Wine night hosting checklist
Get your wine night to feel elevated without spending hours prepping. Put together the perfect wine night at home with this cozy, elevated hosting checklist—snack board essentials, wine night decor, glassware, and Amazon favorites for an effortless girls night in.
Wine night at home is my favorite kind of hosting—low effort, high cozy, and it always feels a little elevated when you add the right details. The best part? You don’t need a huge menu or fancy setup. You just need a few hosting staples that make the whole night feel intentional.
Below is my wine night hosting checklist plus my favorite Amazon finds to help you pull it together fast—snack board essentials, glassware, cozy decor, and the little things that make guests say “okay wait this is so cute.”
QUICK SHOP:
Wine Night Essentials (Tap to Shop)
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Wine Glass Set → [https://amzn.to/4pOfHcl]
Cheese Knife Set → https://amzn.to/4pOfLZD
Wooden Serving Board → https://amzn.to/3NzvU7U
Marble Serving Board → https://amzn.to/3LoeF97
Snack Board Bowls (mini ramekins) → https://amzn.to/4sMg2iC
Cloth Napkins (linen or cotton) → https://amzn.to/4jORnWC
Battery Taper Candles or Warm LED Candles → https://amzn.to/45Temd9
Drink Markers → https://amzn.to/45gamTU
The Wine Night Hosting Checklist (Simple + Foolproof)
The vibe checklist (what makes it feel elevated)
A cozy drink setup
A snack board that looks “styled”
Soft lighting
A simple table moment
Something fun to do (music, cards, a theme)
If you hit those five things, you win.
Wine Night Setup Timeline (So You Don’t Stress)
24 hours before
Pick your theme (girls night in, wine + cheese, pasta night, rom-com night)
Make your shopping list
Chill whites/rosé, set reds aside
2 hours before
Set out boards + bowls
Prep anything that needs slicing
Put napkins + glasses in a stack
30 minutes before
Build the board
Set lighting
Start the playlist
Open 1 “welcome” bottle
Wine Night Must-Haves (Amazon Finds That Make Hosting Easy)
1) Wine Glasses That Feel Elevated
Colorful wine glasses that make any wine night feel like a vibe—pretty on the table, fun for photos, and perfect for entertaining at home.
Shop: Wine glass set → https://amzn.to/4pOfHcl
2) Stemless Glasses for Easy Sipping
Perfect for red wine, white wine, sangria, or even mocktails.
Shop: Stemless wine glasses → https://amzn.to/3LkMEzh
3) A Charcuterie Board or Serving Tray
Wooden boards are warm and cozy, marble boards feel luxe, and both photograph beautifully.
Shop: Wooden serving board → https://amzn.to/3NzvU7U
Shop: Marble serving board → https://amzn.to/3LoeF97
4) Mini Bowls / Ramekins for “Board Styling”
These make your snack spread look intentional because they create structure.
Shop: Snack bowls / ramekins → https://amzn.to/4sMg2iC
5) Cheese Knife Set
This metal cheese knife set is one of my favorite hosting upgrades—pretty on the board and easy cleanup when you’re done.
Shop: Cheese knife set → https://amzn.to/4pOfLZD
6) A Small Cheese Marker Set (Optional but Cute)
If you want your board to look like a magazine spread—these help. Bonus: reusable!
Shop: Cheese label markers → https://amzn.to/49IOime
7) Linen or Cotton Napkins
My high end pick. Cloth napkins = instant elevated. Even neutral ones feel expensive. A set of black and white striped cloth napkins that goes with everything—perfect for mixing with florals, solids, or bold boards without clashing.
Shop: Cloth napkin set → https://amzn.to/4jORnWC
8) A Pretty Corkscrew / Wine Opener
The difference between “normal night” and “hostess energy.”
Shop: Corkscrew wine opener → https://amzn.to/45g0l9i
9) Bottle Stoppers for Open Wine
Super useful if you’re opening more than one bottle.
Shop: Wine bottle stoppers → https://amzn.to/3YKaTKk
10) Drink Markers
Nobody wants to lose their glass. These are fun and functional.
Shop: Drink Markers → https://amzn.to/45gamTU
11) Cocktail Picks (For Olives, Fruit, Garnishes)
This makes your snacks look way more styled.
Shop: Cocktail picks → https://amzn.to/49Mgvc5
12) An Acrylic Tray
Perfect for staging a “wine station” with glasses, napkins, and a candle.
Shop: Decorative serving tray → https://amzn.to/4a0vcJC
13) Warm Lighting: Candles (Flameless is easiest)
Soft lighting changes everything.
Shop: LED candles → [Amazon link]
Shop: Battery taper candles → [Amazon link]
14) A Cute Ice Bucket (Optional but Feels Fancy)
If you want to serve chilled whites or sparkling.
Shop: Ice bucket → https://amzn.to/4qZ25fy
15) Snack Board Staples That Make It Look Full
If you want the board to look abundant, these work every time:
crackers assortment → https://amzn.to/3LA3QRm
mixed nuts → https://amzn.to/4qQEoWw
olives → https://amzn.to/4qyHS0q
honey → https://amzn.to/3NrxlFt
dark chocolate squares → https://amzn.to/4sMGEjk
16) A “One-Bowl Dip” Shortcut
If you don’t want to cook—dip is the move.
Shop: Dip serving bowl set → https://amzn.to/3LkO0dl
17) Cozy Blanket Basket (Yes, Really)
This makes the night feel like a cozy movie moment and like you really went the extra mile.
Shop: Woven basket → https://amzn.to/4pKSE2i
18) Card Game or Conversation Game
This keeps the vibe fun without “planned activities.”
Shop: Girls night card game → https://amzn.to/4a5hGn9
Easy Wine Night Themes (Pick One)
Wine + Cheese Night
Pasta + Wine Night
Rom-Com + Rosé Night
Charcuterie + Sparkling Night
Dessert + Red Wine Night
Themes are a cheat code because they instantly give you direction.
My “If You Only Buy 5 Things” List
If you’re starting from scratch, these five make the biggest difference:
Cheese knife set → https://amzn.to/4pOfLZD
Dip Server → https://amzn.to/3LkO0dl
Cloth napkins → https://amzn.to/4jORnWC
Conversation Game → https://amzn.to/4a5hGn9
Wine Glass Set → https://amzn.to/4pOfHcl
Final Thoughts
Wine night doesn’t need to be complicated. With a few staples, you can host something cozy, beautiful, and memorable—without spending all day in the kitchen.