Can’t Spell “WINTER” Without “WINE”

We’ve learned over the years that winter is better when you lean into it—and even better when you pair it with wine. So when the calendar turned to the winter solstice, the answer felt obvious: you can’t spell “WINTER” without “WINE”, and that alone felt like reason enough to have a little fun with that and celebrate.

The solstice marks the official first day of winter and the shortest day of the year, landing at a very specific moment—9:02 AM for us . From that point on, the daylight starts its slow return. It’s subtle, but it’s real. Less doom-and-gloom winter kickoff, more cellar-bration of light. And since Christmas is already centered on the coming of Jesus—the Light of the world—this felt like a natural way to fold the solstice into our Christmas celebration rather than treating it as something separate.

The morning moved quickly and cheerfully into place. Evergreen branches, wine cork placeholders, and a countdown video set the scene. Mulled wine mimosas appeared, waffles showed up draped in cranberry-cabernet syrup, and the kids toasted with grape juice sparklers—because if the theme is light returning, you might as well lean all the way in. We watched the clock hit 9:02, raised a glass, and carried on. No solemn pause required—just a shared acknowledgment that winter had officially arrived and the days were already getting longer.

From there, the day unfolded exactly how we hoped: relaxed, creative, and full of small moments. Wine cork crafts took over the table as the kids turned leftover corks into snowmen and reindeer, proof that wine really does keep giving long after the bottle is empty. The house felt warm and lived-in, candles glowing in bottles around the room, wax dripping just enough to feel cozy without being precious.

Later in the afternoon, us adults carved out some quiet time at 7 Vines Winery, sneaking in a little space to breathe after a busy stretch of the season. Snow blanketed the vineyard rows as we wandered with glasses of ice wine in hand—sweet, bright, and perfectly cold—talking, reflecting, and letting the stillness of the season do its work. It was a perfect “walk in a winery wonderland” as It was unhurried and grounded in the best way.

As evening arrived, everything slowed. Beef bourguignon—our quiet Christmas constant—took center stage, paired with wine-and-herb focaccia and vintage Christmas jazz spinning in the background. Candles flickered in wine bottles, dinner lingered, and the mood shifted into something unmistakably wintry in the best way. Dessert followed in the form of wine-poached pears topped with puff-pastry partridges, a playful nod to the season that felt perfectly at home on a winter table.

Two bottles anchored the day in a way that felt especially meaningful. One was a 2020 vintage, opened and shared—the first year we ever started our Christmas plans and traditions in earnest. The other was a 2016 vintage, the year we were married. That bottle stayed sealed. We set it aside as our very first true “cellar” wine, with a plan to open it fifteen years from now—when the kids graduate high school and when, fittingly, we wrap up these Christmas festivities. A long-range toast to the future, patiently waiting its turn.

And of course, you can’t host a Vintner’s Solstice Cellar-bration without a cellar. So Ben did what felt only reasonable: he turned the basement into a dramatic winter wine cellar for the night. Candles melted slowly inside empty wine bottles, wax pooling and dripping in a way that felt both old-world and slightly theatrical. Snowflakes hung overhead, lights stayed low, and plaid blankets softened every corner. It became the kind of space that invited you to linger—to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with your best friend, cradle a glass, and sip without rushing. No agenda, no countdown clock anymore—just quiet conversation, shared warmth, and the kind of winter pause that makes the season feel like a gift instead of a grind.

This day wasn’t about overthinking the solstice or turning it into something it didn’t need to be. It was about embracing winter exactly as it is—cold, cozy, and better with wine—while remembering that in both the season and our faith, the light is coming. Even at the darkest point of the year, the story we celebrate at Christmas reminds us that the Light of the world entered the darkness, and it did not overcome Him.

Winter had officially begun.

The wine was flowing.

And the season felt off to a very good start.

Activities

• Vintner’s Solstice Countdown Brunch (9:02 AM)

• Wine Cork Crafts (Snowmen, Reindeer, Ornaments)

• Winery Visit And Snowy Vineyard Walk At 7 Vines

• Winter Winery Word Ladder Game

• Basement Wine Cellar Transformation With Dripping Candle Bottles

• Quiet Cellar Sipping And Conversation

Menu

• Mulled Wine Mimosas

• Waffles With Cranberry Cabernet Syrup

• Grape Juice Sparklers With Real Sparklers

• Burrata Bruschetta

• Petit Syrah

• Ice Wine

• Wine & Cheese Snack Plates

• Wine-Poached Pears With Puff Pastry Partridges

• Beef Bourguignon

• Wine & Herb Focaccia

• Vintage Red Wine