How To Host A Cozy Soup & Wine Night This January
Soup season is wine season, and winter entertaining doesn’t need to be complicated to be special.
This guide walks you through how to host a cozy soup and wine night at home, complete with simple pairings and effortless hosting tips. Think comforting bowls of soup, wines that shine alongside them, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes everyone want to linger just a little longer.
Soup is one of the most underrated dishes when it comes to entertaining, that’s exactly what makes it so perfect. It’s forgiving, make-ahead friendly, and endlessly adaptable, which means you can focus more on your guests and less on what’s happening in the kitchen.
Why Soup Works for Entertaining
Choosing the Soup & Wine
When it comes to planning your menu, you want comfort and balance. Choosing one or two soups that contrast in texture or flavour gives your guests options without overwhelming you as the host. If you don’t want to make two soups you can pick one and let it shine.
Soup and wine might not be the first pairing that comes to mind, but when done thoughtfully, they work beautifully together. The key is paying attention to texture, acidity, and weight, just like you would with any other dish.
Sides Are A Must
Sides are important to round out the meal and provide variety, especially if you are focusing on one soup. Bread is a must for dipping.
Roasted Garlic & Herb Olive Oil Dip
All you need to do is roast a head of garlic in the oven, mash it up, then add that to 1/2 a cup of olive oil in a small pot. Heat that on the stove over low medium heat for about 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and add 1tsp of fresh or dried rosemary, thyme, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. You can also add some shredded parmesan cheese if you’d like. Serve in a dish, dip your bread, and enjoy.
Dessert (Yes, You Need It)
If there’s one hosting rule I truly stand by, it’s this: always serve dessert. It doesn’t have to be homemade or elaborate—store-bought truffles, a simple cake, or something sweet on a plate is more than enough. Dessert rounds out the meal and gives the evening a natural, satisfying ending.
As Estelle Costanza famously said on Seinfeld:
“They served coffee without cake. We’re sitting here like idiots drinking coffee without a piece of cake!”
And honestly? She’s not wrong.
Quick Wine Pairings:
Apple pie with ice cream + tawny Port or a late-harvest Riesling
Molten lava cake or chocolate fondants + ruby Port or even a dark amaro.
Loaf cakes or cinnamon rolls + Pedro Ximénez Sherry, or a lightly sweet Marsala.
Hosting Tips
Once the menu is sorted, the rest is about creating an atmosphere that invites people to relax. A cozy soup and wine night isn’t about perfection, it’s about warmth, flow, and making guests feel instantly at home.
Set Up and Prep
At the heart of it, this kind of gathering is about slowing down. Soup encourages lingering, wine sparks conversation, and the simplicity of the meal allows everyone—including you—to actually enjoy the night.
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