Give a wedding gift that will last years — wine

Wedding season is in full swing. And for every bride and groom tying the knot, a whole whack of well-wishers are caught wondering what to gift them.

The answer is easy, really. Give them wine. Drop serious coin on serious juice to fill those fancy wine glasses they no doubt have on their registry. Totally trumps a stand mixer or place setting, don’t you think? Only real question is, which wine? Let’s start with what not to give. Don’t cheap out. Meaning, don’t buy them any bottle less than $20, even in multiples of three, six or even 12. These wines aren’t built to last, which of course sends the wrong message. From the moment sub-$20 bottles leave the bottling line, they’re sprinting toward decline.

Instead, trade up. Give wine to have and to hold. Wine that’s drinking well now, but will reward patience and improve with each passing year.

This allusion loosely mirrors wedding vows, but the gift reflects well on you too, expressing your faith the marriage will be filled with celebratory moments. So go ahead. Set up the fine couple from the get-go. Next!

Don’t shop General List. This section of the LCBO lists widely available, large production wines that are about as exciting to receive as a butter knife. Or stand mixer.

Instead shop Vintages, the LCBO section for fine, relatively rare bottles. These wines are obviously a bit more “special.” Again, messages matter. That’s why all of the bottles recommended below are in Vintages.

And obviously — obviously — don’t give the happy couple homemade vino or a gift card to make their own wine. No matter what your Italian friend’s nonno or the clerk at the DIY winemaking shop says, making serious wine is tough and should be left to the pros.

In short, give good wine from Vintages that’s delicious now, but built to last and made by a trusted producer.

Don’t worry if the newlyweds don’t have a proper cellar or wine fridge to store the stash. Lying the bottles down in a cool, dark corner of their home without too much temperature fluctuation will work well enough.

To get you started, here are four wines released on Saturday in Vintages, plus one stunning champagne that is a Vintages Essential. But quantities are limited, so go to the website and search by product number to find the store nearest you that stocks the bottle you want.

The wines range from $40 to $100, so you can select a mix of bottles to fit your budget. A red and a white is nice. But a red, white and a sparkling, two reds or a sparkling and a red work well too. Mix it up, then wrap it up.

Our star stylist Debra Norton has got you covered on exactly how to present your finds. Carolyn Evans Hammond is a Torontobased wine writer. She is also a Londontrained sommelier and two-time bestselling wine book author. Reach her at carolyn@carolynevanshammond.com.

Mix it up with different wines, such as a white and a red, then wrap it up for the happy couple