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Cocktail SoireesNo. 8998 · The 2026 edition
Halloween candy and wine pairings from a sommelier for steal-candy-from-the-kids week.
Elevate your Halloween candy stash with sommelier-approved wine pairings.
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at coolmomeats.com.
Discover perfect wine matches for your favorite Halloween treats, curated by sommelier Jason Malumed for a grown-up twist on candy night.
About this
A Halloween party-planning article that pairs popular candies with real wine recommendations from sommelier Jason Malumed. It groups candies by flavor profile and suggests specific wine styles, regions, and producers for each. The piece is aimed at parents who raid their kids' Halloween candy and want a good bottle ready.
The plan
- Ask sommelier Jason Malumed (or a wine pro) to build a list of real Halloween candy and wine pairings.
- on the way home today, or anytime this week — Check out which wines to grab on your way home from work today, or anytime this week.
- in the coming days, whenever candy-stealing hits high gear — Have the vintage you need on hand in the coming days when candy-stealing from your kids hits high gear.
- Use the pairings even if you don't steal candy, and maybe learn a few new great wines.
- When in doubt on a hard-to-pair candy, go with bubbles, such as an off-dry pétillant-naturel from the Loire.
Food & drink
- Snickers, Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, Reese’s, Peanut M&Ms, and Heath Bar: pair with a rich sherry like a Palo Cortado or a Manzanilla Pasada; Equipo Navazos has amazing renditions, and search out the Gómez Nevado “Dorado,” which tastes like liquid hazelnuts, caramel, and sea salt.
- Almond Joy: pair with a traditional style Rioja Crianza, like one from Bodegas Akutain or Lopez de Heredia; extended aging in old American oak barrels gives a coconut note, and as the wines age they pick up nutty and even chocolatey qualities.
- Kit Kat, Nestle Crunch, and Whoppers: pair with a lighter red like a Pinot Noir; Pinot Noirs from volcanic soils, such as in Baden, Germany or certain parts of Oregon, can give a light milk-chocolately flavor. Try Shelter Winery “Lovely Lilly” or Omero from the Willamette Valley of Oregon.
- Twix and Milky Way: pair with something like a Vin Doux Naturel from the Rhône; fermentation is stopped using alcohol and the wines get extended aging, leaving plenty of sweetness and caramel notes from age. Domaine du Trapadis in Rasteau is one of the best at this style.
- Twizzlers, Starburst, Skittles, and Lollipop: pair any fruit-based candy with a young, fresh Beaujolais made from Gamay using carbonic maceration, for tons of freshness and juicy fruit. Try producers like Domaine Thillardon or Clos de la Roilette.
- Candy Corn: pair with bubbles, in this case an off-dry pétillant-naturel from the Loire; Les Capriades, who make a cuvée called “Piège à Filles,” are a favorite producer, with sweetness balanced by plenty of acidity so you don't go into a sugar coma.
- Tootsie Roll, 3 Musketeers, Hershey Bar, Plain M&Ms: pair with something from the Languedoc in southern France, like a Minervois or Pic Saint-Loup; these predominantly Grenache-based red wines can take on sarsaparilla notes. Look for producers like Le Clos des Jarres or Mas Foulaquier.
Activities
- Steal candy from your kids and match it with the recommended wines.
- Host a grown-up Halloween candy and wine tasting using the sommelier's pairings.
- Judge people who don't steal candy, just a little.
- Learn about a few new great wines even if you don't steal candy to go with them.
More photos
Photos hosted by coolmomeats.com.
