Baby, it’s cold outside. Winter has come to Washington with a vengeance. Even the snowmen my kids made last week want to come inside and warm up. I usually look forward to the cold weather each year so I can break out big red wines, but this winter, I think I’ll have to dig just a little deeper and find some really big red wines — the thermal underwear equivalent — to keep me company through this frigid frosting.

What is it about cold nights that beg for the company of big red wines? They just seem to go together. Like Simon and Garfunkel (am I dating myself?), they tend to make each other a little better for pairing. Personally, cold nights give me an excuse to hunker down and enjoy leisurely dinners with friends featuring hearty fare (my wife’s cassoulet is my favorite), warm crusty bread and long, stimulating conversations energized by bottles of red wine. I am convinced most of the world’s problems could be solved if people took time to sit down and share a glass — or two — of red wine and a plate of beef bourguignon.