Isabella knew that the freezing winter meant more red wine than any other beverage would be consumed in her household. It was the warming nature of shiraz, merlot, petit verdot or cab sav that allowed Isabella to do anything at all during this season. As human anti-freeze, these red wines made for many colourful [sometimes naked] dancing in front of the open fire. Each glass brought with it another opportunity to defrost. Each bottle brought the courage required to collect more wood from the diminishing pile of aged ironbark located outside. Each case brought the cardboard required to start the next day’s logs. Nothing was wasted and everything had its role. God bless red wine in winter.