Halloween Candy & Wine Pairings

If you’re over the age of 21, chances are you’ve already said goodbye to the Halloween celebrations of your youth. Instead of trick or treating, the Halloweens of your adulthood may take many forms: getting together with your friends (in costume, of course), burgling your kids’ candy or shamelessly indulging in your very own box of treats. 

As an adult, your candy-acquisition options aren’t limited to knocking on doors asking strangers for bonbons. There are many options available to you, from sugary sweets to chocolate treats with one added advantage: now you can give your candy consumption the dignity it deserves by perfectly pairing your sweets with just about any variety of wine. 

You don’t have to be a sommelier to combine candy and vino. Forget about fancy things like detecting tannins or describing the nose of a particular bottle—there are no rules here. To narrow down the perfect pairing, channel your inner connoisseur and consider the following:

• Flavor: Strongly flavored treats typically pair best with other strongly-flavored wines. For example, a rich chocolate-covered caramel treat like Snickers pairs nicely with a full-bodied red.

• Mouthfeel: Some beverages are supple and buttery while others have a delightfully sharp bite. Velvety candies like chocolate and caramel pair best with wines that have a similarly firm structure, while sour candies tend to be balanced out by bright, clean libations.

• Intensity: Go all in by pairing intensely flavored confections with an intensely flavored wine, or balance out a potent candy with a more neutral varietal.

Prefer a nice sudsy brew? We’ve got your beer pairings covered too, with recommendations for how to balance flavor, mouthfeel and intensity to create the perfect brew and bonbon combo. 

At Gopuff, we know Halloween doesn’t stop when you turn 21.* With Gopuff wine delivery, it just gets better. Order in seconds and get your favorite wine pairing delivered right to your door in minutes—no door-to-door mission required. But we know the candy awaits, so let’s get down to business.

Wine Pairings for Chocolate Lovers

As a general rule, chocolate pairs best with richer, heavier beverages like full-bodied red wine with a solid backbone. Here’s how to pair your favorite Halloween chocolates with wine:

Snickers and Cabernet Sauvignon

Pair Snickers with: Cabernet Sauvignon, such as Black Box, 19 Crimes, Woodbridge, Dark Horse, or Dreaming Tree

Snickers has a strong flavor profile that calls for an equally strong wine. Known for its firm grip, the vanilla and spice flavors drawn from the oak barrels used to age a good cab sauv are the perfect companion for the caramel-y, salty nuttiness of Snickers.

Twix and Chardonnay

Pair Twix with: Chardonnay, such as Barefoot, Black Box, Kim Crawford, or Cupcake

A rich, full buttery chardonnay will intensify Twix’s caramel cookie crunch.

Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme and Red Blends

Pair Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme with: Red blends, such as Apothic, 7 Moons, Dreaming Tree, or 19 Crimes

The vanilla and chocolate combo of Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme is best combined with a fruity and vanilla-rich red blend that stands up to its strong flavors. 

Kit Kat and Merlot

Pair Kit Kat with: Merlot, such as Woodbridge, Dark Horse, or Yellow Tail

Time for a break? Look for a pairing that plays up the nuttiness of the wafer. The light, malt-forward flavors of Kit Kat pair best with softer, lush fruit flavors of Merlot. 

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Pinot Noir

Pair Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups with: Pinot Noir, such as Meiomi, 19 Crimes, Woodbridge, Kim Crawford, or Dark Horse

The light body and bright acidity of a pinot noir are ideal matches for Reese’s salty peanut butter filling. With profiles of black cherry, blackberry, and other jammy fruits, Cabernet Sauvignon is another great option—think grown-up PB&J. 

Wine Pairings for Candy Lovers

Sweet and sour candies typically pair best with lighter, fruitier wines. Here’s how to pair some of the most popular sweet and sour candies. 

Sour Patch Kids and Riesling

Pair Sour Patch Kids with: Riesling, such as Barefoot or Chateau St. Michelle

Sour Patch Kids start sour and finish sweet, making off-dry rieslings that start sweet and finish with sour their ideal counterpart. If riesling isn’t your preference, sauvignon blancs have similarly fruity flavors. Looking for some bubbles? A fruity moscato will also enhance the flavor of this classic sour candy.

Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers and Riesling

Pair Trolli Sour Brite Crawlers with: Riesling, such as Barefoot or Chateau St. Michelle

Similar to Sour Patch Kids, the sweet and sour punch of an off-dry riesling goes great with intensely tart candies.

Gushers and Sauvignon Blanc

Pair Gushers with: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, such as Kim Crawford, Nobilo, Dark Horse, Starborough, or Bota Box

The crisp, bursting grapefruit and passion fruit flavors of a New Zealand sauvignon blanc are just what you need to complement the juicy burst of biting into a Gusher. 

Haribo Gummi Bears and Rosé

Pair Haribo Gummi Bears with: Rosé, such as Dark Horse, Ruffino, Band of Roses, Chloe, or Meiomi

Neutral beverages with just a whisper of zest pair best with these iconic gummies. With  sweet strawberry, peach, and grape flavors, rosé will enrich the range of fruity flavors in every bag of Haribo Gummi Bears. 

Wrapping Up

You may not have the option of going door-to-door trick or treating, but one new, exciting possibility awaits Halloween revelers over the age of 21: pairing your favorite Halloween candy with a perfectly matched glass of wine.  

With Gopuff wine delivery, you can get your ideal wine pairing delivered right to your door without interrupting your candy consumption. Our online store stocks a wide selection of wine choices (and candy too, of course), and we can deliver any time of day, with no price hikes and no surge fees. All treat, no trick. 

*Must be 21 years or older with a valid ID to purchase alcohol through Gopuff. Alcohol delivery not available in all locations. Terms and conditions apply.