By David Setley
Happy Halloween! Pumpkin spiced lattes, pumpkin ales, ginger spiced cookies, and candy corn are as synonymous with the holiday as much as witches, ghouls, and goblins. But, what about wine? Whether you are planning the perfect costume, a festive party or small get-together, or a simple weekend at home, I invite you to “wine down” with me for a few minutes as I offer a few recommendations to complement this spooktacular season.
This time of year, I look for wines that complement the colors of autumn and are in some way representative of the traditions, stories, legends, and tastes of the fall holidays: Halloween and the Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos). According to History Channel Online, Halloween originated from a Celtic festival of Samhain where participants would ignite bonfires and wear costumes. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III established Nov. 1 as The Feast of All Saints. A century later, Oct. 31 became the Feast of All Souls. The Day of the Dead originated over 3,000 years ago when the Aztecs used the celebration to honor the dead as part of the cycle of life.
The traditional colors of the Halloween season are black and orange. If you have never tried orange wine, you aree in for a treat. Orange wine is to white wine grapes what rosé wine is to red grapes. Juice from wine grapes is nearly always clear. It is the contact with the skins that gives wine its color. To make a red wine, the skins of red grapes remain with the juice in a process called maceration. The red color comes from tannins, a phenolic compound in grape skins. For rosé wines, the skins are only in contact with the juice for a short time to give the wine its familiar pink hue. The color of orange wine is created when the skins of white grapes remain in contact with the juice during maceration.
The Montinore Estate L’Orange from the Willamette Valley of Oregon is an enjoyable orange wine. It is made from Pinot Gris and Muscat grapes, resulting in a dry wine with aromas of orange blossoms, honey, and chamomile tea. The flavor is bright with notes of tangerine, melon, and a touch of tarragon, perfect for the fall season. For another popular orange wine, try the Gulp Hablo Orange Wine, an organic and vegan-friendly wine from the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain. This one is a natural wine, also called a minimal intervention wine, meaning there are no added sulfites and only natural yeasts used in producing the wine. The flavor profile is similar to that of the Montinore L’Orange, albeit a bit more robust. Both vineyards employ biodynamic farming techniques. Either will add color and flavor to your holiday festivities.
Another spooky option is the Skull Wine Company’s Pink Wine, a dark-made rosé from a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 20% Pinot Gris and 10% Alicante Bouchet. Alicante Bouchet is one of my favorite grapes and is one of the few known as a teinturier grape. Nearly all juice coming from wine grapes is clear, but teinturier grapes are the exception. The juice of these grapes is red, making for a notably darker and richer flavor. The resulting color of the Skull Pink Wine can only be described (fittingly) as bright, blood red and the label features the company’s trademark skull. It is an intensely flavorful organic wine from California that is sure to set the mood for your Halloween party.
Looking for a red wine for your festivities? Consider the limited edition Apothic Inferno. This California Zinfandel blend is aged in whiskey barrels to add fire to the deeply rich flavored wine. As the name indicates, the wine has a bold flavor and a deep garnet, almost black color. The aromas are black raspberry and cocoa. The palate is black cherries and black raspberry with notes of leather and smoke.
For my final recommendation, try the Rocca Del Dragone (The Rock of the Dragon) from Campagna, Italy. The vineyards from which this wine is grown are low-yield, high-quality grapes with vines averaging 20 years of age. The Rocca Del Dragone is a deep red wine made from hand-selected 100% Aglianico grapes that are harvested in late October. It has aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, and coffee, with notes of pepper and minerality. The result is a full-bodied yet amazingly smooth and elegant wine. If you are unfamiliar with this varietal, take advantage of this holiday to become acquainted. You will not regret knowing the dragon!
I hope you celebrate Halloween with some of these wines. They are all treats (no tricks!) and are sure to raise your spirits. As always, if you have questions, contact me at dsetley@passionvines.com or stop by the wine bar. Until next time, Happy Halloween and happy wining!
David Setley is a certified sommelier enjoying his retirement from higher education as a wine enthusiast and educator at Passion Vines in Somers Point, New Jersey.
