Forget Dry January, drink better instead

When did Dry January become a thing? I get people probably want to take it easy after weeks of over-indulgence at Christmas, but surely signing up to a whole month of sobriety during the dreariest month of the year is a mistake? 

Like many New Year’s resolutions (which I gave up making some time ago) Dry January feels set up for failure, and, even if you do make it the full 31 days, what about the rest of the year? Does not drinking for a month give you the green light to go bonkers in February? 

Of course, if you’re a seasoned ‘Dry January’er and can make it to February 1st without a drop of wine passing your lips then by all means continue, but I find it just adds sadness – not to mention unnecessary added pressure – on what is already a pretty miserable time of year. 

And then I always feel bad for those people who celebrate birthdays during dry January. One of my good friends turns 40 this year; imagine if we all turned up to her bash and didn’t join her in popping the cork on something special to mark that milestone. 

So, rather than using January to completely abstain, I see it as a great opportunity to set yourself up for a year of more considered wine drinking, and here are my top tips:

Drink Less, But Spend a Little More

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as I’ve aged, it’s that you get what you pay for — and that applies to wine too. While it can be tempting to reach for the cheapest bottles, especially in January when budgets are stretched, spending a little more can transform your drinking experience.

Cheap Wine Isn't Just Grapes

Very cheap wine isn’t just grapes — it’s often a cocktail of hidden additives, including:

• Sugar to spike alcohol

• Sharp acids to fake freshness

• Powdered tannins for artificial “structure”

• Oak chips and flavourings to mimic barrel ageing

• Enzymes to speed fermentation

• Stabilisers and colourings

• A heavy dose of sulphur

None of this is illegal, and yes, it can taste perfectly fine — but every sip may be carrying more than you realise.

Higher-priced wines usually reflect superior quality through better vineyard practices, careful grape selection, and skilled winemaking. By spending a little extra, you’re more likely to enjoy wines with greater complexity, balance, and character — a far more satisfying experience than simply drinking more for less.

I’m not suggesting you all start quaffing Château Mouton Rothschild or Dom Pérignon. But why not treat yourself to a £15–£20 bottle instead of two £6–£10 bottles at the weekend? 

Discover wines between £15 and £20

At Wickhams, we only work with small-scale, sustainable winemakers who focus on healthy grapes and minimal intervention. If you’re going to drink, it makes sense to drink better.

Get clued up on wine economics 

Understanding exactly what makes up the cost of a bottle of wine is a great tool in helping to determine how much to spend. 

The cost of a bottle of wine includes more than just the wine within. Typically it includes:

• Packaging
• Logistics
• Marketing
• VAT
• Excise Duty
• Extended Producer Responsibility tax
• Retail margin

All of which are passed onto the consumer. Excise duty on a £10 bottle is exactly the same as excise duty on a £30 bottle - meaning at the lower end of the market very little of the money you spend on a bottle of wine actually pays for the wine itself. 

And these costs are set to rise; in the UK, Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s 2025 autumn budget confirmed that from 1st February 2026 there will be an increase in alcohol duty in line with RPI. 

Bibendum’s ‘Vinonomics’ report has a handy info graphic, which it updates each year, that helps illustrates how different priced bottles fare. The most recent shows that in a bottle of wine costing around £7 just £0.62 goes towards wine, whereas in a bottle costing around £20, you’ll get ten times better wine with £6.22 going towards the wine – spending just a little more improves the value of the wine significantly. 

Duty on a Bottle of Wine

Explore lower-alcohol wines

While the no alcohol market is heaps better than it was a decade ago – particularly when it comes to beers and spirits, in my opinion – I’m still yet to find a non-alcoholic (or de-alcoholised) wine I really enjoy drinking. 

However, there are plenty of lower ABV (Alcohol By Volume) wines that I love and allow me to enjoy the nuances of a good wine while still being mindful of my health. Certain grape varieties (those which ripen earlier) are renowned for producing wines with naturally lower alcohol levels, typically ranging from 8% to 12.5% ABV. Grapes and regions to look out for include: 

Riesling

Known for its vibrant acidity and floral notes, Riesling often has an ABV between 8% and 12% and is a great wine to pair with food. 

Gamay

Hailing from the Beaujolais region in France, Gamay wines are light-bodied reds with bright fruit flavours and an ABV often between 10% and 12.5%.

English Wine

Due to the cooler climate English wines reach a lower ABV than warm climate alternatives. Often our wines sit between 8.5% and 11.5% making them a refreshing lower-alcohol choice.

Lambrusco

Lambrusco is a red Italian sparkling wine celebrated for its - often - sweeter, fruity profile and typically sits around 8% ABV. It is made by interrupting fermentation to prevent some residual sugar turning to alcohol. 

So, here’s to a not so dry January and to raising a glass of something better (if, perhaps, a little less often) in 2026! 

In short: drink better, not necessarily drier.

Buy better wines

Do Wickhams support Dry January?

We support mindful drinking, not rigid rules. If Dry January works for you, that’s great. But for many people, a more balanced, enjoyable approach to wine — one that lasts all year — makes far more sense.