It's January, it's cold and it's bleak but don't make the month any worse by punishing yourself with a no-alcohol policy.

Forget chilled white wines and ice cold beers, there's no reason we can't still enjoy a good glass of mulled wine throughout the winter.

Mulled wine is a great warming treat whenever there's a chill in the air and if it had a season it would run from Hallowe'en to Valentine's Day.

All you need is a robust red, some spices and a dash of brandy (for those particularly cold evenings). I tend to use a fruity claret as the tannic structure lends itself well to the final cup of warming loveliness.

Try a bottle of Chateau Lagarde 2005 (Inverarity One to One) for the bargain bin-end price of just £7.50 ... and that's for a litre bottle.

Alternatively, grab a bottle of M&S's Beaujolais 2010 (£6.99) which will give you a lighter, fresher wine for mulling.

The spice recipe includes cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg but you're as well buying a pre-mixed sachet. Schwartz do an affordable, readily available. I also add an extra cinnamon stick to the pan, the aforementioned glug of brandy and (crucially) some sugar. Trust me, it just doesn't work without the sugar. Stir well in a pan for a few minutes to let the flavours infuse before decanting into the largest cup you can find. More brandy can be added at this stage.

If that all sounds like too much hard work, get down to your local Co-Op before they run out of their ready made Mulled Wine (currently on offer at £2.99), which can be opened, poured into a mug and microwaved for instant enjoyment. Hurrah!