RAISE A GLASS
WELL to say that 2020 has been a challenging year would be an understatement.
We now have a whole new year stretching before us and I’m full of hopes and dreams for what 2021 will bring. I’m discovering wines all the time. I hope that in the new year ahead you will too.
If you’re in the comfort zone of pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc, why not try a riesling or a picpoul de pinet. If you’re hooked on cabernet sauvignon, track down a zinfandel or a malbec. Go on, do it! In my writing diary, January always means Ginuary and Veganuary (my vegan-friendly sipping thoughts). But first I’m turning to Dry January.
This sparkling wine Gratien and Meyer Festillant Sparkling Sans Alcool (£4.50, The Wine Society) is a delight of bubbles but without the guilt of alcohol. It is lovely and refreshing when served really chilled. It tastes of lemons and apples and is ever so slightly sweet, but not overly so. I added a little fresh orange juice so I enjoyed what appeared to be a Buck’s Fizz which delivered all the pleasure but without the alcohol.
There’s a tiny bit of alcohol in this tin of gin and tonic.
Tesco Low Alcohol Gin &
Tonic Reduced Calorie Drink (£1 a can) can be dressed up with ice and lemon and made to feel like a proper gin and tonic. If you’re on your January health kick it’s good to know that it has a teeny tiny amount of alcohol and just 12 calories in a 250ml can.
But you know what? You can dress up ordinary low calorie tonic water with ice and fruit and make it feel special.
If you need a hit of beer but don’t want the alcohol effect that goes with it, then here’s a thought. The St Peter’s Without® range includes an Original style and two others; Without®Gold, left, and Without® Elderberry & Raspberry (£21 for a mixed box of 12 or £1.49 per bottle at stpetersbrewery.co.uk,
plus in store at Morrisons, Tesco, Co-op). They’re all created using barley, hops, yeast and water but using some magical brewery technique, there’s zero alcohol. They also have polyphenols which help stave off winter viruses. I think we’ve all had enough of viruses.
The Original style smells like an ale should; the fruity elderberry and raspberry doesn’t work for me, but the gold style is very approachable with a light, lager-like profile.
If you’re not giving up alcohol, but you’re looking to reduce it, then a vinho verde white wine from Portugal is always a good choice.
Its simple fruit credentials are also perfect at this time of
year as we’re nursing palates which have gone into overload after our festive feasting, even if we did it in reduced numbers. There’s a pretty bottle of vinho verde at the Co-op: Vale dos Pombos Vinho Verde, pictured (£5.50, down from £6 between January 2 and February 2). The wine is only 9.5% abv which is such a sensible amount. The wine is zingy and vibrant with citrus. It’s also vegan friendly which ticks the boxes for Veganuary. It’s a win win wine.
I hope you have a happy and healthy New Year.
Find Jane on social media and online as One Foot in the Grapes. Email: jane@ onefootinthegrapes.co.uk