How to Host a Cheese & Wine Party (on a Budget!)
There’s something wonderfully fancy about a cheese and wine party… but here’s a secret: you don’t need a posh wine cellar or a huge budget to pull it off. With a little planning, some creative décor, and a dash of humour, you can host a memorable night right in your living room.
Whether you’re planning a gathering for friends, a date night with a twist, or even a book club upgrade, here’s your go-to guide.
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1. Invitations that Set the Tone
You don’t need to send embossed envelopes (unless you want to!). Keep it light and fun:
Digital Invites: Use Canva, Paperless Post, or even a quirky group chat graphic.
Theme Ideas: “Sip Back & Relax”, “Cheddar Late Than Never”, or “Vino Before You Know It.”
Encourage guests to bring their favourite bottle, or even a wedge of cheese, to share the fun (and the cost).
Personalized invitations
I like Zazzle for my personalized invitations. Take a look yourself.
Also available digitally
You don’t need to send your invites on paper, you can also send ready made ones by phone.
Wine and Cheese parties
I usually say a ‘Cheese and Wine’ party, but alot of people say ‘Wine and Cheese’ party, am I saying it the wrong way around?
2. Setting the Scene (Décor Made Easy)
Transform your space into a cozy tasting room without spending a fortune:
Fairy Lights & Candles: Instant atmosphere.
Chalkboard Signs: Label cheeses and wines for a rustic touch.
DIY Tasting Stations: Use wooden boards or even baking trays to display cheeses. Scatter grapes, nuts, and crackers for that “abundance” look.
3. The Cheese & Wine Pairing Basics
You don’t need to know everything about tannins or terroirs — just enough to impress your guests. Here’s a simple cheat sheet:
Brie or Camembert → Sparkling Wine (bubbles cut the creaminess)
Cheddar → Cabernet Sauvignon or Malbec (bold meets bold)
Goat Cheese → Sauvignon Blanc (zesty + tangy = perfect)
Blue Cheese → Port or Dessert Wine (sweet loves salty)
Gouda → Merlot (smooth on smooth)
Mix and match, and don’t be afraid to experiment — half the fun is discovering your own favourite combos.
I would also add that it would be great to include some Non-Alcoholic wine, there are actually some nice ones now!
French Themed party
You could pick a country as a theme, for example France, with lots of delicious French wines and Cheeses to choose from.
Wine and Chocolate pairing
You could always ditch the cheese for chocolate, check out this printable Chocolate and wine pairing guide.
4. Additional Accompliments
Don’t forget things like the bread and crackers, ideas include:
- Fresh baguette or crackers.
- Fresh and dried fruits (grapes, apples, figs).
- Nuts (almonds, walnuts).
- Olives.
- Honey or fruit preserves.
Deluxe Unsalted Mixed Nuts Tray
A delicious blend of the most popular nut varieties, with Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Filberts, Macadamia, Pecans, Pistachios, Brazil, Pine, Sunflower, and Pumpkin together.
Cheese Straws (a Southern delight) Recipe
You could make your own cheese straws, try this recipe.
5. Dietary Considerations
Ask your guests in advance about any dietary restrictions or allergies to ensure everyone can enjoy the offerings.
6. Keep It Fun: Wine Tasting Score Cards
Hand out simple score cards so guests can play at being wine critics. Categories could include:
Look 👀 (Colour, clarity)
Smell 👃 (Fruity, earthy, oaky?)
Taste 👅 (Sweet, dry, bold, smooth)
Overall Score ⭐
7. Budget-Friendly Tips
Buy wine in bulk (Costco or supermarket deals).
Choose a mix of cheap & cheerful bottles and one or two “splurge” wines.
Stick to 4–5 cheeses — quality over quantity.
Encourage guests to bring a bottle to share.
Wine and Cheese Party Markers/labels
These are 2″ circles to mark your cheese for a wine and cheese party, you will need to buy a 2″ hole punch. Punch out two of each then glue the backs together with a toothpick between them.
