Past Drinks of the Week

2026 Past Drinks of The Week

DRINK OF THE WEEK
26th January 2026
Blueprint Old Vine Garnacha
Waitrose £7.25
Drinker Rating 90

Just for the avoidance of doubt Garnacha is the same grape as Grenache the brambly, spicy red grape of the southern Rhone - but when grown in Spain it's called Garnacha.

It's a really versatile grape that can produce a wide range of food friendly reds and also some decent rose and fortified wines.

Here it's grown on old vines producing really solid quality, lots of red fruit character, cherry and raspberry and some lovely violet floral notes.

Super stuff at the price!

Cheers!

DRINK OF THE WEEK
19th January 2026
Varzea Vinho Verde
Lidl £4.89
Drinker Rating 90

So if you're in the midst of a damp-ish January here's a lovely lower alcohol wine from Lidl to keep you going.

There's been a horrible trend toward low and mid-strength wines in the UK - and these are forced and contrived in order that we pay less duty. Can I suggest instead that we focus on wines that have a naturally lower ABV and up steps Vinho Verde.

This has a wonderfully light CO2 prickle and is fresh and easy drinking at only 8%.Perfect before we all go absolutely mental in Feb!

Cheers!

DRINK OF THE WEEK
12th January 2026
Gable Lodge Shiraz
Marks & Spencer/Ocado £9.00
Drinker Rating 89

So just to get this clear - if you didn't know, syrah and shiraz are the same grape, but...

In general syrah is from France and shiraz is from what used to be known as the New World (Aus, New Zealand, S Africa, Chile etc.). Despite being the same grape there does seem to be a stylistic difference which can be helpful when buying.

Syrah tends to be a little tighter, more angular tannins and a hit of Mediterranean herbs, whereas shiraz can be fuller bodied, fruit forward and a little sweeter in general.

This one from South Africa is called shiraz but is more toward syrah in style. I hope this helps! Either way it's gorgeous sunshine in a glass and just what we need in the middle of winter.

Cheers!

DRINK OF THE WEEK
5th January 2026
Aloha Zeta Rosato
The Wine Society £7.25 (offer price)
Drinker Rating 88

After all the indulgence of Christmas it's easy to see why so many people jump on the Dry Jan bandwagon - but for those of us who share a birthday in the first month of the year this is never the way.

Instead what we need as an antidote to all the Christmas indulgence are drinks that are naturally lighter, simpler and just plain easy drinking.

This beauty from The Wine Society is just the ticket, made with the corvina grape it's a pale pink from northern Italy with just enough character to keep you interested but light enough to refresh.

If like me it's your birthday this month get someone to buy you membership of The Wine Society, £40 for a lifetime of wonder.

Cheers!