When some dinner guests arrived a few weeks ago, one of them said she was not drinking. Joan is a singer, and I assumed that she had to protect her voice for a recital. But I was wrong. She was abstaining because she wants to cure cancer.
Joan was spending January as a Dryathlete. In this wholly laudable scheme, run by Cancer Research UK, people go dry for the month of January and get sponsors to donate the money they would have spent on the demon drink to Cancer Research. While I am not convinced by their calculations of what you save, it’s worth supporting unreservedly.
If you do feel like taking part, you don’t have to do it until next January. Phew!
To celebrate, you could try one of the wines that Dryathlete Joan had to forego. Henriot Rosé NV is a pink Champagne of really astounding quality. This isn’t just Champagne with pink colour but has wonderfully complex red-berry flavours and crisp, fresh citrusy notes. It is not cheap: around £46. But for an extremely special occasion there are few pink fizzes that I would rather have to drink. From Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason and Oddbins as well as a handful of independent wine merchants.
