This year, upgrade your Halloween punch bowl with something that is sure to impress your party guests. Here’s a list of some of our favorite DIY Halloween Cocktails, all of which, of course, include wine!
Caramel Apple Sangria
The sweeter side of Sangria, but you’ll find your guests downing it way before dessert!
Wine: Any White Wine
Recommendation: Albariño Pays d’Oc 2021 Vignobles Foncalieu Les Extraordinaires Sillages
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
1 liter bottle of white wine (one standard sized bottle + an additional 1/3 bottle)
8 cups fresh apple cider
1 cup unflavored or caramel vodka
4-5 apples, chopped
1/4 cup caramel syrup (plus more for garnishing)
DIRECTIONS:
Place chopped apples in the bottom of a large pitcher. Drizzle the caramel syrup over top. Add white wine, apple cider, and vodka, then stir well to combine. Refrigerate at least four hours before serving or overnight. Before serving, swirl caramel syrup around the inside of a glass. Fill with chilled sangria, including apples, and sip!
Reference: The Sweetest Occasion
Hocus Pocus Fizz
Blog: DrinkedIn
If this is what witches drink, count us in – the basic ingredients make it easy to throw together, while the food coloring gives it that perfect Halloween orange.
Wine: Any Sparkling
Recommendation: 91 Pt. Prosecco Di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Superiore Brut DOCG NV Tenuta Di Collalbrigo
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup rum
1/4 teaspoon Imitation Coconut Extract
3 drops Red Food Color
2 drops Yellow Food Color
1 bottle (750 ml) sparkling wine
DIRECTIONS:
To Rim Glass with Orange-Tinted Sugar: Place 2 tablespoons sugar in small resealable plastic bag. Add 5 drops Red Food Color and 5 drops Yellow Food Coloring. Seal bag. Knead sugar until the color is evenly distributed. Pour out onto shallow plate.
Dip rim of beverage glass in water, then into Orange-tinted sugar to lightly coat. Mix pineapple juice, rum, coconut extract and food colors in measuring cup. For each cocktail, pour 2 ounces pineapple juice mixture into beverage glass. Top with 4 ounces sparkling wine.
The Devil’s Margarita
Margaritas AND red wine? Need we say more? We’ll be making this tonight.
Blog: Show Me The Yummy
Wine: Red Wine, such as Cabernet or Carménère
Recommendation: Mi Terruño Reserve Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Argentina
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
1 1/2 oz tequila blanco
3/4 oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
3/4 oz simple syrup
Red wine, such as Cabernet or Carménère
DIRECTIONS:
In a shaker filled with ice, pour in tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup. Shake until chilled and pour into glass of choice.
Set a spoon at a 45 degree angle barely placed inside of the margarita. The back of the spoon should be facing the ceiling. Pinch the top of the wine bottle with your finger and slowly pour red wine onto the back of the spoon and let it drizzle on the surface of the margarita. Pour until you have about ¼ inch of red wine in the glass.
Congratulations! You’ve made a really cool looking layered drink!
NOTES
Don’t have any simple syrup? No worries! Mix equal parts white sugar and water (ex: 8 oz sugar, 8 oz water) into a microwave safe container and heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Cooking time will vary depending on how much sugar and water you’re cooking.
If you want to make this for a crowd, make the base ahead (tequila, simple syrup, and lime juice) and place in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Then top each glass with the red wine.
Reference: Show Me The Yummy
Apple Cider Mimosa
Blog: Back To Her Roots
It doesn’t get any easier than this – make sure to always keep some sparkling wine on hand so you can throw this together anytime, even while you’re just waiting for more trick or treaters!
Wine: Any Sparkling
Recommendation: Château des Cossé Crémant de Loire Brut NV
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
3 oz apple cider
3 oz champagne
Brown sugar and apple slices for garnish, optional
DIRECTIONS:
Pour the apple cider into a champagne flute, followed by the Champagne. Serve immediately!
NOTES
If you’d like to rim and garnish the drink, take a thin apple slice (that has been treated with either lemon juice or fruit preserver to prevent browning), and make a ½” slice in the middle. Slide the apple slice onto the rim of the glass, and run around the rim to dampen. Remove the apple slice, then dip the rim of the glass in a shallow bowl of brown sugar. Place the apple slice back on the edge of the glass, then fill with drink.
Reference: Back To Her Roots
Felix Felicis
Blog: Buzzfeed
With Ginger Beer becoming increasingly more popular, this spooky cocktail will please the masses.
Wine: Any Sparkling
Recommendation: Julien Denby Brut Réserve Champagne NV
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
1/4 oz simple syrup
1/4 oz lemon juice
1.5 oz ginger beer
Champagne or other sparkling wine
DIRECTIONS:
To make simple syrup, just heat equal parts sugar and water until fully dissolved, then cool.
Mix simple syrup and lemon juice in the bottom of a champagne flute. Add ginger beer and fill with sparkling wine.
Reference: Buzzfeed
Pumpkin Pie Sangria
Blog: That’s So Michelle
What could make pumpkin pie better? That’s easy – pumpkin pie with a little wine!
Wine: Any White Wine (The sweeter, the better)
Recommendation: 94 Pt. Sauternes 1st Cru Classé 2004 375 ml Château Guiraud
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
1 bottle sweet Moscato (or any sweet white wine)
1/2 cup Libby’s pumpkin pie mix
24 oz Goya mango juice
1/2 cup butterscotch schnapps (or pumpkin pie or whipped cream flavored vodka)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 large apple sliced
1 large sliced orange
DIRECTIONS:
Add all of your ingredients into a large pitcher whisk/mix well and drink! (Tastes even better after it soaks in the fruit and flavors over night)
NOTE:
The pumpkin spices and filling will rest at the bottom over time but a quick stir brings it right back to life.
Reference: That’s So Michelle
So whether it’s red, white, or sparkling wine you have on hand, whip up a Halloween Wine Cocktail for you and your guests this year! Don’t forget to visit us at WTSO.com to find the best wine deals online.