Guest Ghoul: How to Buy Wine Based on Spooky Wine Labels

?>

I always get excited when Sheila from Red Shoes. Red Wine. stops by the blog for a guest ghoul post.

All October posts are part of the Countdown to Halloween!

Not only is she one of my favorite blogging friends in Houston, but she is also a KILLER costume-maker. Back in 2017, she shared some of her favorites to get you inspired for Halloween.

Today, however, she’s sharing her wine knowledge with you. I’m not much of a wine drinker but like many of us…I’m always tempted by those gorgeously spooky labels available at this time of year. Are they worth it? How do you find a good one? Sheila will teach you how to find the perfect bottle!


How to Buy Wine Based on Spooky Wine Labels

By Sheila Echols-Smensy, redshoesredwine.com

 

This summer when Miranda asked me to write a guest post on spooky wines, I happy danced (drove) to the local grocery store and promptly bought two dozen spooky-themed wines with absolutely no regard for wine variety or region. This was the best homework a wino could ask for.

I’m not a sommelier or certified in anything but my own opinions, but drinking wine is my jam. And label marketing is a thing! I round up a stellar collection this summer, and there are sure to be more spooky-themed wines hitting the shelves as we get closer to Halloween.

 

Best Spooky Labels

If aesthetic is top priority, Lapis Luna is gorgeous! Each label seems to tell a spooky story, and I think they look like tarot cards. I sipped the Zinfandel on a full moon like it was my job.

Fortnight is also a pretty Cabernet with a sinister raven on the label. And for a clean look, Spellbound’s metallic labels feature phases of the moon.

 

Best Interactive Labels

Deserving a category of their own are wines with interactive labels. 19 Crimes feature criminals sent to Australia for the crimes they committed against the Crown. Scanning the labels with the Living Wine Labels app plays the stories associated with each label.

Bogle Vineyards’ Phantom has a similar experience with the Augmented Reality Wine Labels app. It’s a fun party trick and a great conversation starter. I’ve saved 19 Crimes for my own Halloween party this year.

 

My Favorite Spooky Wines

Any Casillero del Diablo wine from Chile! From Sauvignon Blanc to Cabernet Sauvignon, these wines are made in the Old World style (think: Europe) and are roughly the same latitude as Portugal and Spain but in the Southern Hemisphere. I buy their red and white wines year-round and they’re always of great quality and value.

 

Pairing Spooky Wines with Food/Candy

A quick Google or Pinterest search will help to pair grape varieties with dishes, desserts and candy. (Sheila has a great wine and candy pairing blog post!) I prefer the Hello Vino app for picking out wine for a particular dish or for deciding what to order if I’ve already started drinking wine.

Generally, Chardonnay is great for buttery dishes, Chianti is a killer pizza pairing, Merlot and red meat are beautiful, Cabernet and chocolate should get married and Prosecco and sour candy is life!

 

Spooky Wine Buying Guide

Skulls, crows, witches, devils and ghosts are all perfect for spooky sipping and party-going. But buy what you like! If you’re typically an Italian wine drinker, you may not like Californian wines, but you will probably like Chilean wines.

Region and grape varieties are important, so check the back of the label and don’t be afraid to ask the wine experts in the store for help. Tell them what you like and what your price range is and they’ll point you in the right direction (and hopefully not be snobby about it).

Or…go in blind, buy wines with fun labels like I did and get your spooky sip on.

 

Sheila Echols-Smensy is a geo-cartographer in real life, but in her blog life she’s a costumer, DIYer, world traveler, cruiser, party host, nerd, runner, wine enthusiast, dog mom, wife, camper/hiker, OCD organizer and shopaholic. Red Shoes. Red Wine. is her travel, lifestyle and hobby blog for the everyday go-getter. You can find her on FacebookTwitterInstagram and Pinterest.

Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween

Miranda is the Houston-based writer, blogger, and Halloween lover behind Spooky Little Halloween, the blog celebrating October 31st all year long. Her favorite Halloween things include pumpkin guts, chocolate bars in her trick-or-treat pail, real haunted houses (including the one she lives in!), and historic cemeteries.

LEAVE A COMMENT

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RELATED POSTS