7 tips for smarter, more stylish drinking in 2024

The drinks world is full of innovative small businesses full of heart. Support them by reading their story, following them on socials and buying their products. One To One wines is a good example. For every six-pack of wines purchased, they plant one square-metre of bushland with native flora. The initiative is through a partnership with Greenfleet, and for the month of April, in honour of Earth Day (April 22), they’re upping their pledge to plant one square-metre for every single bottle sold. No better time to stock up and bank a heap of good karma – and good cabernet.

Brewers, vignerons and distillers in Australia are never too far away, no matter where you live. Choosing bottles made close to home not only means you’re drinking something unique to your region, but you’re also drinking something that hasn't chewed up diesel and jet fuel to get to you. Small carbon footprint, great taste, and you’re supporting someone in your community.

Make 2024 the year you learn what you like to drink beyond your mate’s fave pinot grigio. Don’t have a head for French wines or Italian regions? Create shortcuts for yourself: Take photos of wine labels, or wine lists, at restaurants you love. Ask plenty of questions to your server or sommelier when you get a bottle you like. How would you describe this? Is it dry or sweet? Where did it come from? What grape is it? What else do you like from this brand? Is this typical of this style? Jot down notes in your phone and reference them next time you shop.

In every Dan’s store, at any time, there's the exact bottle to surprise and delight you, and odds are the Dan Murphy’s Wine Merchants know exactly where it is. It’s great to spend time perusing labels, but it’s not always feasible, and you can fast-track the process by chatting to the in-store experts. They’lll get you a great bottle at a great price and have you home in time for that impromptu dinner you’ve been inspired to throw. The difference between a good bottle and a great one is more often research, not price, and the Wine Merchants have done the leg-work for you.

Look, we harp on about ice a bit at Dan’s Daily, but it’s because it is truly the unsung hero of a good drink. “Cold” is as essential an ingredient in an Espresso Martini as coffee is. Drink a lukewarm Negroni and tell us otherwise. Also, nothing ends a cocktail hour like empty ice trays. It’s important, okay? There is also so much to be done with ice that can elevate your humble pour-over drink. Plus, your ice moves are always done ahead of time, giving you more time to enjoy your guests. Now is the time to invest in fresh ice trays that will give you the ice you want, and maybe learn some tricks to make sure they come out top-tier clear.