A wine and cheese night is the most relaxed kind of grown-up Christmas party. No dinner time, no seating plan, and no dress code beyond something nice. Friends bring a bottle, the host lays out a board, and the evening drifts along on good conversation. This landscape 7 x 5 inch invitation sets that mood: deep burgundy, a wine bottle, a wedge of cheese and a bunch of grapes on a wooden board, gold holly in the corner and refined Cormorant Garamond lettering.
Host’s Guide to a Christmas Wine and Cheese Night
How many cheeses?
For a group of ten to twelve, four to five cheeses is plenty, about 100 grams per person in total. Choose a range of textures and milks:
| Type | Examples | Pairs well with |
|---|---|---|
| Soft and creamy | Brie, Camembert | Sparkling wine, Chardonnay |
| Aged and hard | Aged Cheddar, Comté, Manchego | Red wines such as Rioja or Cabernet |
| Blue | Stilton, Gorgonzola | Port or a sweet dessert wine |
| Goat | Fresh chèvre, aged goat cheese | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Something festive | Wensleydale with cranberries | A fruity red or rosé |
What else goes on the board?
Crackers and sliced baguette, grapes, figs, dried apricots, walnuts, honey, chutney, and a few slices of cured meat for those who eat it. A small bowl of olives and some dark chocolate round it off.
How much wine?
If guests bring a bottle each, you will have plenty. As host, have a few bottles of red, white, and sparkling ready, plus good non alcoholic options such as sparkling grape juice and alcohol free wine.
About the Invitation
The card is a rich burgundy, framed by a thin gold line. On the left, a wine bottle with a hand-lettered label stands on a wooden board next to a yellow wedge of cheese with holes and a bunch of deep red grapes. A sprig of gold holly with red berries sits in the top left corner. On the right, an evening of in gold italic introduces Wine and Cheese in large cream Cormorant Garamond, with CHRISTMAS EDITION in small gold capitals. The date, venue, and address follow, then a playful italic line: Bring a bottle you love and a story about it. We bring the cheese. The RSVP is in gold capitals.
Why Ask Guests for a Story?
The bring a bottle and a story line turns the evening into a tasting. Each guest introduces their wine: where they found it, why they love it, a trip it reminds them of. It gives quieter guests an easy way into conversation and makes the wine more interesting than any tasting note.
Editing the Details
- Change the date line; the sample is Friday, December 11, 7:30 PM.
- Replace The Bennett Loft and the address.
- Rewrite the italic line if you are providing everything, for example, wine, cheese, and good company provided.
- Update the RSVP deadline and phone number.
- Recolour the background to deep green or navy for a different mood; the gold text works with both.
Responsible Hosting
An evening of wine is lovely; a long drive home after it is not. Encourage guests to arrange lifts or rideshares, keep water on the table, make sure there is plenty of food, and offer appealing alcohol free drinks so nobody feels left out.
Printing an Elegant Invitation
Download a PDF and print at 7 x 5 inches with full bleed. Burgundy looks richest on a matte or soft-touch card. Gold foil on the frame, the holly, and the title is a beautiful upgrade from a print shop. A7 envelopes fit a 7 x 5 card; cream or gold envelopes pair well.
Sending It by Email
The landscape layout suits email. Download a PNG and paste it into the body of the email, then add the details in text too. For a group chat, a JPG works well.
Variations
- Wine and chocolate night: replace the cheese with chocolate and change the title.
- Book club Christmas evening: change the italic line to Bring a bottle and your book of the year.
- Work client evening: add a company logo and invite clients to a tasting.
Wine and Cheese Questions
Can I change the illustrations?
Yes. The bottle, cheese, and grapes are editable vectors; recolour or delete them, or add others from the Elements panel.
Is the card suitable for a restaurant event?
Yes. Replace the venue with the restaurant and add a price line if guests are paying.
Can I add a second page with the cheese list?
Use Add Page to create a back page listing the cheeses and wines.
Building a Beautiful Cheese Board
A good board is generous and relaxed rather than perfect. Start by placing the cheeses spaced apart on a large wooden board or a slate, each with its own knife. Fill the gaps between them with clusters of grapes, figs, and dried fruit, then add small piles of crackers and bread around the edges. Tuck nuts and olives into the remaining spaces and add a few sprigs of rosemary for a festive touch. Take the cheese out of the fridge about an hour before guests arrive so it reaches room temperature, which brings out its flavour. Label each cheese with a small card so guests know what they are tasting and which wine you suggest with it.
Choosing Wines for a Christmas Evening
If you are providing some of the wine, a simple trio covers most tastes: a sparkling wine to welcome guests, a medium-bodied red such as Pinot Noir or Rioja, and a crisp white such as Sauvignon Blanc. A bottle of port or a sweet dessert wine is a lovely finish with blue cheese and dark chocolate. Ask guests who bring a bottle to tell the group why they chose it, which turns the evening into an informal tasting where everyone takes part.
Uncork the Season
Choose your cheeses, fill in your details, and send the invitation. A board, a bottle, and good friends make one of the easiest and most enjoyable parties of December.
