January symbolizes a new year, new beginnings, and a fresh start. To commemorate it, many people declare their new year’s resolutions, personal goals or promises to do things differently and improve their lives.
If abstaining for an entire month during Dry January doesn’t appeal to you, consider Try January. Step out of your wine comfort zone and try a new or new-to-you wine. We’ll even help you get started by suggesting some resolutions you’ll WANT to keep!
RESOLUTION: Explore more / Try new things
Experiment with a grape you may never have tried before. The Flying Leathernecks Sparkling Rosé from General’s Ridge Vineyard is a unique blend using the distinctive Touriga grape.
Get your favorite flavors in your next bottle of wine. Jacey Vineyards has three new wine blends featuring their Zinfindel: Espresso Bean Red for the love of coffee and wine; Chocolate wine, better known as Vino Dolce, with hints of chocolate and cherry; and Fruita, sweetened with a combination of almond, orange and coconut.
Plan a trip through Virginia Wine Country: Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA.
Bounded by the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers, the Northern Neck of Virginia is a popular tourist destination for beachcombing, boating, antiquing, history lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, and more. Find suggestions for overnight accommodations, from luxury to rustic, and nearby attractions on the Itineraries page on our website.
RESOLUTION: Make new friends / Find your tribe
Socialize more and make new friends at special events hosted by member wineries. Save the date for the annual Trail-wide Wine & Cherries Weekend (this year on February 15 & 16, 2025), celebrating Presidents Day with wine and cherry treat pairings.
Several members feature live music on weekends, including Jacey Vineyards’ weekly Friday Open Mic and the annual Musician’s Ball at General’s Ridge Vineyard, held this year on January 25, 2025, featuring catered dinner, glass of wine, and musical guests all day long.
Learn Line Dancing, Circle Dancing, and Hip Hop Dancing on select dates at Good Luck Cellars.
RESOLUTION: Add some spice to life
Spiced mulled wine is a cozy winter drink that combines wine with spices, fruits including black raspberries and dark plums, and other flavors. Trail winery Rivah Vineyards at the Grove is serving it every weekend in January.
Good Luck Cellars hosts Sangria Sunday, featuring one of their red, white, and sometimes rosé wines, in a different, seasonal recipe each week. During the winter, the winery features a warm, seasonal-sangria, aka, mulled wine for Gluhwein.
General’s Ridge Vineyard (GRV) mulled wine features the winery’s Merlot crafted with spices. This season, GRV is offering a “Make Your Own Mulled Wine” kit to take home. The kit includes a bottle of Merlot, spices, and one of the winery’s mulled wine recipes.
RESOLUTION: Save money
Watch for wine sales on the Trail and stock up! Ingleside Vineyards is currently participating in Virginia Wine’s 2024 Winter Whites promotion. Now through February 16, 2025, Ingleside is offering a discounted Winter Whites Bundle, consisting of four of the winery’s white wines: Albariño 2023, Chardonnay Reserve 2022, Coastal White – Lot 21, and October Harvest.
RESOLUTION: Cut back on sugar / Lose weight
Harvest and fermentation processes have a tremendous impact on the amount of sugar and alcohol content in finished wine. White wine grapes are less ripe than red, thus have lower sugar levels and slightly fewer calories than red wines. Look for wine that has been fermented in stainless steel, which shaves off a few more calories than oaked wines.
Common Virginia wines such as Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay are among those whites with the least number of calories. If you want to try something different, pick up a bottle of Ingleside Vineyards’ Blue Crab Blanc, a blend of Chardonnay and the winery’s award-winning Albariño.
Another option is to swap out sweet wines for sparkling wines. Grapes used for higher acidic wines, such as General’s Ridge Vineyard‘s Sparkling Semper Fi, a blend of Chardonnay, Chardonnel, and Vidal Blanc, are generally picked first, hence, have a lower calorie count.
RESOLUTION: Lower alcohol content
The fermentation time for rosé wine, is generally shorter than red, resulting in a lower alcohol content. Good Luck Cellars‘ popular Rip Rap Rosé, a blend of Seyval Blanc and Chambourcin, is a Trail favorite.
RESOLUTION: Be a Better Cook
Cook more flavorful dishes using red wine. Dry red wine is a popular choice for savory dishes because it adds depth and flavor. Use it for hearty beef dishes, braising, and deglazing a pan. Add a dash of lighter reds to tenderize stewed meats and add flavor to chicken dishes without overpowering the dish.
If you don’t like cooking, venture out this season for a bowl of tasty soup. Trail wineries are serving it up hot this season! Ingleside Vineyards hosts Souper Sunday twice a month, featuring a different soup on the menu, as well as live music. General’s Ridge Vineyard serves hot soup during their Sunday Football viewing parties.
Cheers to a happier 2025 with good friends, good food, and GREAT wine!
Share This Post!