
- BGG rank
- BGG #24,610
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Murder Mystery Party: Pasta, Passion & Pistols
- 6–8 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 1995

1997
Rules assistance for Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder is a board game released in 1997 for 6–8 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 16 and up. It was designed by Larry Zacher and its main mechanics are Storytelling, Role Playing, and Cooperative Game.
An entry in the Murder à la carte mystery dinner party games. The story: It's a tour of California Wine Country with its peaceful vineyards and picturesque wineries. The annual wine-tasting festival is in full swing when the body of local vineyard owner, Barry Underwood, is found hidden beneath his wine cellar. Barry has been missing for six long years but with the discovery of his body comes a wealth of new clues to solve the mystery. It's a vintage murder and you may be a suspect. The suspects are: Otton Von Schnapps, Marilyn Merlot, Tiny Bubbles, Ralph Rottingrape, Papa Vito, and Hedy Shablee. Extra guests are Bonny Lass and Bud Wizer. Contents: - Party planner with recipes and menu by Cookbook Author Sandra Gluck - including music and decorating tips - Character Booklets for all suspects, includes their roles and background information - Eight Place Cards - Eight Party Invitations and Envelopes - Six Secret Clues - Cassette Tape (1st Ed.) or CD (2nd Ed) or download (newer editions) with an introduction, summary of events and the solution to the crime.
Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder supports 6–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder is 180 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder for ages 16 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder belongs to these categories: Party Game, Deduction, and Murder / Mystery. Its main mechanics are Storytelling, Role Playing, and Cooperative Game. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder are: Larry Zacher. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Murder Mystery Party: A Taste for Wine and Murder as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.