The spooky season is upon us once again. While some of us may choose to go out trick or treating, or show off your costumes at a party or two, we feel that the best way to spend this Halloween, is to cuddle up at home with a classic Halloween movie and a glass of your favourite wine. If that sounds like you, then continue reading, as we match your favourite classic Halloween movies to the perfect wine.
Psycho (1960) – Riesling
Let’s start with a classic, Psycho, the 1960 American psychological horror thriller by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock. While the film is shot in black and white, the horror narrative is driven by the excellent writing and (most famously) the sound effects, to create an atmosphere of suspense that is both thrilling and chilling, a film that is enjoyed by the regular movie goer but also praised by critics. Just like the Riesling, a versatile variety that is said to be the “winemakers’ wine”, enjoyed by industry veterans and newbie wine lovers alike, a white wine that is packed full of flavour and best drunk chilled.
If you're feeling psychotic, try some of our thrilling Eden Valley Rieslings!
Scream (1996) – Pinot Grigio/ Gris
A movie that is arguably one of the pioneers of the ‘teenager-being-murdered’ horror movie trope, and a franchise that has not only seen critical success but has become a fixture in our cultural zeitgeist through its six sequels (Scream 6 to be released in 2023), and TV series. It even gave birth to a whole genre of parody movies such as Scary Movie. Pinot Grigio/ Gris is our pick for this teen horror masterpiece. Made to be drunk fresh and cool, and easy drinking, the pinot grigio/ gris is a social wine that is enjoyed at gatherings with your friends, just like the murders in the movie.
Our award winning, single vineyard, Pinot Gris and Grigio will leave you screaming for more!
The Shining – Shiraz
Probably the first movie that comes to mind when thinking of psychological horror thrillers. Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, The Shining is intense, suspenseful, and filled with intrigue, but moreover, the film is held together by an exceptionally written script. The perfect wine to pair with this film will need to be equally intense, layered with depth of flavours to intrigue the tastebuds, as well as being overall balanced and well put together; for that we would recommend a Shiraz. A wine that has the weight to carry you through the terrors of this classic. If that doesn’t help, you can always imagine that the famous elevator of blood scene is your favourite red wine…
Try our collection of single vineyard Eden Valley Shiraz, it is sure to be the shining star in your spooky Halloween movie night.
The Silence of the Lambs – Chianti
This one is pretty obvious. ‘Silence Of The Lambs’ is the second of the Hannibal Lector series of movies, following ‘Manhunter’ based on the novel ‘Red Dragon’; however, it is arguably the most famous and the most critically acclaimed entry in the series. In this film, Sir Anthony Hopkins delivers one of the most chilling and stomach-turning lines, that evoked mixed feelings for every wine lover; “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.” On one hand, the thought of eating a human liver is nauseating, while on the other hand… who could turn down a nice Chianti…
Hocus Pocus – Moscato
Definitely the campest and silliest entry to our list, the story features three flamboyant witch sisters who are resurrected 300 years in the future, where they terrorise the townspeople in order to ensure their continued existence. This movie is light hearted, easy, and fun, leaning more into comedy than horror. A good middle ground for both horror fans who craves a bit of comedy, and comedy fans who want to tip their toes in some light horror. For this, we would recommend a Moscato; sweet and fragrant, enjoyed by wine drinkers and non-wine drinkers alike. With its low alcohol content, this is a light and easy wine for all.
Explore our beWITCHing moscato to whet your appetite!