The move to open up a wine cellar at a local funeral home in Florida has sparked mixed opinions from nearby residents. According to the general manager, it’s to offer mourners “a different way to grieve”.

The NBC report states that the Hodges Funeral Home in Naples, Florida, is the first of its kind in the US to offer wine tastings during its services. The manager tried to reassure local residents that the home will also offer traditional services for those not interested in using the cellar.

But as regards the cellar itself, which he believes will catch on quick with other funeral parlours around America, he said: “Nobody wants to go to a funeral or stay at a funeral home, so we’ve been renovating things. People still want to have a party and have the means to mourn their loved ones, but they don’t want to do it over a person’s body.

“Our goal is to make people comfortable, almost like they weren’t even in a funeral home. It will be no different to going to a restaurant that serves alcohol and not sitting at the bar – but the fact of the matter is this is a personal way to celebrate somebody.”