Diving Into The Devil's Cellar For Halloween

Photo: Casillero del Diablo

Halloween is always a fun party and there are certainly a lot of clever wine labels suited for the season. But a fun label doesn't guarantee a good glass. So one of my go to wines this time of year, comes from Concha y Toro; Casillero del Diablo.

Translated, the label means "Devil's Cellar" and goes back to an old tale from Concha y Toro's founder, Don Melchor. He started a rumor that a devil lived in the cellar of his Chilean winery,  hoping it would keep the thieves out. The folklore lives on and today you'll find the devil on the bottle, just above the label.

I opened a Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay and Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon for pumpkin carving festivities this week. The cab is full of plums and cherries with a little toast; good with our grilled meats and nutty appetizers. It was also nice to drink on its own.

The chardonnay has some apple, citrus and a bit of vanilla so I thought it would compliment our caramel fondu; apples and pretzels for dipping. Not only was it a great pairing but the salty toasted pumpkin seeds, hot out of the oven, were also a good accompaniment.

The best part about these wines is the value. You can find an array of Casillero del Diablo in the $10-$15 range; perfect to keep for house wine not only this time of year, but all year long.

The winery is currently running a costume contest on twitter and Facebook for a DSLR camera, so post your photos for a chance to win.