Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

Hangin' Snakes 2012 Shiraz Viognier, Barossa Valley, Australia. This red made an appearance at our wedding - every now and again we treat ourselves to a bottle. Bright purple in colour, its taste is like 'sweet fruited summer berries... with white pepper, herbs and a hint of stone fruit.' It's one of the nicest reds we've ever had.

REMOTE

Scandal. - A US drama / thriller series about a former White House Communications Director (Olivia Pope) who starts her own crisis management firm. Starring Kerry Washington as Pope and Tony Goldwyn as President Fitzgerald Grant, the series begins with the ultimate scandal: the pair are embroiled in a passionate love affair (Grant is married). Now on series 5, every episode presents Pope with problems to fix, usually on behalf of high powered politicians or friends who need a favour. Offering a mix of murder, love triangles and politics - it's definitely one to switch on when you want to switch off. The best bit? That no matter how her day goes, Pope always manages to find time to enjoy a glass of red wine on her sofa (now what sort of person would do a thing like that?...).

Scandal airs on abc in the US, Sky Living in the UK.

Love political dramas? You'll love Frost/Nixon.

Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

Whispering Jack Chardonnay 2014 - A medium bodied dry white from South Africa. Its crisp taste includes lime zest and tangerine notes, making it a refreshing alternative during a cosy night in if you don't fancy red.

REMOTE

Peep Show. - A TV series following the sad but brilliant lives of flatmates Mark and Jeremy. It's an all-access pass to their amusing yet disturbing minds as they bumble through life getting into awkward situations. This was our go-to box set at university for its easy watching and incredible one-liners. In 2010, it became the longest running comedy series on C4 (its first episode aired in 2003). Now in its final series, the El Dude Brothers are taking their last bow - but not before they've given us one last trip down Cringeworthy Alley. Perfect viewing if you're looking to laugh and forget about life's stresses - because no matter how bad your day might have been - you can find comfort in the knowledge that it likely couldn't have been as bad as Mark's.

(N.B. It's near to impossible to find a clip without swear words in (!) so I've found one which uses less of them...):

If you love to laugh, check out Modern Family - another iconic comedy series (which is much more family friendly than Peep Show-!).

Vino. Couch. Remote.

VINO

Albastrele Chardonnay 2013 - A 'rich and well balanced' white from Moldova.  Apple and creamy peach aromas combined with citrus and apricot tastes make this vino a wine rack regular.

REMOTE

Modern Family. - The best TV comedy series to be exported from the US since Friends. It follows three very different families, who are related via The Pritchetts - Jay and his adult children - Claire and Mitchell. Its wit and characterisation means there's no need for dramatic storylines, so you simply sit back and frequently chuckle at Phil's optimistic projects or Cam's "How could you, Mitchell!?'-s. Each episode is perfectly timed at approximately 22 mins, so it makes great viewing for short-lived weeknights (or you could just watch a whole series back-to-back at the weekend with friends, chip & dip).

Phil Dunphy (Claire's husband) is one of my favourite characters. He is always trying to be a 'cool dad' by coming up with new inventions such as the HeadScratcher, by devoting his entire weekend to making a duck farm, as well as accepting pizza delivery in his pants and socks. This one's for you Phil:

For more night-in inspiration, check out my living room Pinterest board for the best cosy throws, footstools and fairylights.

Vino. Couch. Remote.

Vino

Di Cavallo, Sangiovese Rubicone 2013 - A full-bodied Italian red with ripe cherry and strawberry aromas.

Remote

Finally, 19 years after its release, I watched Independence Day!  Impeccable acting from Bill Pullman, Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum - loved their characters. My favourite scene: "We're fighting for our right to live":

I've recently discovered: Independence Day: Resurgence will be out in 2016 - and both Pullman and Goldblum will be starring! Liam Hemsworth also joins the cast. If this latest VCR evening is anything to go by, I vow not to wait double decades until I watch this one.