At The Oxford Wine Company we spend our days surrounded by thousands of delicious wines, spirits and beers. But which of them do we decide to drink at home? Take a look below for our team’s top picks for this month.
What We’re Drinking in January
Ted Sandbach, Owner & Chairman
Cramele Recas Calusari Pinot Noir, Viile Timisului 2022– £10.00 £9.00 – A refreshing, light and simple wine with good fruit and flavour. It’s just the perfect mid-week ‘glugger’ without breaking the bank.
Domaine Gayda, Figure Libre Cabernet Franc, Pays d’Oc 2022 – £20.00 £18.00 – Well-known as one of my favourite grapes, this Cabernet Franc is a lean yet pungent example and not dissimilar to the Loire styles, such as Chinon.
Tom Brady, Shop Manager & Spirits Buyer
Ardnamurchan AD Cask Strength – £69.75 £62.78 – Recently announced as Scotland’s Best Distillery at the Online Scotch Whisky Awards, this is Ardnamurchan’s Cask Strength Release in all its oily, waxy and smoky glory!
Ocho Tequila Reposado – £31.00 £27.90 – There is no Tequila on the market which represents the same level of value as this bottle right here. Grab yours now before everyone else finds out.
Craigellachie 10 (2012) Provenance (PRV1739D) 2012 – £57.00 £51.30 – Roasted pineapple, marmite and bacon fat. There’s a reason I keep going back to drink more Craigellachie. It’s just so good!
Aljoscha Wright, Buyer
Dog Point Chardonnay, Marlborough 2021 – £29.75 £26.78 – Precise, oaky and reductive. A great all round wine for the Chardonnay lover.
Don Fulano Reposado – £64.75 £58.28 – I’m on a Tequila kick at the moment and this one gets better with every sip.
Williams and Humbert 20 Year Old ‘Dos Cortados’ Palo Cortado 50cl NV – £29.00 £26.10 – I’m not usually a fan of Sherry, but this is too good not to like.
Katy Barker, Retail Marketing Manager
Vinos del Viento Garnacha Old Vines, Campo de Borja 2021 – £14.50 £13.05 – A fantastic Garnacha from a small family producer based in Spain. It’s juicy, fresh, with deliciously intense red fruits, the perfect mid-week treat.
Lustau Oloroso Almacenista Pata de Gallina – £35.00 £31.50 – Amontillado is one of my favourite styles of Sherry, with a beautiful balance of rich, dried fruits and savoury spices. I like keeping a bottle in the fridge for a tipple here and there.
Renais Gin – £48.00 £43.20 – A great one for a gin & wine lover as this gin incorporates grapes from Grand Cru vineyards in Chablis. This elegant gin is one of my current favourites!
Mark Warde-Aldam, Shop Manager
Terre Siciliane, Fedele Nero d’Avola 2020 – £10.75 £9.68 – Continuing my love affair with Sicilian Wines, this juicy Nero d’Avola is bitter cherries in a glass!
Côteaux du Layon, Cuvée Les Perrières, Domaine du Petit Clocher, Anjou 2022 – £22.00 £19.80 – Astounding value! A whole bottle for £22. Crisp acidity with honeyed sweetness. Chenin Blanc at its best.
Domaine de Chevilly Quincy La Licorne d’Or 2023 – £19.75 £17.78 – Can’t afford Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé? Check this out. Delightful upper Loire Sauvignon.
Min Yee Tseu, Corporate and University Account Manager
Quintas do Homem Vinho Verde 2023 – £11.50 £10.35 – Add a touch of spritz to your January with this light and refreshing Vinho Verde!
Château Megyer Furmint, Tokaji 2022 – £15.00 £13.50 – Why not embrace ‘Try January’ and give this Hungarian Furmint a go? It’s gives off Chablis x Riesling vibes and is absolutely delicious!
Grangehurst Cabernet/Merlot, Stellenbosch 2009 – £28.75 £25.88 – Aged, rich and warming, this is everything you want on a cold winter’s evening.
Emily Silva, Head of Retail and Marketing
Barbadillo Manzanilla Solear 37.5cl NV – £8.75 £7.88 – Could a chilled glass of Manzanilla be the world’s greatest aperitif? With an invigorating sea-breeze salinity, this is the palate-sharpener you need for a dingy winter evening.
Gramercy Cellar Lower East Syrah, Washington 2022 – £32.50 £29.25 – This wine has all I want from a good Syrah. Aromatic pepper, umami bacon notes and pure blueberry fruit. A wine to savour which tastes even better the next evening.
La Fleur Solitaire Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2023 – £12.50 £11.25 – An old favourite that always delivers when I’m looking for a good glass of white wine. Delicately aromatic with pretty floral and stone fruit flavours. A fridge door staple.
Nick Gorton, Shop Manager
Château La Tuilerie du Puy, Bordeaux 2020 – £14.50 £13.05 – Keep a bottle (or case) of this in the cupboard to pair with your Sunday dinners. A versatile wine that combines ripe fruit and subtle oak, and will pair well with any roast dinner on a cold, wet, windy day!
Williams and Humbert 12 Year Old Oloroso 37.5cl NV – £10.00 £9.00 – A bottle of 12 year old Oloroso for £10 is a bargain, even if it’s only a half bottle! This is rich and nutty, and will be great to sip beside a fire on a cold evening.
Primitivo Tenuta Del Pajaru, IGT Puglia 2021 – £21.50 £19.35 – A rich, hearty, yet deftly fruited Puglian red that will be sure to keep you warm in cold winter months.
Romain Alaphilippe, Shop Manager
Buil & Giné, 17-XI, Montsant 2020 – £15.75 £14.18 – It offers rich notes of dark fruit, spices, and minerals, with a smooth and balanced finish, showcasing the terroir’s complexity. Gracias Xavi!
Val Delle Rose ‘Rosamante’ Morellino Di Scansano DOCG 2022 – £15.50 £13.95 – An elegant Tuscan red, crafted primarily with Sangiovese grapes. Known for its bright cherry and red berry flavours, soft tannins, and hints of floral and earthy undertones.
Chartreuse Green – £55.00 £49.50 – After Mezcal, this is another one of my favourite spirits! Made from 130 botanicals, it has a bold, sweet and spicy flavour with an intense green hue. Often enjoyed neat, in cocktails, or as a digestif. It’s the soul of the French Alps!
Lucy Harrison, Shop Manager
Pentire Coastal Spritz – £23.50 £21.15 – A wonderful non-alcoholic alternative to an Aperol spritz. Top with tonic or soda water and a slice of orange.
Château Megyer Hárslevelű, Tokaji 2014 – £15.50 £13.95 – An aged, single varietal dry Hárslevelű packed with apricots, tropical fruits and honey.
Massaya ‘Le Colombier’ Bekaa Valley 2021 – £19.50 £17.55 – An incredible blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Tempranillo from Lebanon- red fruits, spice, black pepper and a touch of chocolate. Wonderful on a cold, January evening!