STROLL INTO THE HOLIDAYS WITH RED WINE
By Leslie-Ann Sheppard
After experiencing the most blissfully beautiful Thanksgiving Day on Nantucket that I can recall, we've plunged directly into winter. Temperatures have dipped considerably, Christmas trees light the way up Main Street and holiday songs dominate both television and radio.

It's red wine season.

Some folks aren't so seasonal when it comes to wine. They drink white all year, or red all year, while others always start with white and finish with red in the course of a meal. Then there are those of us who choose our food and drink in relation to outward factors such as weather. When it's cold, we feel like enjoying a hearty meal and sipping a beverage that produces warmth, something that can be described as 'cozy' and toasty. Red wine is often the libation of choice.

Served at room temperature, red wine can sometimes feel too hot and heavy in the warmer weather. In fact, the optimum temperature at which to serve red wine is between 55 degrees and 65 degrees, quite a bit cooler than standard room temperature. If the wine is warmer than 65 degrees, it may taste out of balance- the alcohol may be more prominent than the fruit, for example. In the warmer months and in the absence of a wine cellar, more people will sip red wine that is warmer than it should be. And it may not taste as good as it should.

Now, on the doorstep of winter and the thick of the holiday season, red wine is the perfect cocktail. The temperature is right, and even the smells of the season remind me of red wine - the fallen leaves melting into the earth, and the scents of pine needles mingled with cocoa and spice. Makes me think of a good Cabernet Sauvignon. Or Syrah… or Zinfandel.

Red wine is even good for you. It contains antioxidants - most significantly 'resveratrol' from its tannins - which have been linked to health benefits such as lowering cholesterol, protecting the heart and arteries and preserving the skin. I'm not exactly sure how much red wine is necessary to experience such benefits, but they are there.

The foods we eat in the colder months are well suited to red wines. Hearty foods call for hearty wines. Beef stew, braised lamb shanks, Bolognese sauce with pasta, and even the fall root vegetables- these foods are complemented by the flavors found in many red wines. Unlike in the warm months, now we welcome a hot stove in the kitchen sending fragrances that fill the house and make our mouths water.

The best thing about drinking red wine is the abundance of choice. There are so many producers

in different parts of the world making more wines each year. You could conceivably experience a different red wine every day for several years - or even a lifetime - if not limited by retail availability.

There are some 'celebrity' red wines - wines whose names are known by all collectors and many novice wine drinkers as well, and there are also trends in red wine. After the movie "Sideways" came out a few years ago, consumer interest in Pinot Noir surged. Prices also surged. Which red wine will be the next rising star? Syrah and Malbec seem to be experiencing a bit more popularity, and both types of grapes generally produce big, cozy, toasty reds good for warmth on a winter's night.

Red wine can be interesting and informative. It should be a reflection of the place from where it came - the vineyard, the soil, the climate, the winemaker, and even the culture of the place. Wine can pique an interest in travel; many travelers have been rewarded by visiting land under vine and meeting the people passionate enough about wine to make it their vocation. There have been many, many books and articles written about the subject, so it is fairly easy to educate oneself about wine.

Red wine also makes a great gift. As it is the holiday season, chances are good that you might be looking for something to give to a person 'who has everything.' Wine is a good choice. Who doesn't appreciate having an extra bottle of decent red wine around the house in the event of unexpected guests? You can personalize the gift by choosing a red from a region you (or they) have visited, or by choosing a bottle that was memorable to you. You can share the memory as well.

Wine is best when shared with others. A good bottle of red has been known to elicit stories and memories between friends and family. And that,

my friends, is a real gift. I

Leslie-Ann Sheppard is the owner of The Cellar, a wine and cheese shop on Surfside Road. The Cellar is open through December 31.