Uncorked: Spooky Wines

It isn't October yet, but we know that the die-hard Halloween fans already planning their costumes and stocking up on candy corn as we speak. Here are four wines options to consider as great alternatives to pumpkin spice punch bowl concoctions for the sophisticated, spooky celebrant.

With an eerie label representing the brand’s first harvest where flocks of ravens circled overhead, Ravenswood BESIEGED2014 (SRP $15.99) wine is a savory blend of Petite Syrah, Carignane, and Zinfandel. Ripe and full-bodied, limited edition BESIEGED is enticingly aromatic with notes of black cherry, blackberries and baking spices.

SAVED Red 2014 ($25) is a uniquely Californian blend of Malbec, Merlot, Syrah and Grenache, giving the wine a supple texture and plush tannins. Created by celebrity tattoo artist Scott Campbell to conjure “good juju,” SAVED Red is full-bodied and generous, and will be the “scream” of the party.  This is one of my favorites.

The Prisoner Wine Co.’s Blindfold California White 2015 (SRP $32) is a chillable wine in a bone-chilling bottle, featuring a blindfolded prisoner before a firing squad on its label. This complex white (blending Chardonnay, Roussanne, Viognier, and other interesting grapes) is a party-starter thanks to its name, perfect for masquerades, bobbing for apples, and other party games.

With Game of Thrones costumes sure to be in high demand this Halloween, match a Jamie Lannister-inspired suit of armor with Ravage Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (SRP $12), a dark red, whose front label showcases knights mid-joust. The wine boasts notes of dark berries, luscious vanilla and indulgent mocha which make it a perfect fit for the chill of late October, while its exceptional structure and depth are a value at $12.

Cheers!