Vampire Wine

Vampire wine is available in the following varieties: merlot, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot grigio and white zinfandel.

In plenty of vampire lore the description of a vampire tasting blood is similar to a mortal drinking wine. There is a fine bouquet that you find alluring — that first enchanting sip that rolls over your tongue whetting your appetite and the sensual experience of discovering the fusion of fruits, spices and exotic flavors.

It is an activity that needs to be savoured and relished. It takes a mature, evolved palate to really understand the intricacies of imbibing a glass of delectable wine. So it makes sense that true excellence would be produced by creatures that have been around for centuries, the vampires.

I discovered Vampire wine over a decade ago. Ever since then, whenever I have the opportunity to travel, I scour the liquor stores looking for this beloved, luscious, ambrosial liquid. Of course the packaging appeals to my gothic senses and I think the bottles are precious keepsakes, but that is not why I love to drink it. It is the best wine I have ever tasted but — no wonder — they have been making wine for ages. They are bound to do it perfectly.

Michael Machat, founder of Vampire wine, revealed to me that in 1985 while he was driving through the Nevada desert in the dark hours of the morning, he met a vampire when he stopped to fill up his car with gas. They chose him to introduce their concept to the mortal world. He has been their slave ever since.

The very first production was bottled in France in 1988. It was a syrah that was made from dark-skinned Algerian grapes which is used to produce powerful, red wines. The first 500 bottles were sold to Alice Cooper and his UK Record Company, MCA Records. The Vampire Vineyards now include a large range of wines; Vampire wines, Dracula wines, Chateau du Vampire wines and their newest edition to the bloodthirsty family, Trueblood Wines. Vampire wines are now available in 45 states within the U.S., two provinces in Canada, the UK and Sweden. It has also been sold in Australia, Japan, Romania, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany, Czech and Romania.

Vampire wine comes from special vineyards. The grapes that are used for making the wines are separate from the grapes that go into all other wines. The Vineyards are located in secret places in California and, unfortunately, you have to have immortal vision to see them. 

Vampire wine is available in the following varieties: merlot, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, chardonnay, pinot grigio and white zinfandel. Dracula is available in a syrah, zinfandel and pinot noir. The Dracula wines spend more time in oak barrels than the Vampire wines and generally are more complex. Chateau du Vampire was an experiment put together by some of their secret winemakers. It is a blend of three wines made from three different grape varietals: cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and malbec. It is made in the bordeaux style and has the most oak of all their wines. Trueblood wines are the most complex of all their fine wines. They are presently available in cabernet, syrah and pinot noir. Their most popular wines are the Vampire Chardonnay for white and the Vampire Merlot for red.

They also offer other pleasurable indulgences such as vodka and beer. Their clear and red vodka is made in England according to a secret recipe. It is exceptionally smooth and very easy to drink straight. The red vodka gives a blood-like appearance in the glass. It’s perfect for making a Bloody Mary. "I would rank the quality of our Vampyre Vodka's up there with the very best in the world," says Michael.

Witches' Brew is a potent Belgium beer with lots of hops. It is called a Triple and due to the nature of the way it's made, the beer actually improves in the bottle, which is the exact opposite to what happens to ordinary beer. They also offer a supernatural energy drink for instant rejuvenation called Vamp NRG and a red cola called DraCola. They plan on offering more selections with their wines and also releasing their own ruby red absinthe and their own water, Vamp H2O.

"I have been commanded by the Vampires I represent to someday open up a Vineyard for mortals. Negotiations are under way, and we hope to have it open for tourists within the next two years. We are looking to open up first a Vampire Vineyard for mortals to come visit; then a place for mortals to stay the night, and enjoy our vampire hospitality." — Michael Machat

The vampires want to seduce our senses so they offer many other delicacies as well such as mouth watering chocolate. It is delicious, fine Belgium Chocolate that is very high in cacao content. It is available in both dark and milk chocolate. Next time you enjoy a glass of luscious, full bodied wine try sipping it while nibbling on a piece of dark chocolate. It is a sinful pleasure I will do almost anything for. They also offer a rich, roasted, coffee line for those of you who need a boost after your late night adventures. They have 4 wicked blends to choose from; Brazil Ipanema Dulce, Caffe Volcan Espresso from Italy, a Nocturnal French Roast and a Decaf Rain Forest from tropical beans. They will revamp your world!

If you are an avid wine drinker, or don't know what to try first, then they have a wine club you can join which ships four times a year. They send out a selection of 6 bottles of wine: generally 3 vampire wines and 3 other wines from the Vampire Vineyard’s family of brands – Dracula, Chateau du Vampire and Trueblood. Each shipment includes special goodies such as Vampire corkscrews, chocolates, coffee or a book.

They also have some packages you can purchase that are quite intriguing like Vampire in an Antique Suitcase. This package includes 2 bottles of wine, 10 bars of Belgian chocolate and 1 package of coffee. It all comes in an exquisite, old-fashioned suitcase that you can carry it in to maintain your dapper style when walking around town. It is worth it for the elegant suitcase alone. Another special is called Eternal Pleasures. It comes with 2 bottles of wine, 10 chocolate bars and the first book in a vampire series called Eternal Vigilance. Other packages of wine also include vampire slayer fangs, red wine stain emergency kits, gourmet, black truffle popcorn, signature wine glasses and creepy creature glass markers. "Our Dracula Love package does well too. That includes a Dracula Syrah and a Dracula Zinfandel plus some of our milk and dark chocolate. Another popular package is our Seduction Special, which includes 2 bottles of our Chateau du Vampire wine and our Vampire Fine Belgium Chocolate," says Michael.

Their web store is a fantastic place to shop if you are a vampire enthusiast. They sell everything you could imagine that has to do with intoxicating vampires. They have their own clothing, wine accessories, wine glasses, books, movies, fangs, temporary tattoos, games and even skateboards. It also has vampire related news content that is updated at least once a day. Their best selling clothing item is their Vamp Icon Hat which is a two toned baseball cap adorned with their vampire logo. They also offer t-shirts, tank tops and hoodies. If you have run out of ideas of what movies or literature to buy then this is a good place to shop because they have a wide selection to choose from. "The books and movies are offered as a convenience for our customers so they can drink our wine and read a vampire book or watch a vampire movie. We also sell lots of wine accessories and wine glasses. Two of the most common requests we get are people asking us how they can go about meeting a vampire and people asking to be turned into a vampire."

They are obviously trying to tempt us by offering us the finer things in mortal life. So next time you are thirsty then turn to the tantalizing, mesmerizing vampires. They know how to quench it. I have compiled an educational wine list to teach you a little. The rest you have to learn from them. I will warn you though, they do bite!

The Vampire Wine List

Here is a list of the different wines, their unique flavors and how to enjoy them. Whether you are a wine aficionado or just starting to hunger for its complex taste, this will lead you in the right direction to satisfy your craving.

Chateau du Vampire: Made by blending cabernet sauvignon (60%) with cabernet franc (30%), and then adding 10% malbec to finish it off. The result is a rich and well-balanced wine, full bodied with aromas of black cherries, spices and chocolate. This is a complex wine that is focused, and yet displays brilliant fruit and soft tannins that lead to a lingering finish.

Dracula Pinot Noir: Made from grapes picked before sunrise under the Master's supervision, this wine highlights the incredible nuances and flavors obtainable from pinot noir grapes grown in the Santa Maria Valley. This cuvee was placed in French Oak barrels for 18 months prior to bottling, leading to a rich, concentrated wine with raspberry, dark cherry and pomegranate flavors.

Dracula Syrah: This Syrah has black cherry and dark chocolate flavors that launch into an intense, dark, rich and flavorful wine. Its perfect balance of spices sets up a silky texture and balanced, jammy finish. *Food: barbecued steaks, dishes with mushroom based sauces, and pastas with tomato based sauces.

Dracula Zinfandel: This wine is full of deep plum flavors that lead to cracked pepper & spices, with a refined texture and concentration. On the palate it is powerful and yet elegant, finishing with polished tannins. *Food: goes great with steaks and other meats.

Trueblood Napa Valley Syrah: The inky black and blue color of the 2004 Trueblood Napa Valley Syrah is an indication of its power. This wine will bruise your soul with its palate crushing cherry, plum smoke and spice. Rich, toasty oak and silky smooth tannins soften the blow enough for you take another sip.

Trueblood Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir: This full bodied artisan style Pinot Noir was made from 100% pinot noir grapes that were carefully picked and sorted by hand and placed in French oak barrels for 23 months before bottling, resulting in an elegant, rich and concentrated wine with blackberry, plum and dark cherry flavors.

Vampire Cabernet Sauvignon: Full-bodied with blackberry and dark cherry aromas, with just the right amount of oak flavors leading to a lingering finish. *Food: steak, prime rib, grilled vegetables, roasted meats and Vampire Fine Belgium Dark Chocolate.

Vampire Chardonnay: peach, apple, and lemon. The smooth, round texture, and rich, creamy, fruit flavors persist into a long, flavorful aftertaste. *Food: seafood or poultry, veal or pork chops, pastas with cream sauces, and both mild and flavorful cheeses.

Vampire Merlot: Smooth and medium-bodied with a fresh, black cherry aroma, and hints of herbal spices which has a long, rich finish. *Food: Pairs well with a wide range of foods, especially chicken, beef, lamb, game, and pasta with tomato-based sauces.

Vampire Pinot Grigio: Melon, citrus, and tropical fruits accented with a pleasant, floral note. Light-to-medium bodied on the palate, and round in texture. *Food: This is a very versatile wine. It goes well with many cuisines, including Mediterranean, Italian, seafood, cheeses, and spicy Latin and Asian fare.

Vampire Pinot Noir: This wine has an enticing aroma of strawberry and raspberry. A small amount of oak provides a nice mid-palate and soft finish. *Food: lamb, salmon, cornish hen, turkey and Vampire Fine Belgium Milk Chocolate.

Vampire White Zinfandel: A delicate blush pink color introduces this fresh, lively wine. On your palate, light creaminess surrenders to a refreshing crisp finish of strawberries and melon. *Food: Enjoy chilled as an aperitif, or partnered with all types of foods, particularly those with a slight spiciness, such as Asian or Latin cuisine.

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