>>The one thing I recall was how easy the wintering was compared to after 
>>going to single queens.
>
> Allen, could you please elaborate?

My language may have been confusing (ambiguous) there. Sorry.

Two queen colonies have greater populations going into winter, have more 
power to arrange the stores, etc., more warmth, more everything.  The same 
effect can be achieved by doubling up colonies.  The chance of winter queen 
loss or undetected fall queen loss is halved (approximately) and that is 
typically around 10% to 15% in single queen colonies, averaged over numbers 
and time during the long winters in the north.

Wrapping's main benefit is moderating the environmental effects so that 
marginal colonies can survive and thrive.  (That is why it is most important 
in late winter and spring).  Double colonies are much less likely to be 
marginal, and more likely to have young queens, so they can usually winter 
well without the insurance provided by wraps. 

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