DRY January might be long gone (thanks be to God) but at this time of year plenty of folk might still be wanting to keep their alcohol intake in check.

It might be a case of not going bonkers in February and March after the madness of the festive period, or the continuation of a strict guilt-ridden fitness kick, or perhaps a case of slowly picking things up again after January's abstinence.

But, regardless of circumstances, we all surely deserve some bits of tipple pleasure, don't we?

As such, The Wine Society might just have the answer.

Aware high alcohol levels in wine is something drinkers consider particularly in the early months of the year, the Society has put together a selection that it reckons delivers flavour and class without packing a heavyweight punch.

Basically, it's running an offer up until March 12 of a variety of 20 "light" wines - drinks that come in at 12.5 per cent or below.

(Full details are at thewinesociety.com, clicking on "A Lighter Perspective" in the Features & Offers tab.)

One of them - the Society's Chianti Rufina - immediately caught our eye, simply because we're big fans of Rufina, one of the smaller Chianti sub-zones but one which produces consistently high-quality reds, certainly comparable to the more well-known Chianti Classico.

This one is made especially for The Society by the Grati family, who use traditional methods with the Sangiovese grape while giving it a modern feel.

However they do it, the blend, selected from their best old wooden vats, is a full and fruity yet fresh and easy-drinking wine, with cherry aromas and leathery notes, all underpinned by ripe tannins, perfect for big friendly tomato pasta meals as well all manner of cooked red meats.

Available for a well-priced £8.50, this wine comes in at 12.5 per cent, just about fitting into this particular "light" wines category.

Also just allowed in is The Society's Australian Chardonnay, from the Wirra Wirra Vineyards - an Aboriginal name meaning "among the gum trees" - in the Adelaide sub-region of South Australia, which is known for its cooler climate and rolling hills.

This dry white is one for anybody who likes green apples, with those notes overriding the hint of citrus. It's maybe a bit too tart for our particular preferences, the apples being more Granny Smith than Golden Delicious, but the texture offers balance and it gives "bang for the buck" at £6.95.

(NB. We personally would have put the "light" limit at 12 per cent tops, but who's gonna split hairs for the sake of half a per cent?!)