llison Amanda & Christopher Waters, Vines Magazine –

Winter’s long dark days can be a serious buzzkill if you let them. The summer’s sun is coming, rest assured. In the meantime, we think it’s better to take advantage of the situation by hunkering down at home, with great company, good food and thoughtfully selected wines. What other time of the year can you get cozy and settle around the dinner table or fireplace without a care in the world that you are missing out on something?

Dinner Companion

Inviting guests over is an ideal way to spread cheer during the winter. Nothing beats the February blahs like a big night in, especially when you serve up something tempting and tasty like beef fondue or roast lamb.

Stratus Vineyard 2008 Merlot Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula $42 (131003) This splurge-worthy, single-vineyard Merlot offers lovely fragrant aromas and appealing berry fruit flavours. stratuswines.com