I threw together a sangria for Halloween that was sooo yumyum. I used red wine as the base, then added blackberries, blueberries, and black grapes, basically anything that looked like it could be part of a witch’s harvest. It was ridiculously easy (I’m talking pour, stir, chill, done), but tasted like something you’d get at a dark little tapas bar where they burn incense and read tarot. Sweet, juicy, a little moody, perfect for a grown-up Halloween night.

“Sangria” is Spanish for “blood,” referring to the drink’s traditional base of red wine. But you can also make it with white wine, limes and cucumbers or even a rosé with peaches and melons. Can’t wait to try that one for summertime.

With blackberries, blueberries and black grapes, this thematic Halloween Black Sangria is guarantee to spook up your evening. And it’s so easy to make, simply add all ingredients to a large pitcher and swirl it with a spoon. Let it sit in the fridge for at least a couple of hours. The wine breaking down the fruits makes the flavor develop with time, so the longer it sits, the yummier it gets.

For the wine, Tempranillo, the main grape from the Rioja region in Spain is the traditional pick, but Pinot Noir is the popular choice to make sangria for its fruity notes and delicate taste. As a general rule, choose a not so expensive wine that you would enjoy on its own.

I went with tradition, my choice was S.C. Pannel Dead End Tempranillo from McLaren Vale in South Australia, a dry, highly perfumed, vibrant and complex with notes of sweet black cherries, sarsaparilla, sandalwood, pomegranate molasses and sumac. Snob much!

Full disclosure, if you knew me, you would be laughing by now, I’m know nothing of wines and I lucked out on this one, I only bought for the label ’cause it look Halloween-y ;-P

To serve, I always prefer a pitcher. It’s small enough to keep in the fridge and it’s easy to serve around at a party. If you’re having a big shindig, you can opt for a drink dispenser or a big punch bowl in the middle of the table.