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If you’re looking for a delicious warm co*cktail, this Mulled Wine recipe is an easy and delicious recipe for the fall and holiday season.
It snowed here last week. Can you believe it!?! (Bring on my Mulled Wine recipe!!) Nothing stuck around for long, but in my book, mid-October is too early for the white stuff. Not being a huge fan of winter, I was not happy to see those fluffy flakes.
Our snow event, however, has a silver lining (actually two). It’s said that if snow falls before the first frost, we will have an “easy winter. “*crosses fingers* Secondly, snow gives me an excuse to stay inside, watch SVU marathons, and whip up something delicious in the kitchen.
That might be the only way I can tolerate winter:Olivia Benson and something yummy on the stove or in the oven.
TABLE OF CONTENTS hide
1 The Best Mulled Wine Recipe:
2 How Do you Make Mulled Wine?
3 What Wine is Best for Mulled Wine?
4 What goes into mulled wine?:
The Best Mulled Wine Recipe:
So to kick off this cozy season, today I’m sharing a recipe for Mulled Wine. I can’t believe that in seven years of blogging, this is my first post about how to make Mulled Wine. What’s wrong with me!?!
Earlier this week I was watching Matt Bellassai’s Whine About It. (Side note: If you haven’t watched this web series, do yourself a favor and go back and check out the first season. I should mention that there is some foul language and off color humor in case that might offend you.) In this episode I watched, Matt was sipping on mulled wine, and immediately I knew I had to whip up a batch.
How Do you Make Mulled Wine?
It’s really very simple. Everything get’s tossed into a pot and set to simmer.
Once it’s warm, it’s ready to serve! It really is that easy.
There’s something wonderful about warm spiced wine. The combination of the smell, warmth, and flavor is magical and a must-have for cool fall or winter evenings. It’s also the perfect beverage for entertaining. Throw everything in a crock pot, set it on low, and you’re done. Plus, it makes your home smell fabulous. Love that!
What Wine is Best for Mulled Wine?
Pinot Noir is kind of my go-to for everything. However something like New World Merlot or Shiraz would work quite nicely too. Any Italian red would be delightful too!
I always recommend a wine you like to drink. If necessary invite a lot of friends and family over and keep making batch after batch of mulled wine until you find just the right one.
What goes into mulled wine?:
For the recipe below, I used the following ingredients to make my mulled wine.
- red wine
- apple cider
- brandy
- honey
- cinnamon sticks
- oranges
- cloves
- peppercorns
The recipe below makes a double batch, which is perfect for a crockpot or larger pot. However, feel free to cut this recipe in half. I just heated up mine on the stove in my Straub Cocotte which makes a beautiful presentation.
Also instead of adding in the spices loose, you can use Mulling Spices. I have a recipe for how to make them at home HERE.
Keep in mind that you want the mixture to warm up and only simmer. Try not to boil it as you’ll end up cooking off some of the alcohol. What’s the fun in the that?
For the wine, I combined one sweeter red (a locally made wine) and a dry wine (I like Pinot Noir or Shiraz.). Use wine you like to drink and pick a sweetness level that works for you.
Okay, now let’s whip up a batch.
It’s really that simple. To a make this even easier, place the cloves and peppercorns in a tea ball or cheesecloth so you don’t have to hunt for them once the simmering is complete.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll love these too:
- Apple Cider Sidecar
- Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Sangria
- Apple Cinnamon Hot Toddy
- Autum Harvest Fall Sangria
- ApplePie Sangria
If you need a cure for the cold weather, this is it.
Cheers, friends!
Mulled Wine Recipe:
Mulled Wine
If you're looking for a delicious warm co*cktail, this Mulled Wine recipe is an easy and delicious recipe for the fall and holiday season.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple cider, co*cktail, fall, mulled wine, red wine
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 2 bottles red wine I like to use one sweet red and one dry red.
- 4 cups apple cider
- 1/2 cup brandy
- 1/4 cup honey
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 oranges sliced
- 8 whole cloves
- 12 black peppercorns
- Additional cinnamon sticks and orange slices for garnish
Instructions
Combine the cider, wine, brandy, honey, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cloves, and peppercorns in a large pot.
Simmer over low heat for 10-15 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
Remove cloves and peppercorns. Serve in heatproof glasses or mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and / or orange slice.
FAQs
The best red wine to use for mulled wine is Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache). These wines are dark, fruity and full bodied, which means they can support all of the flavors we'll be adding. Look for labels that describe the wine as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla.”
How do you keep the alcohol in mulled wine? ›
Ainsley Harriott recommends mulling wines in a slow cooker and says two hours at low temperature gives excellent results and should retain most alcohol content.
How long should you heat mulled wine? ›
Method. Put the red wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar in a large pan. Cook on a low heat for 10 mins. Remove from the heat and cool, leaving to infuse for about 30 mins.
How do you keep mulled wine from being bitter? ›
I've used both sugar and orange juice to sweeten mulled wine in the past, but obviously orange juice would change the flavour significantly. Add more sugar slowly, tasting as you go. In a pinch, when cold thirsty guests are waiting, port sweetens things up and adds a deep rich flavor.
Should you use cheap wine for mulled wine? ›
Mulled Wine Ingredients:
Wine: No need to splurge on a pricey bottle — a mid-range bottle of dry red or white wine will do. (Or if you're making a big batch, this is a great recipe to break out a nicer boxed wine too!)
How long does homemade mulled wine last? ›
Just follow the directions for your favorite recipe and let the wine simmer with spices until it's deeply infused. Then let the mulled wine cool at room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge — it will keep well there for up to three days.
How long to cook off alcohol in mulled wine? ›
Does the alcohol cook out when making mulled wine? In short, yes, some of the alcohol burns off when boiling mulled wine, but you should only be gently bringing up to the boil and simmering for around 15-30 minutes which isn't enough time to completely remove all alcohol traces.
Can you drink mulled wine straight from the bottle? ›
Mull Over One Of These Mulled Wine-Friendly Bottles: Of course any of these are delicious straight from the bottle too! Though the flavors of this wine are subtle, they are crisp and clean, with plentiful citrus and peach flavors.
What is a good substitute for brandy in mulled wine? ›
Similar like Sangria, it's also traditional to spike your mulled wine with an extra bit of liquor. Brandy is the traditional choice but you can substitute it with rum or bourbon or even equal quantity of apple juice.
Can you cook mulled wine for too long? ›
One important thing to remember when making your mulled wine – don't boil or heat it for too long! You'll cook off all the alcohol and be left with tasty but boozeless mulled grape juice.
The red wine base in mulled wine brings its own set of health benefits. Resveratrol is associated with heart health benefits and may help protect the lining of blood vessels, lower bad cholesterol levels, and prevent blood clots. When consumed in moderation, red wine has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
Can you overheat mulled wine? ›
The key to successfully heating up mulled wine is to take it up to a nice warm temperature without boiling it. Wine has a lower boiling point than water, and overheating it will cook off some of the alcohol, resulting in an unpleasant bitter flavour.
What wine is best for mulled wine? ›
The best wine for mulled wine is dry and full-bodied, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Zinfandel, or Syrah. These will stand up to the other flavors and ensure the spiced wine won't be too sweet.
What is a substitute for cloves in mulled wine? ›
Star Anise
Star anise is available both in pod or ground form. It is especially great as a 1:1 replacement for cloves when combined with other spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
What can I use instead of star anise in mulled wine? ›
Here are a few more alternatives you can use when you don't have star anise on hand.
- Anise Seed.
- Fennel Seed.
- Chinese Five Spice.
- Cloves.
- Allspice.
THE VERDICT
- Best overall. M&S red mulled wine. £6.00. ABV - 11% ...
- Runner up. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference mulled wine. £5.50. ABV - 11% ...
- Best budget. Aldi Mulled Wine. £2.39. ABV - 5% ...
- Best non-alcoholic. Lidl non-alcoholic mulled wine. £1.99. ABV - 0% ...
- Worst overall. Morrisons Best mulled wine. £4.50. ABV - 9%
Red wines are traditionally used to make mulled wine, and while any red wine can work, sweet reds will give you a nice, sweet base, meaning less sugar added in later. If you use a dry red, keep in mind you may need to add more sugar than a recipe calls for.
Is Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon better for mulled wine? ›
The best wines for mulled wine are robust reds like Merlot, Shiraz, or Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines hold up well during the heating and infusion process. Try to make at least 50% of your blend one of these to ensure your mulled wine is rich and full-bodied.
What glass do you drink mulled wine in? ›
Mugs are not only perfectly acceptable for serving mulled wine, they're arguably the optimal choice. A typical wine glass is made of relatively thin glass, so if you put a hot beverage in it, they're going to be difficult to hold, especially if they're stemless.
