Question
QUESTION: I have a beautiful climbing rose bush at the front of my house, how do I protect it from the winter elements? Do I cut it back or let it be?

ANSWER: How you winterize depends entirely on how cold your winter gets. Could you please tell me what state you garden in.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I live in  Southern Ontario, Canada

Answer
In your zone 5, it is what is called a boarderline zone. That means your winters are fine for most climbing roses. However if does depend on what climber you have. Climbers are defined by cane hardy or crown hardy or not hardy. What that means is if the rose canes die back in the winter, they will grow again and flower. Also if the canes  die back to the crown where it was budded, the climber will also grow back. So you need to protect your rose up to about 12 inches all around the base of the bush. Simply take some soil from another part of the garden and mound it up to protect your climber and even if you get a really nasty cold winter, it will grow back from 12 inches with no problems. If this rose has gone through another winter then it sounds like it is a hardy one. But if it has just been planted and dies then you know it was not hardy enough for your climate or zone.