Tag Archives: Wines for Halloween

TWS 2024 Hallowine Pick!🧛🏻‍♂️🍷

A long time ago I fell in love with vampires. They were elegant, stylish and a little more than dangerous. There was something darkly magical in the way they could materialize from thin air, and change your life forever with one, quick bite. I was intrigued by mysteriousness of their lives that began at sunset; existing only through the deep, dark hours of the night. When the movie of Dracula starring Frank Langella came out, I was mesmerized. That summer I was a young apprentice at the Shaw Festival and had ripped out a poster of the movie to tape to my dressing room mirror. As I applied my makeup for each performance, he looked back at me with dark, smoldering eyes, unblinking, through the mist and fog. It was my first real crush on a sophisticated, elegant man.

Around the same time, I became obsessed with an artist. His name: Edward Gorey. His art was dark and gothic, yet embodied a subtle, ironic humor. I’d first seen his work in the opening credits for the PBS series MYSTERY! and I was in love. The drawings appealed to the dark academia streak in my personality. I wanted to live in those Victorian drawing rooms of black and white, and walk amongst the ancient cemetery relics beyond.

When I discovered that Gorey had designed the sets for the stage production of Dracula (also starring Frank Langella), I wanted to make a beeline for Broadway and immerse myself in that world. Happily, many years later, I discovered that his set drawings had been made into a play theatre set. I could now own a small piece of his toothsome art all for myself!

Click the video below for a fun little journey into the world of Edward Gorey’s Dracula!

When it came to this year’s TWS Hallowine pick, there was only one choice: the 2022 Vampire Vineyards Pinot Noir.

Tasting Notes:

🩸dark cherry

🩸strawberry jam

🩸a little bite of spice

🩸whisper of smoke on the finish

Nice Bites:

🩸dark chocolate

🩸aged Brie or smoked Gouda

🩸pasta w/ creamy mushroom Alfredo

The bright acidity, spice and luminescent flavors of this wine did a beautiful job of cutting a swath through the creaminess of the Alfredo sauce I’d made to pair. Add to this a fresh salad of tender greens, and a crusty French stick smothered in home made garlic butter and we had a frightfully good dinner.

This bottle is also lots of fun your Halloween table. You can order the little vampire cape to dress up your wine bottle!

So have fun, my little creatures of the night! 🦇

Enjoy the holiday, be safe and may all your tricks turn into beautiful treats.🎃

Cheers!🧛🏻‍♀️🍷

©️Copyright. The Wine Student. 2024

Wines of Three~So Mote It Be ~My Top Halloween Picks of 2019!

“I put a spell on you…because you’re mine. “

~ Jay Hawkins

Hey party people! It’s that special time of year when a chill’s in the air, frost is afoot, and it’s not just the pumpkin that’s getting lit! 🎃

Each year, I look for two things from my All Hallows vintages: Label art and/ or contents. While the label art is the first thing to catch my eye, what’s inside the bottle actually matters; you don’t want to be sipping swill at your gathering. Breathe easy, there’s no danger with these three wines.

**Click the video below to find out more about these great wines! 👇🧟‍♀️** yes, there is a video there!

My top picks for the season – no particular order:

Prayers of Sinners – A spooky little blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Merlot, this moody offering from Washington State boasts flavors of violet, cocoa, and dark fruit such as blackberry. It pairs well with braised beef, hellfire roasted peppers, and devilish molten chocolate cake. At a price point of around $10.99, this wine will steal your soul. It was sumptuous in my glass.

7 Moons Dark Side Red Blend – A haunting seven layer blend of Syrah, Merlot, Petit Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Grenache, it screams of robust flavor and texture. Swirling aromas of rich chocolate cherry, blackberry, and vanilla dance with the cherry Coke, creamy milk chocolate flavors on the tongue. It plays well with barbecue chicken, caprese salad and many Asian foods. Be not afraid, the price point is $19.99. The only trick to get this treat is to open the bottle.

Sin Zin – This wicked wine is straight up, 100% Zinfandel from Alexander Valley Vineyards in Sonoma. Known for their other worldly Zins, this wine is aged in the cask for fourteen months in American Oak which gives aromas of spice and earthy notes and conjures flavors of black cherry, plum, black pepper and chocolate. It pairs well with spicy braised beef, lamb or venison, tomatoes, eggplant, mushrooms and olives. The price point of $17.99 – $19.99 makes it a potion to die for.

Wherever you plan to haunt this year, make sure to sink your teeth into a great wine or two.

Have a safe and happy Halloween! 👻🍷🎃

Cheers!

©️Copyright The Wine Student, 2019