Dionysian Themed Halloween Party

Though wine is the obvious drink of choice for a Dionysian themed Halloween party, take it a step further by creating a wine tasting and Greek god cocktails for guests to enjoy.

Dionysus-Worthy Wine Tasting

If your budget allows, hire a sommelier for the evening to teach guests about the wines they're about to imbibe.

To cut costs but keep the wine tasting, look up descriptions of the wines you plan on serving online. Do some research to find out the fine details that make each wine unique, and print them up on a piece of paper.

Affix the paper to a tented card and place the card describing the wine in front of the bottle for the party. Guests will still have a blast learning about the wine for a fraction of the price of hiring a sommelier.


Greek God Cocktails

Whip up a few of your favorite cocktails for the party. It's always considerate as a party host to have more than one type of alcohol on hand for guests who might have an aversion to one particular type (vodka, tequila, wine, rum, etc.).

Rename standard drinks after the most famous Greek gods and goddesses - Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Athena and Dionysus. Print out tented cards with the cocktails' names and descriptions so guests know what to ask for.

Create a lush Mediterranean food spread for guests to nibble and feast on throughout the party. Buy the below foods in bulk, and break them up into smaller food vignettes placed on trays, cake stands and platters. Spread the trays and platters throughout the party area near seating sections, tables and buffets to keep guests mingling and munching all night.

Greek Feast Food

- Olives
- Feta & other cheeses (label each cheese)
- Grapes
- Crackers, pita & bread
- Hummus
- Calamari
- Tapenade spreads
- Greek Salad
- Balsalmic watermelon cubes
- Figs and berry assortment
- Chocolates to satisfy the sweet tooth

Since the focus of this Halloween party is on good food and wine, the decorations needn't be elaborate or costly. Improvising with a few items you already have around the house should do the trick:

White sheets & Tablecloths

Drape white sheets over tables and couches to create an airy setting fit for the gods. Cover tables in white tablecloths as well, and swath the fabric to mimic the draping on a toga.


Ivy Leaves

If you already own ivy plants, group them in the party area as table centerpieces. Fake ivy is very affordable and can be looped around food platters, between wine bottles to decorate the wine tasting table, and can cascade down a wall.


Candlelight

Complete the Dionysus party ambiance with mood-setting candlelight. The soft glow will look lovely against all the white decorations and is perfectly suited to the party theme.