A winter drive through the Jurançon vineyards, a golden sunset, and a bottle of wine I couldn’t leave without. Back home, it became poached pears — fragrant, honeyed and just sweet enough to let the Jurançon do its thing.

One of our favourite holiday recipes is the rich and decadent Port Poached Pear Chocolate Cake with Blue Cheese. The combination may sound unusual to some, but trust me, it’s a match made in holiday heaven. It is also easy to make and so impressive!