"Little Old Wine Drinker Me" (sometimes rendered with a comma between the final two words) is a country pop song written in the 1960s by Hank Mills and Dick Jennings. The title parodied what was then a well-known catchphrase in TV commercials for the Italian Swiss Colony wine company: "The little old winemaker, me!". The song is about a man trying to drink away his romantic troubles.
The song was first released by Charlie Walker in 1966 on the album Wine, Woman & Walker.Charlie Walker - Little Ole Wine Drinker Me, norwegiancharts.com. Accessed September 11, 2016. It became a hit when it was released by Robert Mitchum in early 1967, and by Dean Martin later that same year on his Welcome to My World album. Lefty Frizzell also recorded the song on his 1967 album Puttin 'On.
Mitchum's version spent two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 96Robert Mitchum - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed September 11, 2016. while reaching number 9 on Billboards Hot Country Singles chart."Hot Country Singles", Billboard, July 29, 1967. p. 44. Accessed September 11, 2016.
Martin's version spent six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 38,Dean Martin - Chart History - The Hot 100, Billboard.com. Accessed September 11, 2016. while reaching number five on Billboards Easy Listening chart,Dean Martin - Chart History - Adult Contemporary, Billboard.com. Accessed September 11, 2016."Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening", Billboard, September 30, 1967. p. 20. Accessed September 11, 2016. and number four on Australia's Go-Set chart.Ed Nimmervoll, "GO-SET National Top 40", October 11, 1967. Accessed September 11, 2016.
In Canada, Martin's version and Mitchum's version reachednumber 32 on the RPM 100, in a tandem ranking."RPM 100", RPM Weekly, Volume 8, No. 3, September 16, 1967. Accessed September 11, 2016.
The Martin recording later became popular with the Scottish football club Clydebank. It can often be heard being chanted on the terraces, with "Tennessee" replaced with "Kilbowie" in homage to the club's former ground in the town.
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