The Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer figurines have been carefully arranged on the fireplace mantle, the Charlie Brown tree swaddled in a blue blanket and decorated with a lone red bulb, and It’s A Wonderful Life is cued up on the flatscreen.

You’ve worked hard this holiday season and now it’s time to kick back for a bit before the big day. Put down the rum and eggnog, and curl up with one of the following wines. And don’t forget to have the Kleenex on standby for when Clarence gets his wings.

Ruffino Il Ducale Toscana 2018

Ever been lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks in Tuscany? If so, you know the attraction: centuries-old villas, sprawling hillside markets, and rolling vineyards. The last of those turns what’s already heaven on earth into an absolute paradise.

With the idea of loading onto a plane this spring starting to look like a pipe dream once again (dear COVID-19: enough already), transport yourself with the fruit-forward Ruffino Il Ducale Toscana. Cassis, scraped vanilla bean, and earthy tobacco all pop up in this easy-drinking, medium-bodied blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and bold Syrah. Throw a rosemary-lemon chicken on the bricks-and-mortar Tuscan-style barbecue, break out the leccino olives, pour a glass, and dare to dream about what might be next spring break.

Sandbanks Foch-Baco Noir Sleeping Giant

There’s little point trying to pretend otherwise—Thunder Bay isn’t at the top of places most folks feel they’ve just go to see when planning a cross-country trip in Canada. Tofino, Quebec City, and the Maritimes? Absolutely. The Lakehead? Well at least it’s got not one, but two Tim Hortons, which is important because, admit it, Canadian Maple donuts are stupidly delicious.

The big attraction at Lakehead—sometimes known only as “Lakehead” to the locals—is the Sleeping Giant of Thunder Bay, a land mass across Lake Superior that looks like, you guessed it, a sleeping giant. That landmark serves as the inspiration for Sandbanks Sleeping Giant Foch-Baco Noir, a bold hybrid where ripe blackcurrent, U-Pick blueberries, and fresh coffee lead the charge off the line. On the back stretch things expect a smooth and lingering finish marked by dark mocha and a hint of oaky smoke. Next stop Thunder Bay. Or maybe not.

Hester Creek 2020 Merlot

Ever watch a movie that you’ve gone in cold on, and then started thinking “That scenery looks familiar?” Assuming you’ve been beyond Main Street, or Boundary Road, in Beautiful British Columbia, the backdrop for Wind Chill with a young Emily Blunt will get you thinking Fraser Canyon. But do some internet sleuthing and the filming location is actually the Okanagan. Who knew that it snowed so much in the land of sunshine, peaches, and endless wineries?

Hester Creek’s Select Vineyards Merlot starts with grapes grown on the winery’s Golden Mile Bench estate. Those are blended with grapes from three nearby vineyards, after which it’s two week in Italian Ganimede fermenters, and eight months on fine lees with 40 percent American and 60 percent French oak. Redolent of Lambert cherries, June Blood plums, semidark chocolate, and peppery allspice, this pleasantly bold offering won’t disappoint on the table next to a slab of charred venison, blackberry-sage sauce optional. Or skip the dinner conversation and watch it with Wind Chill, which really does look like it was shot in the Fraser Canyon.

Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Pinot Noir 2019

As the cold weather rolls in across the country, here’s something that sounds pretty appealing right now: summer on a covered porch with lazy southern-style fans overhead, and a plate of ripe field-grown strawberries dipped in dark chocolate. Add an iced mocha, and you’ve got a scenario idyllic enough to carry you through the next few dark and cold winter months. Jackson-Triggs Grand Reserve Pinot Noir 2019 doesn’t lack for character, with this bold yet elegant offering flush with rich oak, freshly ground cloves, shaved nutmeg, and—you guessed it—chocolate-laced strawberries.

Forget playing second fiddle to roasted squab or a seared Tomahawk steak—pour a glass or three, kick back on the couch with the fireplace roaring, and suddenly winter doesn’t seem so bad. Don’t forget to take a moment to admire your carefully staged Rudolph display, and to weep unabashedly when it’s time for “Auld Lang Syne” at the Bailey house.