Dry January; that cold, dark month when, thanks to the extra pounds we've piled on over Christmas and the almighty hangover we woke up with on New Year's Day, many of us decide giving up the booze is a good idea.

But don't worry if you don't agree. As the credit card bills come rolling in, the temperature makes us shiver and the damp weather makes us want to curl up in a ball and stay there until spring, there's a lot to be said for a comforting glass of something naughty.

After all, with that New Year exercise resolution, you'll be blitzing any calories you might consume.

Oh, and what's more, because so many people do cut back on buying bottles in January, you're guaranteed a bargain - you can even buy a lovely drop with that dirty old fiver your Aunty Ingrid sent you in her Christmas card...

REDS

Warm and hearty, a large red is like a cuddle in a glass - almost medicinal for those January blues.

:: The Exquisite Collection Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore, £7.99, Aldi

Aged for three years in French oak barriques, this flavoursome red has rich cherry fruit, Victoria plum flavours and the slightest hint of bitter almonds. And although not on offer, Aldi boasts an impressive set of bargains year-round. Available in store only.

:: Peter Lehmann The Pastor's Son Shiraz 2009, £7.99 (reduced from £15.99), Laithwaite's Wine (www.laithwaites.co.uk)

Smooth, rich, plummy, peppery, chocolatey - it's everything you want from a red wine in January, complete with a 50% off price tag. Delicious.

:: Hardys 160 Year Anniversary Shiraz, £6.66 (reduced from £9.99), Waitrose (www.waitrose.com)

A famous name, a sexy bottle and a limited edition drop - it can only mean good things. Soft and full-bodied, with plums, blueberries and a warm, sweet, lingering finish - it's got 'Saturday night in' written all over it.

:: The Venturer Series Old Vines Garnacha, £4.79, Aldi

A real wintry treat that's easy on the wallet, this red is made from grenache grapes harvested from old vines in the high vineyards of Spain's Carinena region. It's full-bodied, laden with sensuous strawberry compote and finished off with a lick of vanilla oak. Available in store only.

WHITES

Opening a crisp, clean bottle of white welcomes the onset of spring. OK, we're not quite there yet, but these bargain buys will help you along the way...

:: Sunday Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2014, £7.99 (reduced from £11.99), Laithwaite's Wine (www.laithwaites.co.uk)

Coming from the New World capital for sauvignon blanc, this drop is almost bound to be a hit. Fresh, tropical, exuberant and zesty, it makes you want to dance.

:: Italian Gavi, £6 (reduced from £7.29), SPAR

The steep slopes of the Piemonte hills are home to the locally grown cortese grape that produces this unique and award-winning Gavi. Boasting zesty citrus fruit and lightly floral characters, it's well-balanced and pleases most palates. Available in store only.

:: LaVis Vigneti di Montagna Pinot Grigio, £6.66 (reduced from £9.99), Waitrose (www.waitrose.com)

Containing hand-harvested grapes from vineyards on the slopes of the Dolomite foothills, this wine feels like it's been cared for. The bouquet is elegant and complex, with hints of pear and apple, while the palate is dry - it's a refreshing smacker on the lips.

:: Chapel Hill Chardonnay 2014, £7.99 (reduced from £12.99), Laithwaite's Wine (www.laithwaites.co.uk)

If you haven't got back into the Chardonnay trend yet, make 2015 the year you do. This contemporary Aussie number is deliciously ripe and mouth-watering, thanks to a spicy complexity and white peach kiss. A winner with a chicken dinner.

BUBBLES

No need to be saved for special occasions, a glass of sparkle cheers any winter weekend. Certainly, with prices this good, there's no need to wait...

:: Adeletto Prosecco Superiore, £6.99 (reduced from £10.49), Co-operative

Not just for Christmas, this wonderfully cut-price Prosecco is dry, fresh and delicate, with a citrus hit to perk up your winter woes. Available in store only.

:: Donacella Cava Brut, £6, (reduced from £7.99), SPAR

A Decanter Bronze Award Winner 2014, the persisting bubbles contained within this bottle of pop will raise a smile. With apples, pears and a slight nutty finish, it's an easy drinker and perfect with a healthy grilled fish supper. Available in store only.

:: BEST BUY

If you really want to stock up for winter, snap up this case of wonderful wines at 20% less than the normal price. Containing two bottles of Black Stump Durif Shiraz 2014, two Visionario IGT Venezie 13s, a couple of bottles of Posada del Rey Tinto NV (2013), two Campanula Pinot Grigio 13s, two Don Cayetano Sauvignon Blanc 2013 delights and two bottles of the very delicious Pillastro Primitivo 2013, the Laithwaite's Sale Bestsellers case works out at £77.88 - £6.49 a bottle (www.laithwaites.co.uk).

:: LIQUID NEWS

If you don't love gin, you probably wish you did. It's a sophisticated tipple, perfect at any time of day or night (within reason) and clearly, our love of Mother's Ruin is on the rise. According to the Waitrose Food & Drink Report 2014, premium gin sales rocketed by 26% in 2014 and it's set to play a large role in the drinking trends for 2015, too.

Jacob Ehrenkrona, CEO of Martin Miller's Gin, explains that bars are starting to upgrade their house pour to a more quality drop in the US - and we're expected to follow suit. He also believes there'll be more experimentation when it comes to mixing the spirit this year, including the use of creative garnishes (coriander leaf and chilli, anyone?) and that more botanicals will be infused at the point of serve, to showcase the ingredients within the gin. Sounds like thirsty work to me...