I have nothing against Dry January as long as I don’t have to participate in it.
What to drink – or not to drink – is and should be individual prerogative. Additionally, Dry January has proven to be a lucrative marketing trend, especially for companies whose main business is producing alcoholic beverages but who are willing to be creative in catering to the thirsts of those who want to take the month off from wine, beer and spirits.
(Shown above is a Résonance winery vineyard in Oregon.)
2022 Résonance Willamette Valley Chardonnay ($39). Lots of apple fruitiness, some toast, medium weight, light bitters in the finish.
2024 Cloudy Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($35). Complex and lovely, with typical New Zealand kiwi and lime flavors along with hints of chalkiness and great texture.
NV Vilarnau “Delicat” Barcelona Guarda Superiore Reserva Cava Rosé ($16). Pleasant petrol aromas like a Riesling with strawberry flavors and a lean finish.
NV Valdo Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore ($12). Lightly minty, good bubble intensity, savory accents in the finish.
NV Vilarnau Barcelona Brut Reserva Cava ($17). Light minitiness with good metallic minerality and a tangy finish.
2015 Berlucchi “61” Franciacorta Nature Sparkling Wine ($77). Champagne elegance from Northern Italy – lightly smoky with green herbal flavors and hints of brioche in the finish.
2021 Ricasoli “Brolio” Chianti Classico ($26). A very mellow Chianti with flavors of dark plums and wooden barrels.
2019 Garofoli “Grosso Agontano” Conera Riserva ($30). Good depth of flavors with slightly tangy and slightly creamy cherry flavors and lots of tannins.
2020 Masseria Li Velli “MLV” Salento Primitivo ($50). The Italian forerunner of Zinfandel, it has lots of bright cherry flavors and some nutty savory notes and lots of dusty tannins – quite nice.
2019 Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Red Blend ($50). Quite enjoyable with creamy blackberry flavors, smooth textures and light tannins around the edges.
2021 Sequoia Grove Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($55.) Enjoyable black raspberry and blackberry flavors with a hint of blueberries, fairly lean with good closing acidity.
Cedar Ridge “The QuintEssential” American Single Malt Whiskey ($60). Lovely, big and complex with flavors of caramel and savory herbs and a few green notes – basic whiskey elevated. (59% ABV)
Prices listed are generally SRP or from wine-searcher.com. As more wineries are now shipping direct-to-consumer, check the winery website if you can’t find a bottle in your retail store.
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