Elevate Your Halloween with Perfect Pairings from Around the World
As Halloween approaches, it’s not just the costumes, sweet treats, and spooky décor that deserve attention. All around the world, different cultures celebrate with unique traditions that honour the spirit of the season in fascinating ways—and wine by the glass can bring a whole new dimension to these celebrations!?
In this blog, we will explore Halloween traditions from around the world and uncover how wine can enhance the spirit of each celebration, allowing your guests to sip, share, and savour a variety of flavours, one glass at a time.
Tradition: Celebrated primarily on November 1st and 2nd, Día de los Muertos is a vibrant, multi-day festival where families honour the lives of their departed loved ones with colourful altars adorned with marigolds, candles, and offerings. Families gather at cemeteries, believing that the spirits return to enjoy the festivities with them.?
Wine Pairing: A full-bodied Malbec or Tempranillo is perfect for Día de los Muertos, with their rich, dark fruit flavours that pair well with the savoury spices of traditional Mexican dishes – think cinnamon, clove, smoked paprika, and ancho chilli. These wines echo the celebration’s warmth and add depth to the festive atmosphere.
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Tradition: Halloween’s roots trace back to Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival that marks the transition from harvest to winter. Celebrated with bonfires and costumes, Samhain was believed to be a time when the spirit world was closest to our own. Bonfires were lit to protect against wandering spirits, and costumes were worn to confuse them, blending the harvest’s warmth with a touch of the supernatural.
Wine Pairing: A smoky Pinot Noir or Syrah beautifully captures the essence of Samhain. Pinot Noir’s earthy notes bring out the flavours of roasted root vegetables, while Syrah, with its peppery finish and hints of dark fruit, complements the hearty, rustic dishes often enjoyed at harvest time. These wines are ideal for sipping, adding depth and warmth to the evening as the colder months begin.
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Tradition: Also celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, Fet Gede, or the Festival of the Dead, is Haiti’s vibrant take on Halloween. Rooted in Voodoo traditions, this holiday honours the spirits of the deceased with processions, drumming, and dancing in the streets. Devotees pay tribute to the guardian of the underworld with offerings of food, candles, and rum spiked with fiery chillies believed to awaken the spirits.
Wine Pairing: Opt for bold, fruity reds like Syrah/Shiraz or Grenache/Garnacha, which offer a perfect balance of spice and fruitiness. These wines enhance the heat in your dishes without overpowering them, as their lower tannins allow the spices to shine. The vibrant, peppery notes bring out the fiery essence of Fet Gede, making them ideal companions for this lively celebration.
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Tradition: In Spain, Halloween is part of a three-day observance starting on October 31st with costumes and trick-or-treating, followed by All Saints’ Day on November 1st and All Souls’ Day on November 2nd. While celebrations grow, the focus shifts to honouring the dead, with families visiting cemeteries to clean and decorate graves, especially in regions like Galicia, where ancient Celtic traditions are still observed.
Wine Pairing: During Halloween in Spain, especially around All Saints’ Day, families gather to honour the departed with food and tradition. Cava, with its rich flavours from the southern Spanish climate and depth developed through extended bottle ageing (from nine months to over 30 for gran reservas), is an ideal choice. This complexity pairs wonderfully with bold Spanish autumnal dishes like roasted pimientos, patatas bravas, or grilled chorizo and spices such as paprika or saffron.?
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Tradition: In the USA, Halloween is a major celebration filled with costume parties, festive decorations, and sweet indulgences. Adults often host themed parties, complete with spooky décor and plenty of sugary snacks like chocolate and candy corn, creating a playful and fun atmosphere.
Wine Pairing: A jammy, fruit-forward Shiraz is an excellent match for rich Halloween treats like chocolate, with its dark berry flavours and a hint of spice complementing the sweetness. Alternatively, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc offers a refreshing contrast to sugary treats (like Skittles), with its bright acidity cutting through the sweetness.
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Tradition: In the Philippines, Halloween is part of Undas, a period of remembrance for the deceased. Families gather at cemeteries, lighting candles and offering prayers. A traditional aspect of this celebration is pangangaluluwa, where groups go house to house, singing for the souls of the dead.
Wine Pairing: A late-harvest Riesling or Moscato perfectly complements the reflective and serene nature of Undas. These sweet wines pair beautifully with Filipino treats, such as kakanin (rice cakes), offering a gentle, comforting sweetness that aligns with the spirit of remembrance and togetherness during this reflective holiday.
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How Bermar Can Help
Opening several bottles of wine for various Halloween events can often feel like a daunting task, especially when you want to offer a variety of still and sparkling wines by the glass. This is where Bermar steps in to elevate your wine service and ensure your guests can enjoy every sip, every time.
Our professional preservation systems are designed to maintain the integrity of open bottles, keeping both still and sparkling wines fresh for up to 3 weeks! Whether your venue is running a lively party or a series of intimate dinners, Bermar helps you manage and ultimately eliminate your wine wastage.?
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Elevate Your Halloween Wine Experience
As the 31st of October draws near, let Bermar help you confidently serve premium wines by the glass, allowing your guests to experience the best quality wine no matter when the bottle was opened. By offering perfectly preserved wine, you not only enhance the customer experience but also boost your business’s profitability, making it a real win-win all around.
Visit bermar.co.uk to explore how our preservation systems can enhance your wine service and help make every celebration a success, no matter the occasion, spooky or not!
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