Say goodbye to Dry January with these 2023 wines that are bang on trend

With new finds come new styles and with new styles come new flavours, so let me introduce you to some of tastiest ones that are bang on-trend right now.

Portugal is the insider’s tip for getting wine bang for your buck. Until now, it has traded on holiday wines and fortified wines for fame but things have changed hugely thanks to a whole new breed of bottles made with super flavoursome native grapes – often the kind that would typically go into port, like touriga nacional and touriga franca.

Moving south, one of the biggest success stories in recent years has been the South African region of Swartland. About an hour’s drive north of Cape Town, its ancient geology and cooling Atlantic breezes have made it a blissful bolthole for talented young winemakers who want to make their mark, especially with grapes like chenin blanc, shiraz and cinsault.

In fact, it’s such a grape paradise here that plenty of other grapes thrive in the soil, too.

Even though vermentino has been basking in glory for a few years, there are plenty of untraditional places now picking up on this grape’s breezy vibes and citrus tang.

In fact, it’s become so popular that even the French, who usually call it ‘rolle’, also now sometimes sell it under its Italian name of vermentino. Back in Italy though, vermentino is happiest when it lives in a sunny coastal spot (who isn’t?) and the most famous Italian vermentino comes from Sardinia, where vermentino di gallura is considered the best of the best.

Some vermentino has island-hopped to Sicily and that’s another good sunny location for it to shine.

Meanwhile, no matter which winemaking spot you go to in Spain, you will never be far from the country’s golden child, tempranillo. As rioja has proved, this big hitter grape can come in all shapes and sizes, from big and ballsy to fresh and fruity, so if you like rioja but fancy dipping your toes in other Spanish waters, try tasty tempranillo from a different Spanish region. A fine wine start to February.

Jane’s top February picks

Familiar Vinho Regional Lisboa Tinto 2021, £10.99

Local grapes blended with cabernet sauvignon gives a dose of extra mint to this juice-fest.

The Craftsman Merlot Cabernet 2021, £10.99

The dark cherry fruit here is so juicy that it’s practically bouncing off the walls.

Bendico Terre Siciliane Vermentino 2020, £9.99

Think shimmering shorelines, zesty lemons and crunchy green apples with a sprinkle of salt.

Aguila Chillando Garnacha Tempranillo 2020, £8.99

An easy go-to red that has richness in spades but also freshness thanks to high altitude vineyards.