The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: A bag to save lives, your house as a map and why the time might have come for fizzy red wine. Really.
This week on Utterly Inessential we bring you a selection of products to browse while you consider what happens when people need neither a house nor alcohol they can actually, reasonably drink, and thus decide to sink enough money to buy the house which owns the estate on which my dream house sits on into a breakable bottle of whisky.

And, without further ado...
A bag for life
DeMellier did something special when they created the Athens, and I'm not talking about producing it in twelve colours. For every bag sold of the Athens or any of their other bags, a life-saving vaccine is donated to children in countries such as Somalia and Zambia. A solid brass letter personalisation can be added, but our Luxury Editor recommends keeping it classic.
The Athens in plum suede for £250 from DeMellier, www.demellierlondon.com
In case you forget where you live
Okay, yes, you can probably make this yourself with a little time and some low-level photoshop skills but it just wont be as nice and clean as the version produced by Atlas & I. This is something I would honestly spend cold, hard cash, on just to see my mother's face light up as she unwraps it. All forgetful children, it's not too late to get that Mother's Day present in.
Personalised vintage map house print from £49, Atlas & I, www.atlas-and-i.com
It's not actually river water. Promise.
Inspired by aromas of the River Avon, River Dawn are only releasing 200 handpoured (?) bottles of this special scent. Send yourself straight to the country with a spritz of this.
River Dawn Eau De Parfum, £180 for 100ml, from Floris. www.florislondon.com.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
I've never met a supportive flower.
Look, everyone needs some support sometimes. Who are we to deny peonies their dues?
Regular peony support for £80, Muntons Traditional Plant Supports, www.muntons.net
To the bar! For some... sparkling red wine?
Regular readers will know that this is the slot in which we regularly feature the selections of Country Life's regular wine writer, Harry Eyres. And regular readers will also now be thinking something along the lines of "Harry... Harry, what are you doing? What are you doing, Harry?"
I know where you're coming from; indeed, I'd be of the same opinion if I hadn't traveled to Emilia Romagna last year and drunk my weight in Lambrusco. 'Savoury, dry Lambrusco is a delight, ripe for revival' our expert says and I have to tell you, he's just not wrong.
Lambrusco Classico from Monte delle Vigne, £12.75 for a bottle from www.leaandsandeman.co.uk.
If you purchased our entire shopping list you would've spent £571.75 and at least you're not the human who sunk the equivalent of a small country castle into a bottle of whisky that a cat could easily knock off a table. Really.
The Utterly Inessential Mother's Day List: Cruising the Ouse, tea with Queen Titania and a massage for the future mothers among us
They love us unconditionally, unquestionably and, in some cases, utterly irrationally (there's always that one sibling and if there isn't,
Credit: Boundary Project
The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Gifts to make him fall at your feet, a delightful decanter and all the Valentine's experiences a happy heart could hope for
The chill of February is ill-fated to be accompanied by a day dedicated to those lucky few among us who
Credit: Neil Watson
The utterly inessential shopping list: Serenity for the stressed in the city, terrific tweed and a loafer to take you full speed ahead
Forget about the big things. You can keep the necessities. Don't tell us about the must-haves. Alexandra Fraser takes a
Credit: Foyle Fireworks
The Utterly Inessential Wedding Shopping List: From beautiful bouquets to romantic getaways
As the excitement of last night begins to fade into memory, we hold dear in our hearts those who are
-
1775: The year Britain produced a dazzling generation who changed the world
From Jane Austen to J. M. W Turner, 1775 was a stellar year for Britain's creative industries.
By Matthew Dennison Published
-
The King wants YOU: His Majesty's call-to-arms for under-35s across Britain
The King’s Foundation has launched its ‘35 under 35’ initiative — a UK-wide search for ‘the next generation of exceptional makers and changemakers’ who want to work holistically with Nature.
By Amie Elizabeth White Published
-
Seven perfect Christmas gifts for people who just love beautiful, functional things
William Morris famously said to have nothing in your house that you don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. These things do their best to hit both targets.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Christmas gift ideas for men
From fathers to brothers to lovers, we run through some smart ideas for Christmas presents for the men in your life.
By Country Life Published
-
Perfect Father’s Day gifts for dads who deserve it
There are many ways to show your dad that you love and appreciate him. There's breakfast in bed, an offer to mow the lawn, a big hug and the offer of the last biscuit. Or you could just buy him something that he definitely doesn't need, but we're pretty sure he'll want.
By Amie-Elizabeth White Published
-
The Utterly Inessential Wimbledon Shopping List
We've rounded up all the utterly inessential products — posh tennis gear, in other words — that you absolutely do not need to enjoy Wimbledon, but would probably fancy having anyway.
By Country Life Published
-
The Utterly Inessential Mother's Day list: 16 gifts guaranteed to either surprise or delight
Is your mum the sort who's happiest with what she knows — or one who loves a surprise?
By Toby Keel Published
-
The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Supercharged home Wi-Fi, smart headphones and a mobile phone literally anyone can use
Our Utterly Inessential Shopping List returns with some technology that is far cleverer than we are.
By Toby Keel Published
-
The best weekend bags and finest holdalls that (rather a lot of) money can buy
Going somewhere nice? You might be soon, so here's Hetty Lintell with her pick of the finest holdalls and best weekend bags you can buy.
By Hetty Lintell Published
-
Best smart speakers for non-techie people: What to expect, what you'll love and what doesn't work
Smart speakers are no longer the preserve of tech geeks and millennials — these handy speakers are, and (as we'll discover) particularly handy for those living in the countryside. We've looked at some of the main contenders to see which one comes out on top: Google Nest Audio, Amazon Echo Studio, the Apple HomePod Mini, and the Audio Pro G10.
By Toby Keel Published