CURBING your thirst to appreciate a smaller sip not only has its health benefits but tipplers and singletons can experience a wider range of wines without the guilt of cracking open a full bottle with a growing trend for sizing down from 70cl to 37.5cl bottles.

To ring in the changes, try Halfwine’s New Year Collection (£39.15, four bottles, halfwine.com), which includes a fresh, forward sauvignon blanc, Domaine Masson-Blondelet, 2010 Sancerre, Thauvenay, France; a classic steely chablis, William Fevre, 2009 Chablis, France; a Burgundy from the famous winemaking village of Gevrey-Chambertin, Harmand-Geoffroy, 2008 Bourgogne Rouge, France, which is drinking beautifully as half-bottles mature faster than normal size; and a full-bodied, brambly sangiovese, Fontodi 2009 Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy.

Another source for handy halves, Laithwaites has a broad range which includes another lovely sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley. Try the fragrant Abbesse De Loire Sauvignon Blanc Half Bottle 2011, Val de Loire VdP, France (£4.79, laithwaites.co.uk) To dip into some ripe 2009s, cases of basic claret offer good value, with Chateau La Fleur Coterie 2009, Bordeaux (case of 24 37.5cl halves, £124, goedhuis.com/020 7793 7900) drinking well without the chewy tannins you’d find in a full-size version.

From another great vintage and surprisingly approachable, Chateau Malbat 2010, Bordeaux (£4.35, tanners-wines.co.uk) is super ripe and super smooth.

Chateau du Grand Moulas 2011, Cotes-du-Rhone, M Ryckwaert (4.80, www.tanners-wines.co.uk) is a rustic little red that’s big on flavour.

Chilean winemaker Tabali hits the right note with its Tabali Late Harvest Muscat 2010, Chile (£6.99, virginwines.co.uk).