The best Halloween wine is a dark, inky red that's easy to drink, and our pick this year is Beck Ink '23: blackberry and raspberry up front, a little orange zest in the middle, and a clean finish. Pour it with a soft, creamy blue and something from the tinned fish wall, and you've got a grown-up Halloween in three moves.
What wine goes with Halloween?
Anything that looks the part and doesn't need a speech. Beck Ink '23 ($44) is a blend of Zweigelt and St Laurent from Judith Beck that pours dark and inky, which is very on theme, and finishes clean, which makes it very easy to keep pouring. It's one we stock whenever we can get it. Browse the wine wall: https://goodcheese.ca/collections/good-wine-beer-etc (wine and beer deliver in Ontario only).
What cheese goes with a dark red?
Go creamy. Celtic Blue Reserve from Glengarry Fine Cheese ($21) is soft and buttery with delicate blue veining, mild rather than aggressive, so it plays nicely with a fruity red instead of fighting it. Add Camembert Reo ($19) for the crowd-pleaser, and a spoon of Figs & Port Jam ($9) to bridge the cheese and the wine.
What's the spookiest thing on the shelf?
Squid in Ink from Conservas de Cambados ($22): plump, tender squid packed in its own ink. It turns everything it touches jet black, which makes it the best-looking thing on a Halloween board, and it's delicious on toast or tossed through pasta.
What about guests who aren't drinking?
Bellwoods Jelly King Raspberry & Blackberry ($6.50) is a dry-hopped sour with fruit at 0.5%, made in Canada, so the non-drinkers get something fun in their glass too.
Something sweet to finish?
Peruvian Chocolate with Mint 65% ($9). Pass it around after the candy runs out.
Want the full board? Our spooky cheese board guide has the layout: https://goodcheese.ca/blogs/the-good-cheese-blog/spooky-halloween-cheese-board
Good Cheese is a cheese, natural wine and good stuff shop at 614 Gerrard St E in East Chinatown, Toronto, open 11 to 7, seven days. Come ask for a taste at the counter, or order before 10AM for same-day local delivery (Monday to Friday), free on orders over $150.