Halloween wines

Every year while chaperoning our children around the neighborhood, the adults take some wine along in travel mugs (we may have our problems, but we are discreet). Since this is not a serious "tasting" and the purpose of the wine is to lubricate conversation, we usually grab something simple. Any suggestions?

Port.

Or mulled wine for the less serious folks.

[David M. Bueker]

Merlot. What could be less serious?

Where do you live Shaji?

How have you dealt with the temperature issue in the past?

Reno, Nevada and it gets really cold up here in the Sierras. We have done Merlots, Cabernets, Zinfandels and even brandy in the past. I like the sound of Port. We are expecting some precipitation this weekend. Children, motivated by seemingly endless supply of Kit Kats, Reeses and Tootsie rolls, have so much bette tolerance of the weather.

[David M. Bueker]

If you're drinking Port the kids might have more stamina than the parents.

Reno, Nevada and it gets really cold up here in the Sierras...Children have so much better tolerance of the weather.

I was mainly thinking about the wine!

Even for non-serious drinking, having a glass of wine exposed to outdoor Halloween temperatures seems kind of difficult to me. Especially red wine. Unless you have one of those temperature controlled thermoses, but I don't know how they work. I might be tempted to go with white wine for that reason, but even that runs the risk of getting too cold and neutral.

Maybe some Hearty Port is the right answer!

="I was mainly thinking about the wine!....

Usually, thats what I would do too, but looking outside and seeing the clouds gather over the mountains...
But, we usually carry our libations in insulated coffee mugs. We do not carry the bottle around with us (appearances and all..) and generally pour enough in the mugs to keep us going around the block. With that last comment, I know that have dropped another notch in the general esteem! So, swirling, sniffing and sipping is out of the question. You are right Rahsaan, the cold mountain air affects both reds and whites. Some years after the children have collected their loot, we generally hang around at one of the neighborhood homes and have something better than what we carry around. But Port sure is sounding good..

If you're drinking Port the kids might have more stamina than the parents.

Indeed, 8 year olds display much more stamina when the next door might hold more sugar than they need.

Weber Riesling Zeller Schwarze Katz

Weber Riesling Zeller Schwarze Katz

What time should I turn up?

But, we usually carry our libations in insulated coffee mugs. We do not carry the bottle around with us (appearances and all..) and generally pour enough in the mugs to keep us going around the block. With that last comment, I know that have dropped another notch in the general esteem! So, swirling, sniffing and sipping is out of the question. You are right Rahsaan, the cold mountain air affects both reds and whites. Some years after the children have collected their loot, we generally hang around at one of the neighborhood homes and have something better than what we carry around. But Port sure is sounding good..

Sounds like a perfect setup for Glühwein . . .

How about this...

http://www.carlorussowine.com/r/products/werewolf-pinot-grigio-2005?id=kw4TDSiF&mv_pc=248

Tom T.

Since you don't care so much about the proper tasting and you would like to warm up and have a good laugh, why not make a mulled wine with a cheap merlot, some brandy, cloves, honey,orange juice, take it in a thermos so it will stay warm and I promise red cheaks, temperature rise and lots of fun....
(well we used to do it for little hikes in winter time in the country).

I'll see if I can find a proper recipe online, but basically you need to warm up a bottle of Merlot(I use to used it coz of low tannins),add orange juice (or even better fresh oranges and apples) and a little bit of water, don't boil it, put a handfull of cloves, some cinammon sticks are nice too, add honey and just before it is going to start boiling take it off the fire and add some brandy (I used to put 250ml for a 700ml wine). Just put it in a thermos and serve it as a hot drink in mugs....
Your neighbours will think you are enjoying a nice cuppa tea....

Forget the wine. Scotch!!

[David M. Bueker]

Actually if going all the way to mulled wine, why not just do some hot cider & save the wine for later.

Mmm...cider!

Actually if going all the way to mulled wine, why not just do some hot cider & save the wine for later.

Mmm...cider!

Compromise - Calvados. But I'd probably go for cider or hot chocolate, perhaps some Irish Cream in the later if I felt so inclined.

We'll be walking the neighborbood with the kids, sipping a gift: one screwball nutjob fruit-oak-tree-massacre known as Biale 2004 Black Chicken zinfandel, from POM bottles (the perfect street disguise for red wine). This way I won't feel guilty about trying this or tossing unwanted remains on lawns, streets.

Here at my office we have way too many sweets and a fridgefull of beer....(though we do that every friday hehe)
No kids though....

Actually if going all the way to mulled wine, why not just do some hot cider & save the wine for later.

Mmm...cider!

That's a new one on me - I've never tasted hot cider before (though I know hot spiced apple juice can be very good)