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wine murder mystery party
Murder at Vintner’s Rest A wine murder mystery party for 6 to 8 players
Murder at Vintner’s Rest is a printable wine murder mystery party for 6 to 8 players that takes 2.5 to 3 hours. It includes the full game plus invitations, a themed menu, a host timeline and decor.
Vol. XLII · No. 312Harvest Edition
The Sonoma Valley Ledger
Vintner Poisoned at Harvest Toast
Rockslide traps family, staff and rivals at Vintner’s Rest
SONOMA, Calif. — It is harvest night at Vintner’s Rest, and Augustus Vale has gathered family, staff and rivals for a dinner to celebrate the finest vintage the estate has ever produced.
He raises his glass for a toast, and he never finishes it. Poison, says the family doctor. A rockslide has closed the only road, the guests are trapped together until midnight, and every one of them had something to gain. Pour another glass and find the killer.
$24
Instant printable download
- Players6 to 8 players
- Running time2.5 to 3 hours
- Best forAdults
- SettingHarvest night at a Sonoma County wine estate
How the evening unfolds
Round one: Motives
Over the first course, guests learn who resented Augustus, who owed him, and who stood to inherit.
Round two: Alibis and secrets
Who was in the cellar, who was in the tasting room, and who could have reached Augustus’s glass? Hidden relationships start to surface.
Round three: The evidence
Clue cards bring out the physical evidence, and the case comes together around the table.
The reveal
Each guest names a suspect before the host reads the solution and the poisoner is revealed.
On the menu
Recipes, drink pairings and a shopping list are included, timed so the food arrives between rounds.
- A welcome glass of something sparkling and a wine-country grazing board
- Red wine braised short ribs on creamy parmesan polenta, with a mushroom and lentil ragù for vegetarians
- A cheese course with honey-roasted grapes
- Red wine poached pears, plus a Harvest Spritz and other alcohol-free pairings for anyone not drinking
Meet the suspects
6 core characters, plus 2 optional roles for bigger groups. Every guest gets their own character booklet.
The Second Wife
Celeste Vale
Augustus’s glamorous younger wife, a former actress who has never quite fit in at the estate.
The Winemaker’s Son
Julian Vale
Augustus’s son and the estate’s head winemaker, who has given his whole life to these vines.
The Rival Vintner
Margo Delacroix
Owner of Delacroix Cellars next door, whose reputation Augustus destroyed in 2019.
The Family Doctor
Dr. Felix Rourke
The Vale family doctor for thirty years, with a gambling habit he can’t afford.
The Sommelier
Ivy Thorne
The estate manager and sommelier: brilliant, private, and the person who keeps Vintner’s Rest running.
The Developer
Bennett Shaw
A smooth-talking property developer with big plans for the vineyard and bigger debts.
The Head Chef · optional
Rosa Mendes
The estate’s head chef, who cooked tonight’s harvest feast and sees everything from the kitchen door.
The Wine Critic · optional
Percival Gleeson
A famous and feared wine critic, invited to taste the 1998 Reserve and give the estate his blessing.
Everything in the box (well, the download)
The game
Host guide, character booklets, clue cards, solution script and name tags.
Invitations
Printable invitations plus a text-message version to send in seconds.
The evening timeline
A minute-by-minute run sheet, so you always know what comes next.
Themed menu
Recipes, drink pairings and a shopping list that match the story.
Costume ideas
Dress-up suggestions for every character, from easy to all-out.
Decor and music
Printable place cards, menus and signs, plus a playlist to set the mood.
What you get that most kits don't
- A whole dinner, not just a game. A full menu with recipes, drink pairings and a shopping list, timed so each course lands between rounds.
- Decor and printables. Place cards, signs and name tags in the party's style, ready to print.
- One price for every guest. $24 covers all 6 to 8 players. You never pay more for a bigger group.
- A straight whodunit. A real mystery with clues that point to one killer, played straight rather than as a pun-filled comedy.
Host questions
How many players is Murder at Vintner’s Rest for?
It has 6 core characters and 2 optional ones, so it plays with 6 to 8 guests.
Do we have to drink wine to play?
Not at all. The wine is part of the story, and the menu includes non-alcoholic pairing ideas.
How long does the game take?
Plan on 2.5 to 3 hours including dinner. The timeline shows you how to fit the rounds between courses.
When will I get my files?
Straight after checkout. You get an instant download link by email, and you can print at home.
Ready to host Murder at Vintner’s Rest?
6 to 8 players, 2.5 to 3 hours, and every detail planned for you.
Buy now · $24New to hosting? Read how to host a murder mystery party for a step-by-step plan.
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