Averse to the cold and the shorter days, Jo Cribb is determined to enjoy wine in her socks, fireside, with those she holds dear.

I’m not a winterphile – nope, not even a snow fan. As the days shorten, my inner bear emerges and wants to hibernate. Yet winter is a great time for hosting cosy dinners and sipping by the fireside. So, this winter I’m going to eschew the cave and stay social.

Nothing beats a good roast with friends and family – be it lamb, beef, chicken or a whole cauliflower. Pair roasted red meat with a substantial red wine; roasted chicken with a lighter red or oaked white, and spicy roasted vegetables with a dry Riesling. Late-afternoon aromas of something roasting nearly makes winter worth it.

Try spicing up a dark, wet evening by asking guests to bring an interesting bottle and treat your taste buds to an adventure. Collectively you and your guests can try a range of different varieties and blends. I’d bring a Grenache; it’s not something we see a lot of and it’s super tasty.

Or host a blind tasting. We have been known to cover bottles in tramping socks and ask guests to pick what they are drinking. Try asking guests to rank the bottles by their price and quality. Often the cheapest one is the most enjoyed and highly ranked.

Hosts with the most could also invite their guests to embark on a grand European tour from the comfort of their lounge. Allocate guests a country – Italy, France, Spain – and ask them to bring a bottle from there. Spend a lovely evening sharing travel stories or dreaming of summer days on Mediterranean beaches.

Ending the evening with a berryfruit or chocolatey dessert seems appropriate. Or with a cheese platter in front of the fire. Indulge in a sip of Port or one of the good and reasonably priced dessert wines that are increasingly available at your supermarket.

Meet the Maker

Eva Pemper didn’t have to look far for inspiration for her winemaking career. Her Croatian parents are talented and passionate winemakers. Being immersed in wine from an early age sparked a passion that has resulted in Eva Pemper Wines.

Each wine she crafts tells her family story: a legacy of winemaking in Croatia, transported to the sunny vineyards of Marlborough. She is the sole winemaker, her wines proudly bear her name, and she is the passionate chief storyteller of their origin.

Her proudest moment so far has been accepting the Master Medal at the Global Masters Pinot Noir Awards 2024 by The Drinks Business for her 2022 Marlborough Pinot Noir. Hers was the only New Zealand Pinot Noir last year to receive this accolade. I’d happily serve this dark-fruited, smoky Pinot Noir with a hard cheese and charcuterie platter or roast pork and chicken.

Not doubt when cuddling her baby in the middle of the night, her mind turns to what next. Her dream is for Eva Pemper Wines to showcase the best of each New Zealand wine region. She can see a Hawke’s Bay Syrah and Central Otago Pinot Noir in her range.

Creating a wine in Croatia using indigenous Croatian varieties is something she also dreams about. She’d resurrect her family’s little winery and cellar door in central Croatia and sell her New Zealand wines alongside others from the region.

Something tells me Eva’s dreams are not far from being uncorked and decanted into reality.