Wine Wedding Favors

"Wine is the most civilized thing in the world."
    — Ernest Hemingway

"Good wine is a necessity of life for me."
    — Thomas Jefferson

To its fans, wine is one of life's greatest gifts. And, it's played a leading role in weddings for thousands of years. It's only natural that those who feel a deep appreciation for wine give it a similar pride of place at their weddings.

After all, doesn't the process of creating a great bottle of wine remind us of the one for creating an amazing marriage?

Here are some wine wedding favor ideas for your big day:

Wine Stopper Wedding Favors

Wine stoppers, topped with everything from chunky hearts to starfish, are among today's best-loved wedding favors ... and works of art in their own right. As long as your guests are grape lovers — or just entertain — they'll love the sense of occasion these practical, modern wine stoppers bring to any event.

Even those who prefer beer or soda find them useful, since everyone's presented with a bottle of wine and someone eager to drink it, sooner or later!

Wine Charm Wedding Favors

Wine charms are another favor sure to delight any grape fan. Everyone who loves a glass is taken by the practicality of wine charms ... but few of us have actually picked out a set.

Wine charms come in a huge array of styles, so your time spent browsing is sure to be richly rewarded.

Miniature Wine Bottles

Order these elegant little bottles with personalized labels to commemorate the occasion. And you can dial up some sparkling cider too: sure to please abstainers and the kids.

Make Your Own Wine

If someone in your family's got a purple thumb (yes, even wine from kits can be delicious!), then bottling and labeling your very own vintage makes for one of the most personal, unique favors of all. Still, it's not for the faint-of-heart ... or the first-time wine maker.

Wine lovers who want to put a personal stamp on their favors have personalized their private label even more by draping cellophane-wrapped chocolates and candies from the neck of the bottle. For an elegant Euro-style twist (especially in the fall), try marzipan fruits.

Make Your Own Champagne Jelly

About 10 times easier than making your own wine (but just as luxurious!), champagne jelly is a kitchen craft within anyone's reach. And it goes beautifully with meats as well as cakes, sweetbreads and fruits. Here's a small-batch recipe that's simple as can be .... but after you've given it a spin, put your own unique stamp on it.

2 cups quality dry champagne
2 Tbl powdered pectin
3 cups sugar
1 tsp lemon juice (optional)

Warm champagne, pectin and lemon juice (if using) in heavy saucepan over high heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until boiling.

Immediately add sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches a rolling boil. Immediately remove from heat. Skim off foam and pour into hot sterilized jars. Seal with hot water bath method.

Variation: Use rose wine or pink champagne to make pink champagne jelly.
Variation: Add 1 stick cinnamon and 2 whole cloves while boiling.

Champagne Flute Wedding Favors

Champagne flutes are a classic for favors. One popular approach: fill them with candy, then wrap in tulle. Black and white M&Ms lend an elegant look. Another uptown favorite we love: champagne bubble candies.

A more unusual approach to these items is gel candles in champagne flutes, which are elegant, useful, and relatively simple to make. Just search online for an easy introduction to this craft.

Wine Tchotchke Wedding Favors

There's a wide, wide world out there of other wine temptations just begging to show up as favors. For example:

Novelty wine bottle serving platters
Grape coasters & wine charm sets
Glass grape placecard holders
'Champagne bottle' candles

Best of luck in your hunt for the perfect wine favor. In the meantime, remember the wise words of John Maynard Keynes:

"My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne."