Your Favorite Horror Movie’s Perfect Wine Pairing
We’ve officially entered that time of year — where horror film fans rejoice and reluctant viewers brace themselves. Once October hits, the movie nights get darker, the screams louder, and the chills more frequent. But here’s the real question: what’s in your glass while you’re watching? Instead of grabbing the usual, why not match your wine to the eerie settings, haunting characters, and unexpected twists of your favorite horror flicks? Dim the lights, close the curtains, and let’s dive into the ultimate wine pairings for your evening’s terrifying festivities.
Author’s Note: This is an ever-expanding endeavor. If you do not see your favorite movie on the list, please mention the missing horror movie in a comment below.
Halloween
Michael Myers is a force of nature — brutal, relentless, and impossible to escape. His weapon may be a knife, but he wields it like a sledgehammer, each strike heavy and deliberate. If there’s anything human left in him, it’s buried deep under layers of terror. So, what wine pairs with a killer like that? A bold, dark Chilean Carménère. This wine is packed with rich, black fruits and earthy, brooding notes, finishing with a hint of something unsettling — the iron twinge of blood. Go ahead, pour yourself a glass… if you dare.
The Conjuring
There are haunted house movies… and then there’s The Conjuring. Based on a true story, this film cranks up the tension with every scene. The creaky old farmhouse, the shadowy hills of rural Rhode Island, and the unsettling presence of history’s most notorious ghost hunters all add to the dread. So, what do you sip on while confronting such terror? You need a wine that echoes the film’s earthy tones but keeps you on edge. Enter Barbera d’Alba from Piedmont, Italy. With its ripe red fruit, tart blackberries, a hint of mushroom, and an eerie mix of spices and herbs, it’s the perfect choice to keep you guessing through every chilling moment.
Nightmare on Elm Street
Freddy Krueger isn’t just brutal — he’s clever, calculated, and terrifyingly poignant. While other monsters hide in the shadows, Freddy turns the inescapability of nightmares into his personal hunting ground. So, what wine pairs with a villain who haunts your nightmares? A Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from the Chehalem Mountains AVA. These wines are dark, intense, and brooding, yet sharp enough to keep you wide awake. It may be your only chance of survival.
Hocus Pocus
Alright, maybe this isn’t a true horror movie, but Hocus Pocus is an October classic. Strip away the ’90s Disney charm, and you’re left with a chilling story about three undead witches plotting to devour the souls of children — not exactly light fare! While the month’s other films leave you cold, Hocus Pocus wraps you in a cozy, nostalgic warmth. You can almost smell the scented pinecones and pumpkin spice as soon as it starts. So, let’s embrace that vibe with a Gewürztraminer from Alsace, France. Bursting with lush fruit, bright citrus, and warming ginger and baking spices, this full-bodied white wine may smell sweet on the surface but they pack serious intensity once you take a sip— just like this children’s movie about witches with a sinister plan to steal the souls of kids!
Get Out
This movie hooks you from the start and never loosens its grip. As you arrive at the main setting, it feels oddly familiar — but definitely not your home. The unsettling mix of the familiar and the strange, polished sophistication and forced pleasantries, leaves you with a creeping sense of dread. Such a film calls for a wine with complexity and depth. Enter the wines of Pauillac, Bordeaux. This is the home of some of the world’s most coveted Cabernet Sauvignons. These wines, blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot are elegant, structured and layered with gripping tannins — sometimes you’ll even find a bold hint of black tea. Now… sink into the floor.
Friday the 13th
Camp Crystal Lake calls for something woodsy, with a balance of youthful fun and dark intensity. Sure, everything seems lighthearted at first, but Jason won’t stay in that lake forever… For this, a red from the Beaujolais Crus of Morgon or Moulin-à-Vent is the perfect match. Don’t be fooled by the “Beaujolais” label — these wines are a far cry from the flimsy Beaujolais Nouveau your quirky aunt brings to Thanksgiving. Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent deliver structure, peppery notes, and a warmth that feels like a summer spent around a campfire — until the real terror begins.
Midsommar
Few horror movies are as bright and visually stunning as this one. Say goodbye to dark basements and shadowy forests — hello to wide open meadows and crowns of flowers. If you’re in the mood to bury your face in a field of blossoms, Torrontés could do the trick. But for a more balanced experience, I’d go for a dry Vouvray Sec from the Loire Valley of France. These wines offer layers of intrigue with gingery spice and notes of creamy raw honey, thanks to unique winemaking techniques. Just like the movie’s unsettling beauty, this wine reveals its depth as you dive deeper into the chaotic, sun-drenched nightmare of a Nordic summer horror.
Silence of The Lambs
There’s really only one choice here — you’re drinking Chianti. Not just because Dr. Lecter famously mentions it in his chilling monologue, but because it perfectly mirrors the character himself: sharp, sophisticated, and lethally refined. Chianti’s bright acidity and dusty tannins create a dance of grip and elegance, with flavors of dark cherries, balsamic, leather, aged wood, and herbs. Sure, we’ve all had mediocre Chianti at some sub-par Italian restaurant, but this time, splurge on a Chianti Riserva. With extra aging, these wines develop deeper, darker complexity. Just keep an eye on your liver.
Beetlejuice
This classic Halloween comedy turns the horro genre on its head. In this movie, it’s not the dead that haunt the home…it’s the living. This over-the-top adventure into the afterlife is as bubbly and fun as it is unsettling and odd. You meet monsters, ghouls, and of course the most annoying spirit to walk both sides of the etherial plane. Whether this movie was your goth awakening, or its simply one of your time honored Halloween traditions, you’ll want to watch it with a glass of Lambrusco. This wine has had a recent reemergence onto the scene, you could even call it a long awaited sequel, taking on its original form of a funky, fresh, fruity over-the-top sparkling red wine.
The Barbadook
Did you just tense up at the mention of The Babadook? This film is a chilling descent into depression, anxiety, and the tangled mess we call parenting. While most horror movies rely on shadows, this one masters the emptiness of darkness like no other. So, what wine captures that kind of void? In a world of cheerful Cabernet and Merlot, the inky depths of Petite Verdot remain strangely overlooked. Despite its power, there’s a haunting femininity to this wine, with swirling notes of violets, sage, boysenberry, black leather, and dark chocolate. You could lose yourself in this tar-black beauty.
The Ring
If you’re on the older side of Gen Z, The Ring was probably your first brush with horror. Admit it — you snuck into the room during your older sibling’s sleepover, didn’t you? This film is one of a kind, blending traditional horror with outdated (but terrifying) technology. That eerie buzz of static and the ominous ring of the phone clash with the mossy earth, old stone, and damp soil of the story. While Germany is known for its Riesling, it also produces incredible red wines. A German Pinot Noir may not be the obvious choice, but it perfectly captures the dank, dark, and damp atmosphere of the film, with its earthy wood notes and lively acidity. Like the film, it’s a wine that keeps pulling you back in.
Psycho
The Ring may have been your introduction to horror, but for your parents, it was Psycho. This all-time classic feels cliché now, but only because it invented so many of the horror tropes still used today. It may not scare or shock you like it once did, but it’s a must-see masterpiece — and perhaps, the key to some healing. Let’s face it, your mom ruined Chardonnay for you, didn’t she? Those heavy, buttery oak bombs her book club guzzled have forever tainted your view. But Chablis, the real Chablis from France is a different story. Crisp, sharp, and refined, these Chardonnays brim with energy and elegance. Norman Bates might be a lost cause, but there’s still hope to heal your Chardonnay scars.
Hereditary
The unraveling of a family in distress has never taken viewers this far into the abyss. This film plunges deeper than family trauma, redefining the concept of breaking a curse. Honestly, you probably shouldn’t be watching it. But if you’re determined… Nothing will make you scream “what the f#&% was that?!” quite like an Austrian Blaufränkisch. Dark, brooding, and full of unexpected twists, this wine is a wild ride — bursting with shadowy dark fruits, unexpected vegetal notes, toasted black pepper, and earthy undertones. It’ll leave you questioning why you’re so hooked on something you hated loving.
Scream
Scream’s villain is a mix of chaos — sloppy yet sharp, energetic but unpredictable. One moment the film is poking fun at itself, and the next, it’s got you jumping out of your seat. So what do you drink as you laugh, gasp, and scream your way through this classic? Zinfandel is the perfect match. Its unpredictable nature comes from the fact that some grapes over-ripen while others stay tart, all in the same bunch. This creates a wild ride of bright red fruits, dark black fruits, and layers of spice and savory notes. It’s bold, brash, and ever-changing, almost like having two killers — or wines — in one glass. Try a Zin from Paso Robles, California, to really capture that West Coast vibe.
The Lighthouse
Nothing prepares you for the bone-chilling descent into madness quite like this agonizing film. As the hopelessness sinks in and you realize no one is coming to save you — you’ll either die with or at the hands of Willem Dafoe — you can at least take solace in having the perfect drink. Honestly, Scotch is the way to go for this journey — preferably something peaty and punishing like Ardbeg or Laphroaig, with that briny, seafaring bite and a high proof to numb the pain. But if you insist on wine, reach for a Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine. These razor-sharp white wines from Loire, France, are bursting with acidity, citrus, wet stone, and salty air. One sip, and you’ll feel like you’re right there on that cursed rock. Don’t worry… the boat’s coming. Eventually.
Rosemary’s Baby
There’s nothing more beautiful than the love of an expectant mother — the miracle of pregnancy, the nesting instinct, the empowering rush of childbirth… and the sudden realization you’re carrying the spawn of Satan. This classic film takes the sacred journey of motherhood and warps it in ways you never imagined. The perfect wine for such a sinister plot? Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, the undisputed queen of Italian wine. These wines deliver an elegant mix of red fruit, rose petals, anise, and dried strawberries… but also dark tar, earthy truffles, and aged leather. The balance of grace and grit is undeniable, with Barbaresco’s high tannins and acidity making it both beautiful and deadly serious. Just like motherhood with a sinister twist.
IT
There are clowns… and then there are interdimensional demons that just happen to take the form of a clown. Not sure which is worse. Whether you’re watching the original or the new adaptations, this twisted dive into fear — and the unbreakable bonds of friendship — is a must-see. You might know Alto Adige, Italy, for its Pinot Grigio, but its wine scene is full of hidden gems, like Schiava. These deceptively light red wines offer a playful mix of strawberry, cherry bubble gum, and even a hint of cotton candy. But don’t be fooled — they’re not sweet. They’re intriguingly complex and so light, you’ll float too.
It Follows
There’s no escaping the creeping dread of It Follows. The relentless force that stalks you — it’s always there, moving closer. This movie masterfully captures a sense of paranoia, dread, and ever-present tension that lingers long after the credits roll. The perfect pairing? A Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills AVA in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. These wines are lush with vibrant red fruit — ripe cherries and raspberries — but just beneath the alluring surface lie complex undertones of spice, and damp forest floor. And that acidity? It keeps you on edge, just like the movie itself, never letting you fully relax. Just one sip of these lovely wines, and they’re sure to follow you throughout your wine tasting life…or whatever is left of it.
Us
You can never fully outrun your past — it shapes not only how you see the world, but how the world sees you. The truth is, you never really know what lurks in the depths of your mind. Are you a fraud, or just haunted by imposter syndrome? Only time will tell. If any wine embodies that kind of shifting identity, it’s Sauvignon Blanc. The grape burst onto the scene with New Zealand’s bold, over-the-top flavors, but in Sancerre, it reveals a different side. Here, Sauvignon Blanc is sharp and precise, balancing grassy, floral, and citrus notes with razor-sharp acidity. There’s a steely seriousness to these wines that sets them apart from the crowd, much like the mask we all wear.
The Shining
This movie has surpassed the horror genre, earning a spot on the “must watch” list for any true movie buff. It’s a slow burn, packed with jump scares and unsettling moments that linger long after. All work and no play makes for a dull boy, so let’s make sure you have the perfect wine for this all-time classic. While Cabernet Sauvignon may steal the spotlight in the world of oaky wines, Rioja Reserva from Spain quietly offers some of the most beautifully integrated oak flavors around. These wines are deep and brooding, with bursts of red fruit and complex tertiary notes from the extra aging that Reserva wines require. There’s a timeless quality to Rioja’s oak, but be warned — you might need an axe to get through all that wood.
The Exorcist
It’s hard to say who you feel worse for — poor little Regan, or yourself after sitting through this head-spinning classic. The Exorcist launched the entire demon possession sub-genre, and it still stands as one of the best. So how do you pair a wine with a nightmare this relentless? You’ll need something just as dark and unforgiving. Meet Montefalco Sagrantino, one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. These wines don’t just have tannins — they’re merciless. With flavors of reduced plum sauce, black olives, leather, and black tea, just when you think it’s letting up, it digs its heels back in. Oh, and “Sagrantino” comes from the word “sacro,” meaning “holy” — because a little extra protection never hurts, right?
The Witch
A period piece might not seem terrifying at first, but this unsettling journey into New England’s haunted woods — and the lore of a sinister forest witch — will leave you petrified of what lurks in the shadows. To accompany such dread, you’ll need a wine that lets you live… deliciously. Austrian Zweigelt is the perfect match. Its swirling mix of red and black fruits keeps you on edge, while autumnal earth tones and bright herbs brew up a truly bewitching set of flavors. With elevated acidity, it keeps your palate as alert as the dark, unsettling currents that run through the film. Stay sharp, and watch out for the devil’s tricks.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Most villains prefer stealth when choosing their weapon of choice — but not Leatherface. This franchise is a relentless, adrenaline-pumping assault on the senses, set against the backdrop of a poor Texas town. Thanks for ruining the quaint small-town charm, Leatherface. To match this gritty brutality, you’ll want a wine with some rustic edge, something like a Saint-Émilion from Bordeaux’s Right Bank. These Merlot-based wines bring leather, dark fruits, barnyard funk, and aged wood, crafting an aromatic landscape that screams countryside. Just be careful what’s lurking in that barn.
So What Are You Pouring Tonight?
A great wine pairing goes beyond just matching flavors — it enhances the entire experience. Yes, a silky Red Burgundy pairs beautifully with Filet Mignon, but the best wines elevate every moment. The right bottle can capture the mood, set the tone, and create an atmosphere, whether you’re braving a horror movie marathon or enjoying a sun-dappled picnic with someone special. It’s all about finding that wine that doesn’t just complement the occasion — but transforms it.
As previously mentioned, this is an ever growing list. If you find a blatant omission (and there are plenty), please comment below.
