To be done three or four days ahead...
Use six or eight small ripe, preferably Williams pears, peeled. Pin a clove in each. Put a bottle of fruity red wine in a measuring jug and make up to a litre with water. Add 300g. sugar, the juice of an orange, plus a slice of peel, and a few turns of black pepper.
Put in a big enough pan to stand the pears up with no space in between, and cover with liquid. The pears must be totally immersed. Cook the pears to a soft al dente. Leave to rest, in the ‘fridge.