Halloween How-to: Pairing Biltmore Wine with Candy

Take spooky-season fun to the next level with our special Halloween how-to on pairing Biltmore wine with classic candies.

“There’s nothing scary about enjoying Biltmore wines with your favorite sweets,” said Jill Whitfield, Senior Marketing Manager, Biltmore Wines.

“The same principles that apply to successful food-and-wine pairings also work with candy,” Jill said. “For desserts, you’d normally choose a wine that’s sweeter than the dish you’re serving, but this Halloween how-to focuses on pairings that add a little sophistication and a lot of fun to the mix.”

To make it even easier to enjoy Biltmore wines with Halloween treats, consider the following classic wine-and-candy pairings detailed below.

Candy corn complement

Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Dry Riesling pairs perfectly with tri-colored candy corn

For those who love the seasonal stripes and sugary sweetness of old-fashioned candy corn, it’s twice as nice with a glass of Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Dry Riesling.

“Our Dry Riesling opens with scents of bright citrus and hints of spice that that make you think of fall,” Jill said, “while the taste recalls sun-warmed plums, nectarines, and other stone fruits. The wine’s flavor and dryer style provide a pleasant balance for the pure sweetness and soft, waxy texture of candy corn.”

Mint madness

Savor the dark side by pairing Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Mourvédre with peppermint patties

For a minty match made in heaven this Halloween, don’t put all the classic goodies out for the kids–save some of them for pairing with our lush Biltmore Estate® Limited Release Mourvédre.

“The Mourvédre is bold with dark notes of fruit and herbs to complement the bittersweet chocolate exterior of peppermint patties, plus flavors of chocolate, blueberry, vanilla, and subtle hints of cedar that offer a nice counterpoint to the brisk mint filling,” said Jill. “In addition, it’s a medium- to full-bodied wine, which is a good partner for the easy-melting texture of this type of candy.”

Peanut butter perfection

For a special Halloween treat, savor smooth, creamy peanut butter cups with our approachable Biltmore Estate® Chardonnay

If your Halloween traditions include snagging all the chocolate-covered peanut butter cups out of the treat bags to savor later, we suggest you consider complementing the dynamic duo with our approachable Biltmore Estate® Chardonnay.

“This is a pairing that surprises people,” Jill admits, “because you don’t normally pair peanut butter with wine. But if you think about it, what’s more perfect with peanut butter than grape jelly, which gives you a point of reference.”

According to Jill, our Chardonnay works well because it’s a delightfully smooth wine with fruit flavors and hints of oak that enhance most food flavors. It’s also crisp and offers good acidity to balance the higher fat content and rich mouthfeel of peanut butter.

Sweet-and-sour surprise

Create a sweet-and-sour surprise by pairing Biltmore Estate® Sauvignon Blanc with sour gummy candy!

This is another surprising pairing,” said Jill, “mostly because nobody thinks about trying sweet-and-sour Halloween candy with wine–especially an elegant white varietal like Sauvignon Blanc!”

The pairing works on two levels, Jill said, beginning with the bright citrus aromas of Biltmore Estate® Sauvignon Blanc that complement the playful scent of the candy.

“Give them both a good sniff,” said Jill, “and you’ll start to understand how they can work together. The Sauvignon Blanc is crisp, with refreshing flavors of peach and a touch of minerality that keeps the candy from being overly sweet as you enjoy them together.”

Halloween how-to with Biltmore wine

Halloween how-to: pairing Biltmore wines with classic candy

Ready to try our Halloween how-to and savor Biltmore wine with your favorite candies? In addition to the four pairings noted above, you can find any of our award-winning wines at estate shops, online, or close to home with our Retail Locator.