How to Make Mulled Wine?

Mulled wine is the ultimate comfort drink for when it’s cold outside. The boozy, vinous and spicy concoction just takes like home and family — it’s so inviting! Still, not all mulled wines are that good; some are a hot mess. What makes a great mulled wine? A proper mulled wine recipe, of course. Knowing how to make mulled wine is easy with a few tips and tricks.

Let’s dig deep into all there is about mulled wine. For winter cocktails and seasonal drinks, mulled wine is king, and you’ll soon find out why.

What Is Mulled Wine, anyway?

If mulled wine is not a thing where you live, here’s what you’ve been missing. Mulled wine is often made with red wine — you heat it and season it with brown spices and sometimes chunky ingredients like raisins. Mulled wine is a big deal in Europe and countries with cold winters worldwide. The thing is, everyone seems to have a recipe for mulled wine!

What makes mulled wine special is the spices, though. Cinnamon, nutmeg and aromatic cloves, to mention a few. Citrus, ginger, aniseed and many other aromatic ingredients are also popular.

The History of Mulled Wine

Mulled wine goes back for millennia. After all, wine has been around for at least 4,000 years. People already heated it over an open flame to stay warm and cozy in winter; that’s a no-brainer. The first historical mentions of mulled wine, though, date to the 2nd century BC, in Ancient Greece.

By the middle ages, mulled wine was prevalent all-around Europe. For starters, wine wasn’t as good as it is now, and a few spices could significantly improve the often-vinegary drink. What really made mulled wine as we know it famous, was the British incorporating it into their holiday traditions; mulled wine became a Christmas drink you just had to make every year.

Tips for the Perfect Mulled Wine

Making mulled wine is simple, but a few tips can really take your mulled wine game to another level.

·        Use a clean pot. It might sound obvious, but the stew you made the day before in the same pot can taint the mulled wine, and it will.

·        Use inexpressive red wine. For mulled wine, you need not splurge. Get a Bordeaux-style red wine or a New World Shiraz; you want a rich and concentrated red. Don’t use wine-in-a-box either. A medium-prized red wine will work fine.

·        Taste and adjust. Every batch of mulled wine tastes differently depending on the wine, the spices and how much it reduces on the stovetop. Taste and adjust the sweetness and spice levels before serving. It’s better to add a bit more sugar at the end than too much initially.

Mulled Wine Recipe

Serves: 4

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Total time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

·         1 orange, plus orange wheels as a garnish

·         4 cups of red wine

·         1/2 cup brown sugar

·         1 cinnamon stick

·         4 cloves, whole

·         Any other spices desired (optional.) Get creative!

Directions:

1.      Peel the orange and save the peels. Juice the peeled orange and reserve the juice.

2.      In a pot, pour the wine, orange juice and sugar.

3.      Heat over a medium flame and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

4.      Add the orange peels, cinnamon and cloves.

5.      Allow the mulled wine to boil and reduce the heat to low.

6.      Simmer for 25-30 minutes.

7.      Strain the mulled wine and serve.

8.      Garnish with extra orange slices. Enjoy!