A lot hangs on January.

It's a new year and you're supposed to be doing things bigger, better, different.

What does that mean for your wine drinking?

Do you go dry? 

No wine at all in January.

Is such a bold move admirable or unattainable?

Do you go damp?

Drink less.

It could be budget bottles to be frugal after the Christmas spending blitz.

Or, it could be drinking less, but when you do have a glass you're choosy and lean toward high-end wines.

The quality-over-quantity philosophy.

Or, do you remain wet?

Drink as much wine as you always did.

But, do so consciously, picking value bottles that deliver on both taste and affordability.

You could even substitute a low-alcohol option every once in a while.

Jackson-Triggs winery did a survey that found 65% of Canadian drinkers plan to moderate their alcohol consumption in 2026 and 18% have taken part in a dry month.

And, if drinkers choose a low-alcohol or no-alcohol wine, 73% say taste still matters.

So, taking all that into consideration, whatever level of moisture you're going with this January the wine column has you covered.

Here are seven bottles that cover the gamut of sparkling, white, rose, red, no-alcohol, low-alcohol, regular and affordable.

 – Bottega Sparkling Life Rose ($12.50) from Italy

Bottega is the biggest producer of Prosecco in the homeland of the famous sparkling — Italy.

It's also a leader in no-alcohol Prosecco.

The Sparkling Life Rose is a prime example, delivering with fresh bubbles without the buzz.

 – Jackson-Triggs 0% Sauvignon Blanc ($11) from Oliver

Tastes like wine with none of the alcohol.

 – Jackson-Triggs 0% Rose ($11) from Oliver

No-alcohol pink.

 – Jackson-Triggs Light Pinot Grigio ($12) from Oliver

Comes in at 9% alcohol by volume and delivers lushious white wine taste with a crisp pear and lime profile.

 – Jackson-Triggs Light Cabernet Sauvignon ($12) from Oliver

Again, 9% alcohol, but with red wine boldness of blackberry, plum and vanilla aromas and flavours.

 – Fort Berens Here & There 2024 Rose ($20) 

Made by the Lillooet winery of Shiraz grapes from Washington state.

12.5% alcohol, affordable and quintessential pink with a pomegranate-plum-and-cream profile.

 – Red Rooster Outbound Series 2024 Pinot Gris ($21)

Grapes from Washington state made into a 12.5% alcohol Okanagan-style Gris by the Naramata Bench winery.

All the orchard fruits are here in the aromas and flavours — yellow apple, crunchy pear and fuzzy peach — with nice minerality.

Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at smacnaull@nowmediagroup.ca. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.