WHAT happened when a ghost asked for a brandy at his local pub? The landlord said, “Sorry, we don’t serve spirits.”

My apologies, that’s an old joke and a rather lame way to introduce this week’s selection of vinous offerings. With Hallowe’en on Monday and Bonfire Night next Saturday, there should be plenty of partying going on this week. This week’s trio of recommendations has these seasonal celebrations in mind.

As an aperitif you could try Jacob’s Creek Moscato 2010, which is new to the Aussie brand’s range. A sherbet dip in liquid form, it’s a fun wine that should go down well at parties and it’s relatively light in alcohol, at eight per cent abv, so you can have more than one glass. Slightly fizzy, it has sweet flavours of dessert apple, grape and floral notes, with enough acidity to make sure it is not cloying.

Jammy reds work brilliantly with party sausages and burgers smothered with ketchup, chili or sweet barbecue sauces. The Co-operative Premium Mendoza Malbec 2010 would be a good choice and it’s on offer with £1.50 off until November 15. Produced by The Septima estate, in Mendoza, Argentina, it is steeped in flavours of bramble, cherry and blueberry, with violets, vanilla and smoky notes. It has fine tannins which give the wine some structure, too.

Or for a more serious wine, that would be smashing with pumpkin soup, head for Rioja. Not one of the Spanish region’s famous reds though, I’ve picked a white made from the viura grape, sometimes called macabeo or macabeu.

Viña Real Barrel Fermented Rioja Blanco 2008, as its name suggests, is fermented in oak which gives the wine much more complexity. Round in the mouth, this one has got the balance of woody influence just right, adding toasty, vanilla and caramel, to the fresh mandarin orange and grapefruit flavours.

Enjoy the week of seasonal fun and if you are invited to a party and don’t want to go on your own, do let me know. I know a skeleton who hasn’t got anybody to go with.

• Jacob’s Creek Moscato 2010, £7.59 at Tesco 16/20 The Co-operative Premium Mendoza Malbec 2010, £6.49 at The Co-operative 16/20.

• Viña Real Barrel Fermented Rioja Blanco 2008, £7.59, when you buy two, at Majestic 17/20.

• York wine merchants Field and Fawcett are holding their Portfolio Wine Tasting Evening, on Thursday, November 10, at Gray’s Court in Chapter House Street. Tickets cost £10 (refundable on orders over £100) and must be pre-booked, by telephone 01904 489073 or at the shop.