This striking dessert is tailor-made for celebrations. As the pears poach in the warmly spiced red wine, they bring a wonderful aroma into your kitchen that evokes the nostalgia of the winter holidays. Use firm pears like Bosc or d’Anjou, which will hold their shape as they simmer, and select a wine you love because the flavors will come through in the pears. Although the recipe is a long one, you can prepare some of the components ahead of time. The tart shell can be baked up to 3 days in advance; wrap the cooled shell in plastic wrap and store at room temperature. The pears can be poached and refrigerated overnight until you’re ready to slice them and finish the tart.