Who doesn’t love a good ghost story? Especially when you have a glass of tasty wine in hand to keep you company. Here are three spooky suggestions from my recently-read pile:

A Sunny Place for Shady People (Mariana Enriquez; translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell)

Set in modern-day Buenos Aires, these are old-fashioned scary stories, the kind we used to tell at sleepovers. Think ghosts, time traveling, and haunted houses rather than bloody massacres or Freddy Krueger. My favorite tale featured a collection of vintage designer gowns that bestowed special “gifts” upon their new owner. The most bone-chilling was set in a “refrigerator graveyard” during a decidedly non-traditional game of hide-and-seek. Loved this book!

Pair it with a glass of Gran Enemigo from the El Enemigo winery in Gualtallary which lies in the Tupungato area of Argentina. Made from Cabernet Franc (one of my favorite grapes!) this wine is rich, ripe, and full of blackberry and plum flavors which are carefully balanced by smooth tannins and healthy acidity. It’ll provide good company as you meet and greet the supernatural beings in these stories!

The Man Who Died Seven Times (Yasuhiko Nishizawa; translated from the Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood)

This mind-bending tale occurs at a family reunion over the New Year’s holiday in Japan. The patriarch plans to announce which of his grandchildren (or long-time employees) will inherit the bulk of his estate and control over his successful business. As one might expect, long-simmering family resentments bubble to the surface, as the group descends into chaos after the grandfather is murdered. Told through the voice of the youngest family member, who relives the events eight times, this time-warp of a tale is edgy, thought-provoking, and just a bit spooky.

Pair it with a glass of Hibiki 12-Year-Old Japanese Whisky. Goes down smooth, especially on a cold night (or when you’re reading the scary stuff!) Our protagonists stuck to sake, which would also be appropriate.

Shadow Ticket (Thomas Pynchon)

A classic noir-style novel, this tale begins outside of Chicago, heads to Milwaukee, and ends up in central Europe during the gap between the World Wars. The Austro-Hungarian empire has just been carved up, creating the countries of Romania and Yugoslavia, and a strongman named Hitler is ascending the ranks in Germany. Our cast includes private detectives, spies, paramilitary groups, and one-percenters, all of whom congregate in the speakeasies, theaters, and shantytowns outside Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade. While it’s a bit hard to follow at times (the narrative is advanced almost entirely through dialog) it’s a fascinating tale that gives a not-so-subtle nod to our current geopolitical milieu. Hit me up if you’ve read it, I’d love to hear what you thought.

Pair it with a bottle of white wine from Hungary, particularly one of the lovely dry wines made from the Furmint grape. I attended a seminar a few years back and was really impressed with the complexity and appeal of these wines. Definitely worth checking out!

Happy Halloween to all, and to all a good flight (of wine!)