Now that winter is in full swing, it is time to: embrace indoor activities (while we dream of tropical destinations), slip into something cozy but chic, drink a delicious full bodied wine and hang out with friends or a good book. Here are my tips on cozy winter activities (solo or group), wines to drink during those activities and what to wear while doing all of these.
The Cozy Factor
There are many fun winter activities, outfits to wear and details you can add to make your winter cozier and chilly days brighter.
- Activity Ideas:
- Attend a reception and lecture at a local museum. In DC, Hillwood‘s curator holds wine receptions on subjects such as Cartier’s inspiration for jewelry design or the Great Newport Garden Designs.
- Visit a local local pottery studio and make earthenware bowls or other pottery. If like me, you cannot produce more than a clay blob, that is okay. It is still fun!
- Experiment with cooking something new and different from your Monday evening fare (for me this is takeout…). Specific suggestions and recipes are below. Also, watch Meryl Streep and Amy Adam in Julie and Julia for inspiration.
- Dress:
- When dressing for your cozy occasion, remember that we are going for comfortable but stylish (so not my baggy sweatpants). Try a knit dress or flared trousers with a fuller sweater or blouse. Pair with great flats or loafers.
- Atmosphere:
- Turn down the overhead lighting and add “clean” candles, subtle lamps and/or twinkle lights. Take a moment to focus on your senses, appreciate the aroma of the wine, the feel of the cashmere, and sent of the candles.
Winter Wine Suggestions
Here are cozy (AKA fuller bodied) wine suggestions including French Burgundies.
- Cheval des Andes An Argentinian great with tasting notes of ripe black and blue fruits, vanilla, dark chocolate and a hint of mint. $95
- Belle Glos Eulenloch Pinot Noir 2018 Garnet red with aromas of black currant, cherry pie filling, cedar, and milk chocolate. $49
- Bouchard Pere & Fils Reserve 2019 Sustainably grown Burgundy with aromas of ripe red fruits (cherry, raspberry, currant). $24
- The Prisoner California red blend with tasting notes of raspberry, blackberry, pomegranate, coconut and vanilla. $52
- Joseph Drouhin Macon Villages 2020 Sustainably grown in Burgundy with aromas of green apple, blossom, honeysuckle, apricot, lemon zest, grass and dough. $18
Avery Tip: When buying French Burgundy wines, look for wine labeled Grande Cru or Premier Cru.
Cozy Cooking
For my vegetarian friends, try fondue (fun for everyone) or the Midwest Foodies’s Easy Vegetarian Stew.
Beef stew or beef Burgundy is perfect for wintertime. What is the difference? Boeuf bourguignon (beef Burgundy) includes wine from France’s Burgundy Region and beef stew includes potatoes but no wine. As I grew up on beef stew, I wonder…if you drink Burgundy wine while making beef stew does that qualify as beef bourguignon….
For a great beef bourguignon recipe try Julia Childs’s in Mastering the Art of French Cooking. For my QuickPot lovers, try friend @Dora’sflowers recipe below.
Avery Tips: Use a boning or chefs knife to trim your rump or chuck cut of beef. Do not use a leaner cut of meat as it could end up tough. Finally, do not over cook the beef bourguignon as it will turn bitter.
Enjoy! And invite me over please!
QuickPot Beef Bourguignon:
Ingredients:
- 3 pounds beef trimmed and cut into 2 inch cubes
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 3 ounces diced bacon
- 1 cup 1/2 inch thick carrots
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 teaspoon tomato paste
- 2 cups dry red wine (French Burgundy)
- 2 large bay leaves
- 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
Directions: For this recipe when it says sauté or brown, you can use either a QuickPot or skillet.
- Cook bacon until crispy. Remove bacon but leave bacon grease.
- Salt and pepper beef then brown in bacon grease. Remove browned meat and put aside.
- Sauté (in bacon/beef grease) carrots and onion then garlic, tomato paste and a pinch of salt. Add wine, bay leaves and thyme.
- Add beef and bacon back. If you used a skillet for sautéing, transfer everything to QuickPot.
- Cover and cook 20 minutes on high. Then, open the lid, cook on sauté until sauce is thick.
- Sauté mushrooms in butter in a skillet adding a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer then cover and reduce heat to medium.
- Add sautéed mushrooms to HotPot. Cook on high, stirring frequently until all veggies are browned.
