Winter Wine Traditions From Around The World

As the days grow shorter, and the cold weather begins to spiral its way down from the frozen north, people gather together in the dark to make the most of what they have, and look hopefully towards the new year.

Winter is a time of resourcefulness, but also a time of taking pleasure in the simple things, the small things. For thousands of years, the days and weeks before the winter solstice - the shortest, darkest day of the year - have been a time of feasting and merriment, and opportunity to share some smiles and congratulate each other on making it through the toughest times, while getting ready for the return of the sunshine, the warmth and the new life that it brings.

The winter solstice was of particular importance in Europe for millennia, particularly in central and Eastern Europe. There, the mid-winter is especially cold and harsh, and survival depends on the quality of the harvest that just passed. This time of year was also key in the calendar of the cultures formed around the Mediterranean, the cradle of civilization, where any opportunity to add a deity or legend to a date was taken and ran with. Given the drinking preferences of these parts of Europe, it comes as no surprise to discover that wine played a key role in many winter traditions, and continues to do so today.

Of course, the pagan past of the civilized world has faded considerably, and we now mostly celebrate Christmas in place of the midwinter solstice and yuletide that preceded it. However, what would Christmas be without wine? Indeed, what would winter as a season be without wine? As the mercury plummets, we need the elixir of the vine more than at any other time of year, and it seems it’s always been this way. The white wines of summer start disappearing from the wine racks, and deep, dark and warming reds start taking their place all across the northern hemisphere. Here’s a brief rundown of some international winter wine traditions for you to try, and some suggestions for ways to bring a bit of Old World wonder to your Christmas and winter wine drinking.

Wassailing