Beating Blue Monday - Viña Real

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Tell me, how do I feel
Tell me now, how should I feel

- Blue Monday, New Order (1983)

The concept of Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year, was created by the holiday company Sky Travel in 2005 and is generally considered pseudoscience.

However, January is - let's face it - a fairly depressing month generally, so here are two sunny wines from Viña Real to bring some reassuring warmth to an otherwise chilly and uncelebratory time of year.

Crowd-pleasing yet sophisticated, they are easy to enjoy without dumbing down.

Viña Real Crianza 2013 (£11.65, Fortnum & Mason, independents) ripe bramble fruits with fruitcake and roasted spices; fresh, mineral and woodsy-earthy with fine tannins.

Match with rosemary and garlic lamb.

Viña Real Barrel Fermented Blanco 2015 (£11.45 independents) ripe apple-and-pear fruit with lime zest and layered, toasty-oaky spice; floral, citrussy and fresh with a rounded, creamy palate.

Good.

Match with mixed antipasti or white meat and fish.