January on Skye has a very particular feel to it.
The pace is slower. The air is sharper. Frost lingers on the ground longer than you expect, and daylight arrives gently rather than with any urgency. The island feels quieter, almost as if it is catching its breath after December.
These are evenings made for firelight. For lamps rather than bright lights. For a chair pulled a little closer to the stove, and a glass poured without much thought about what day of the week it is.
It is also the time of year when I find myself reaching for bottles not because they are impressive, but because they feel right.
Not celebration wines. Not background wines. But bottles worth opening.
Winter changes how we drink
In summer, wine often follows activity. A long day. A meal outside. Friends dropping by. There is movement and energy in it.
January is different.
The weather shapes the day, and the wine follows the mood. When the wind has been rattling the house and the light fades early, what you want in your glass is something that brings a sense of calm rather than excitement.
That does not mean heavy or overpowering. It means balanced. Grounded. Comfortable.
These are wines that sit with you, rather than demand attention.
The kind of wines that suit firelit evenings
This is where softer reds really come into their own.
Pinot Noir is an obvious favourite here. Not the showy kind, but the style that leans into quiet fruit and gentle warmth. Burgundy, New Zealand Pinot, and increasingly English examples all have a place on evenings like this.
They work because they do not fight the season. They echo it.
I also find myself opening wines with a bit of age or restraint. Reds that have settled into themselves. Whites with texture rather than sharpness. Wines that feel composed.
These are exactly the kinds of bottles I look for when selecting wines for Wine Guy on Skye. Not because January needs special wines, but because this time of year rewards thoughtfulness.
Sparkling wine still has a place
There is a temptation in January to put all sparkle away and tell ourselves it is not the time.
I do not agree.
A good English sparkling wine or Champagne by the fire can be quietly uplifting. The freshness cuts through the richness of winter food, and the elegance reminds you that opening a good bottle does not need a reason.
It is not about celebration. It is about appreciation.
Wine without noise
One thing January does particularly well is remove the noise.
There are fewer invitations. Fewer expectations. Fewer distractions. And that allows wine to return to its simplest role, something enjoyed slowly, in the background of an evening, rather than as the focus.
This is why I always encourage people not to overthink what they open at this time of year. The best bottle is the one that suits the moment you are in.
If that is a Pinot Noir from New Zealand, a quietly confident French red, or a bottle of English sparkling you have been saving, then it is the right choice.
A year of moments ahead
Standing at the start of the year, there is a sense of space.
Plenty of evenings still to come. Plenty of bottles yet to be opened. And plenty of moments where wine will quietly accompany whatever the season brings next.
That is what this series is about.
Not rules. Not trends. Just noticing how where we are and how we feel shapes what we enjoy in our glass.
If you find yourself reaching for wines like these, you will find plenty waiting for you on the website, chosen with exactly these moments in mind.
For now, let the fire burn low. Let the frost stay outside. And open something that feels right.
Nick
Wine Guy on Skye
www.wineguyonskye.com