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 on what you do drink 

If there is one thing I’ve learnt as I’ve aged, it’s that you get what you pay for and that (usually) applies to wine too. Don’t get me wrong, you can buy great value wine, but great value doesn’t always mean cheap. 

While it might be tempting to opt for budget-friendly wines, particularly in January when finances are stretched more than usual, investing a bit more can significantly enhance your wine experience. I’m not saying we should all be drinking Château Mouton Rothschild or Dom Perignon but why not treat yourself to a £15-£20 bottle in place of two £6 to £10 bottles at the weekend?  

Higher-priced wines usually reflect superior quality through better (and often more sustainable) vineyard practices, careful selection of grape varieties and skilled winemaking techniques. By choosing to spend a little extra, you're likely to enjoy wines with greater complexity, balance and character. 

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. Costs like packaging, logistics, marketing, VAT and excise duty are all fixed costs 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 2024 budget confirmed that from 1st February 2025 there will be an increase in alcohol duty in line with RPI, along with the end of the wine duty easement. 

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 £8 just £1.50 goes towards wine, whereas in a bottle costing around £16, you’ll get about £4.50 of wine – doubling the money you spend increases the value of the wine in the bottle by three times. 

Bibendums Vinonomics Analysis

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.

Moscato d'Asti

This Italian sparkling wine is celebrated for its sweet, fruity profile and typically contains around 5.5% and 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 2025.