A California Halloween: Candy and Wine Pairings from the Golden State

Halloween is just around the corner, and while kids may be excited for costumes and trick-or-treating, we adults know the real fun starts when you pair your favorite candies with some great California wine. Whether you’re throwing a spooky bash or simply indulging yourself at home, pairing candy with wine is a delightful way to enhance both flavors.

In this post, we’re going to explore some fun, unexpected candy and wine pairings—all featuring California’s world-renowned varietals. So, grab your glass and a handful of candy, and let’s dive into a California Halloween!

The Art of Pairing Wine with Candy

You might be thinking, “Can candy and wine really go together?” Absolutely! Just like pairing wine with cheese or chocolate, finding the right wine to complement your candy can create a whole new tasting experience. The key is to strike a balance between the wine’s acidity, sweetness, and tannins with the candy’s flavors—whether they be rich and chocolatey, nutty, or even sour. And who better to explore these pairings than California winemakers, whose diverse climates and grape varieties offer the perfect match for your favorite Halloween treats?

1. Snickers + Cabernet Sauvignon

Bold Flavors for a Bold Wine

Snickers are packed with layers of flavor—chocolate, caramel, nougat, and peanuts—and they need an equally complex wine to keep up. Enter Cabernet Sauvignon. This full-bodied wine, known for its bold tannins and dark fruit flavors like blackberry and plum, cuts through the sweetness of the caramel and complements the nutty richness of the Snickers. The wine’s structure and slight oak spice create a harmonious balance with this classic candy bar.

Wine Pick: 2021 Silvia Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast

2. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups + Zinfandel

Sweet, Salty, and Spicy Heaven

If you’re a fan of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, you’ll love pairing them with a rich, fruit-forward Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley. Zinfandel’s jammy blackberry and raspberry flavors complement the chocolate, while the wine’s slight peppery spice plays off the savory peanut butter. The interplay of sweet and salty with fruity and spicy makes this pairing one of our favorites. It’s a fun, unexpected combination that’ll leave your taste buds craving more!

Wine Pick: 2018 Comstock Wines Estate Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley California

3. KitKat + Pinot Noir

Crisp and Light with a Fruity Finish

KitKat’s crispy wafer and milk chocolate are light and crunchy, making them an ideal match for the delicate yet complex flavors of a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. This wine’s bright red fruit notes—think cherries and raspberries—add a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the chocolate, while its silky texture mirrors the lightness of the KitKat. The wine’s subtle earthiness adds depth, creating a playful yet sophisticated pairing.

Wine Pick: 2019 Stolo Family Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, Creekside Vyd, San Luis Obispo Cty

 

4. Twix + Chardonnay

Creamy and Crunchy Meets Buttery and Smooth

Twix bars combine chocolate, caramel, and a biscuit crunch, and they pair beautifully with a rich, buttery Chardonnay from Paso Robles. The wine’s creamy texture and flavors of baked apple and vanilla bring out the caramel in the Twix, while its acidity cuts through the sweetness, keeping the pairing balanced. The Chardonnay’s smooth, slightly oaky finish complements the crisp biscuit, making this a treat for the senses.

Wine Pick: 2022 Le Vigne Winery Paso Robles Chardonnay California

 

5. Sour Patch Kids +  Riesling

A Sweet and Sour Symphony

If you’re a fan of tangy, sour candies like Sour Patch Kids, you’ll want to pair them with a wine that can handle their tartness while adding a touch of sweetness. Riesling, with its crisp acidity and notes of green apple, peach, and citrus, is the perfect match. The wine’s natural sweetness balances the sourness of the candy, while its bright acidity keeps the pairing lively and refreshing. This combination will keep you coming back for more, as each sip and bite dance between sweet and sour.

Wine Pick: 2022 Amos Rome Riesling Lake Chelan AVA, Columbia Valley WA

Tips for Enjoying Halloween Wine and Candy Pairings:

• Go easy on the sweetness: When pairing wine with candy, avoid wines that are too sweet unless you’re matching them with sour or intensely sweet candies. Wines with high acidity or tannins work best to balance out the sugar.
• Serve at the right temperature: Reds like Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon are best served slightly cool (around 60–65°F), while whites like Riesling and Chardonnay should be chilled (45–50°F) to bring out their best flavors.
• Have fun experimenting: Don’t be afraid to mix and match candies and wines! Part of the fun of Halloween is trying new combinations and discovering unexpected pairings that you love.

Ready to make this Halloween one to remember?

Elevate your candy game by pairing it with California’s finest wines from The California Wine Club. Whether you’re craving a bold Cabernet to pair with chocolate or a crisp Riesling to tame those sour treats, we’ve got the perfect wine for you.

Join The California Wine Club today and explore a world of hand-selected, small-batch wines from the Golden State’s most celebrated vineyards. Sip, snack, and savor the season with us!