, tart, or sour elements—is necessary for pairing.

When pairing wine and candy, choose wines with higher acidity or tannins to offset sweetness. Avoid overly sweet wines unless pairing with very tart, sour or extremely sweet candies.

Wine Pairings

Below is a list of the most popular Halloween “trick-or-treat” candies paired with recommended wines.

Butterfinger Bar (layered crisp peanut butter core covered in a “chocolatey” coating). Wine: Chardonnay, Sherry (amontillado, oloroso)

Candy Corn (flavor based on honey, sugar, strawberry, and vanilla). Wine: Gewürztraminer, Prosecco, Riesling (off-dry), Viognier

Caramel Apple (whole apple, served on a stick, which is coated in a layer of thick, buttery caramel). Wine: Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc

Hershey’s Chocolates (milk chocolate bar). Wine: Merlot, Port, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel

Kit Kats (chocolate-covered wafer biscuits). Wine: Côtes du Rhône (red), Pinot Noir, Port, Prosecco, Zinfandel

M&Ms (milk chocolate center surrounded by a hard, colorful sugar shell). Wine: Gamay, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah

Milky Way (creamy, sweet nougat center with a malted flavor; layer of rich caramel; a coating of milk chocolate). Wine: Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (milk chocolate outer shell and a peanut butter filling). Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Port, Zinfandel

Skittles (non-chocolate, fruit-flavored chewy candies). Wine: Moscato, Prosecco, Riesling (off-dry), Sauvignon Blanc

Snickers Bars (roasted peanuts, caramel, and nougat, covered in milk chocolate). Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Port, Syrah

Sour Patch Kids (soft and chewy gummy candies known for their distinct “sour, then sweet” flavor). Wine: Pinot Grigio, Riesling (off-dry), Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc

Starburst (fruit-flavored, chewy, soft taffy candies). Wine: Moscato, Prosecco, Riesling (off-dry), Sauvignon Blanc

Sweet Tarts (unique combination of sweet and tart flavors). Wine: Moscato, Sauvignon Blanc

Tootsie Rolls (chocolate-flavored taffy-like candy with a unique chewy texture). Wine: Merlot, Syrah

Twizzlers (fruity-chewy candy). Wine: Grenache, Pinot Noir

Exploring various combinations of candies and wines can result in a diverse array of pairings. Halloween serves as an occasion to sample new selections and determine preferred combinations.

Bob Lipinski is the author of 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He consults and conducts training seminars on Wine, Spirits, and Food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com OR bkjm@hotmail.com.