Author: Alana Watkinson
The Wine Widow on a Loss In The Family
“The micra has got to go” was the very surprising statement made by our youngest son. Previously he had said, in a variety of ways but with equal weight, “That car means more to me than any family pet.”
The Nissan micra, our second, has been in the family for over 14 years. It has never let us down but it has, for the past few years, accumulated enormous amounts of water in every footwell and a squeegee is needed on the inside of the windscreen at all times or the condensation builds to impenetrable levels. It has been slept in at countless teenage parties and festivals and therefore smells indescribable. Moss, grass and mushrooms are growing out of all trimmings and a sinister mould covers the back of the front seats and headrests. I have no idea what’s in the boot because it doesn’t open and the back seats no longer fold down. I know it’s full though.
I take it to a man in a booth at a shopping centre a few miles away with our elder two children following in another car. The man steps out of his booth and says “bloody hell, has Shrek been living in that?” As with any family member, we can make jokes but other people can’t and I give him a black look. After much tapping on his iPad he says he can offer me £180. I mutely nod. We take photographs because we all feel this is a little bit of a moment.
A woman walks out of Pets At Home nearby and glances at the car. “they really do buy any car.com” I say. “Oh I bet that car’s got a lot of memories” she says and I instantly warm to a stranger who gets this. “It really has” I say, remembering the time Will gave it two punctures on Christmas Eve.
Two days later, with a micra shaped hole haunting us outside the house, we have a car crisis because four people need to go in four different directions. The available car is making terrible grinding noises and everyone is late for everything. “Who knew” says Alf who is about to miss an appointment, “that the micra was the glue holding this family together.”
Thursday Lates 2026
Day: Every Thursday from May until it gets too cold in September,
Time: 5:30pm – 9pm,
Where: The Winery, Alresford Road, Itchen Stoke, Alresford, SO24 0QW
We’re back for 2026 with Thursday Lates, starting this May. No need to book – just turn up and grab a seat!
The Lates run throughout the summer and into September and, as always, we will be bringing out the Landy Bar where you can get hold of our award-winning wines, chilled to the perfect temperature and available by the glass, bottle or case.
Each week we’ll be spotlighting a new local caterer, so there’ll always be something new to try. On the 21st you’ll find Field and Furnace at the winery their steak (by the way) will be a pretty perfect pairing with the WHITE FROM BLACK 2019.
After this we’re being joined by the likes of Pala Food, OFM and of course, Becka Cooper with her delicious (and hyperlocal) game treats. Make sure to follow @thegrangewine on Instagram to discover what nights your favourite foodstuffs will be with us. It’s first-come, first-served - so when the food is gone it will be gone…
Line ups:
MAY
21st – Field & Furnace
28th - Pala Food
JUNE
11th – Field & Furnace
18th – Chaat Street food
25th – Pala Food
JULY
2nd – Becka Cooper
9th – OFM
16th – Down D’Islands
23rd – Chaat Street Food
30th – Pala Food
AUGUST
6th – OFM
13th – Forte Kitchen
20th – Field & Furnace
27th – Pala Food
SEPTEMBER
3rd – Field & Furnace
10th – Chaat Food
17th – Forte Kitchen
What started as an after-work get together for the team (on a Friday) has blossomed into a perfect way to spend a relaxing Thursday evening - lovely food, award-winning wine and those beautiful sunset views.
Khal, our Events supremo, has upped the décor and the comfort levels, so you can enjoy it even better (thought there will still be some straw bales…), come on over and compliment his fantastic work!
