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
John Shuckburgh, WSET Educator
Bodegas Mateos Letargo Rioja Blanco 2024 – £11.50 £10.35 – One of my ‘fridge door whites’ all year. Try this floral, fruit-forward white rioja – it’s perfect for a glass of dry, refreshing white wine on a January budget.
Château Carbonneau Nouveau Souffle Clairet, Sainte Foy 2024 – £15.75 £14.18 – The original Bordeaux ‘Claret’. Dry, with red berry fruits, this is more than just rosé-looking and a delicious anytime wine.
Quinta de la Rosa 10 Year Old Tawny Port 50cl NV – £30.00 £27.00 – I like to turn to something warming in the winter months and this sweet, walnut, mocha, caramel and cherry-fruit beauty is the perfect glass to savour by the fire!
Mark Warde-Aldam, Shop Manager
Isle of Raasay The Draam Single Malt– £58.00 £52.20 – I spent my summer holiday next to this distillery. What an amazing location just North of Skye, fabulous people and perfectly balanced lightly peated whisky.
Edmond Briottet Crème de Mure – £26.00 £23.40 – Try this blackberry liqueur in your sparkling wine as an alternative to Cassis.
Min Yee Tseu, Corporate and University Account Manager
Quinta de La Rosa Douro Red Rerserva 2022 – £21.50 £19.35 – It’s Try January! Made from grapes usually used for Port, this is a full-bodied winter-warmer that is a fantastic alternative for Bordeaux-lovers!
Quinta Dos Roques Encruzado, Dão 2023 – £27.50 £24.75 – This Try January give this Chardonnay lookalike a go – think Montrachet without the price tag!
Barboglio De Gaioncelli Franciacorta Brut NV – £30.00 £27.00 – This 100% Pinot Noir is the perfect pick-me-up for a dreary January evening – give it a try!
Duncan Laing, Wine Advisor
Delheim Wild Ferment Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch 2024 – £17.75 £15.98 – Old-vine Chenin Blanc, showcasing the purity and richness of South Africa’s most iconic white grape. A versatile match for seafood, creamy pastas, roast chicken or spicy dishes.
Native Vieilles Vignes Carignan, Languedoc 2024 – £11.75 £10.58 – Made from 30 year old vines giving excellent fruit concentration. Lovely bramble, black cherry and blackcurrant notes with a soft and balanced finish.
Macbeth Brown Ale, Shakespeare Brewing Co – £4.00 £3.60 – A dark beer with notes of toffee, raisins, and molasses, with roasted coffee and a touch of smoke on the finish. The perfect match for a Burns Supper or strong cheeses.
Lucy Harrison, Shop Manager
Flötzinger Alcohol-Free Hell – £2.25 £2.03 – For me, this is our best tasting non-alcoholic beer – ideal for those who are looking to cut back in January!
Cherubino Pedestal Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River 2022 – £18.25 £16.43 – A great winter-warming red from Larry Cherubino in Margaret River. Blackcurrants, blackberries and cedar spice all wrapped in vanilla and dark chocolate.
Rory Murray, Wine Advisor
Ciabot Berton Fisetta, Barbera d’Alba DOC 2023 – £19.75 £17.78 – A juicy red from Piedmont packed full of cherry and berry fruit, refreshing acidity, and light, gentle oak. This makes it deliciously fresh, lively and super easy to enjoy. A brilliantly flavourful yet refreshing choice for some lighter January drinking.
Hesketh Unfinished Business Pinot Noir, South Australia 2024 – £14.50 £13.05 – A Pinot Noir from South Australia that’s deliciously light, fresh and vibrant. Juicy acidity alongside notes of cherry, raspberry and a hint of spice make this Pinot Noir effortlessly drinkable.
Chris Campbell, Wine Advisor
Crémant de Limoux Brut La Baume, Tholomies NV – £14.25 £12.83 – Keep the bubbles coming after party season with this classic Crémant. Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay combine to make a crisp finish in a glass full of fine bubbles.
Shumi Winery Saperavi, Kakheti Region 2023 – £14.50 £13.05 – Cherries, red currants and blackberry in a dark ruby wine. A warm hug in a glass, perfect for a cold January day.