Savvy couples use wedding gift lists to curate dream wine cellars

A growing trend for wine stores launching gift registries is sparking a new wedding ritual

These days, almost all of us have lived independently – either alone or with a partner – by the time we tie the knot, rendering the idea of a registered wedding gift list slightly redundant. With no need for that new toaster, blender or cake stand (one of you will inevitably already have said item in your domestic arsenal), the gifting tradition looks to have run its course. But what if friends and relatives still want to buy something special to mark your nuptials? Wily wine-lovers have found a solution.

Rather than listing Le Creuset casserole dishes when shacking up together, newlyweds can now devise their ultimate ‘wine bucket list’, and register their dream collection with an indie wine supplier. In theory, one can then sit back and watch one’s wine cellar grow.

New York store Parcelle Wine, founded by award-winning sommelier Grant Reynolds, is one of the latest retailers to launch a Gift Registry, reports epicurious. Customers simply hop online, create an account and share their favourite bottles. So whether you’ve got your eye on a minimal-intervention Chilean Cabernet or a buttery Chardonnay from a small Stellenbosch producer, simply ‘add to list’ and see whether Aunty Mavis is feeling generous.

But what of the ethics of such a gift list? On the face of it there’s something a bit mucky about asking your nearest and dearest to fund your wine habit. But bottles needn’t be expensive. Parcelle, for example, has an impressive ‘Under $30’ section. Creating your own wine gift list is also a surprisingly nice way to make lasting memories that you can share with all your loved ones. The perfect rosé to serve at a balmy summer BBQ with your closest pals, a special fizz to toast your one-year anniversary with your in-laws, or a gutsy red to sip by a crackling fire on your first Christmas as Mr. and Mrs.

Depending on the wines you choose, it can even be a great way to support small producers and wine communities. Sure beats napkin rings. We could well be seeing more engaged couples saying “I do” to a wine wedding gift list.