Tricky Treats: The Surprising Science of Pairing Halloween Candy with Wine

What Are The Basics of Pairing Wine With Sweet Foods?

Each wine has its own level of sweetness and tannins, so there truly is the perfect pairing for each kind of candy.  

Generally speaking, whites go better with candy, while most chocolates will pair better with a fruit-forward red. Salty and fatty candy, such as anything with peanuts, works well with tannins, and don’t forget some fizz will work well, too.

The old adage that the wine must be sweeter than the dessert is not strictly true when it comes to candy matching. We’re deliberately skipping the overly sweet fortified wines – yes, there really can be too much of a good thing!

Some Favorite Halloween Candy & Wine Pairings

Skittles and Sauv Blanc

Skittles can be exceptionally sweet with some distinct fruity flavors. Look for a dry white wine that will cut through all of the sweetness. Sauvignon Blanc is perfect because it will tone down the rainbow of fruit flavor and complement the fruitiness. Another option is an effervescent sparkling rosé.

Starburst and Muscat/Moscato

Starburst are a soft, chewy fruit candy with a tart finish.  Look for something sweet to complement, such as a Muscat or Moscato. The Muscat will help bring forward the sweet orange flavors and enhance the citrus, whilst the candy balances out the sweetness of the wine.

Gummy Worms and Riesling

Soft, sweet, and sugar-coated gummy worms are a Halloween party favorite you’re bound to find scattered around at any party. We believe the often nondescript sweet flavors – vaguely meant to be fruity – can work well with the sweetness of a Riesling. The Riesling will help the sweet flavors dance to your taste buds and swill down the sugary finish.

Candy Corn & Chardonnay

Love ’em or hate ’em? Either way, they’re decidedly more palatable when you can quickly wash these waxy, chalky things down. Candy corn is a hard, sweet, buttery-tasting candy, so the perfect pairing is, of course, a buttery Chardonnay. The Chardonnay will help mellow out the sharp, sweet sugariness (if you can, then stomach the Chardonnay). This is a needs-must scenario…

Pop Rocks & Prosecco

I bet you never thought you’d put a Pop Rock in your mouth again after about the age of 12. If you really want to add some fizz to the Halloween madness, though, try adding some Pop Rocks with a swig of your favorite drop of Prosecco (or any sparkling wine) for the full foamy fruity burst you could only imagine!  Or, on second thoughts… 

Hershey’s Kisses & Zinfandel

Do you love the taste of chocolate-covered berries? I can tell you this is one I would go out of my way to raid the kids’ stash for! The sweet milk chocolate of the cute, individually wrapped Hershey’s Kisses is crying out to be paired with a fruity, jammy red.

A Zinfandel will make every sinful extra foil wrapper feel slightly more guilt-worthy but oh so worth it! It could also work with other jammy reds such as a Grenache or Cab Franc.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Merlot

Reese’s can be that perfect blend of salty peanuty butter and sweet milk chocolate, so some would even argue that they do not need a pairing companion?

To cut through the fattiness of the peanut butter, we highly recommend reaching for the Merlot. With its slight tannic finish, the Merlot complements rather than competes with this already complex flavor combination, making this one candy match made in heaven.

Snickers and Cab Sav

Snickers is another candy with a lot already happening: peanuts, caramel, nougat, and chocolate all in one mouthful!

A bold candy like this needs something equally bold in flavor to match – we bring you the king of chocolate matching, the Cab Sav!  Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of darker fruits, which contrast with the saltiness whilst complimenting the sweet chocolate. 

Dark Chocolate and Malbec

Saving the best for last? If your poor kid gets thrown a KitKat Dark or a delicious Dove Dark Chocolate Pumpkin (hey, you can dream), here’s your chance to pounce mamas and help them out. Pour yourself a delicious glass of deep purple Malbec to perfectly complement the bitterness and smooth out the tannins.

A Shiraz will equally help your palate work its way through the last few mouthfuls of the darkest choccies – or frankly, anything you need to remove evidence of the next day.

Now, we never promised you that any of this would actually be good for you!

If you’re looking to work off the excesses of Halloween in November, perhaps you should try our detox teas or rejuvenating juices next!

Do you have any more great candy pairing suggestions, mamas? Let’s hear them in the comments.

Little Party Pixie advocates quality over quantity. Always drink responsibly!

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