Mulled Wine Recipe: An easy winter alcoholic drink recipe consisting of red wine and mulled spices. Perfect for serving at parties or relaxing at home.
I can't believe that the holiday season is over and we've entered a new year. While I welcome this new year, one thing I can't seem to let go of is my delicious mulled wine recipe. It's the perfect winter drink recipe to enjoy on the couch after a long day.
Traditionally, mulled wine is enjoyed most around Christmas. But, who says you can't enjoy it all year round? I usually have leftovers after the holidays anyway, so you'll definitely see me with a glass in hand many evenings.
Thankfully, this Christmas drink recipe is quite simple to make. It's a matter of heating a number of ingredients over the stove while you keep a close watch until it's ready to serve.
Now before we get to the mulled wine recipe, let me catch you up on this festive drink if you're new to mulled wine.
What is mulled wine?
If you've never had mulled wine before, you're in for a real treat. It's a festive alcoholic drink consumed in the winter months, most traditionally around Christmas for parties. However, after the year we had, I think we all deserve to hang on to this one a bit longer, don't you think?
It is made a variety of ways, but most commonly made with a red wine that is heated along with a selection of mulled spices and oftentimes, citrus flavors. You may have also heard it referred to as spiced wine, hot wine, or grogg.
Best wine for mulled wine
The secret to the best mulled wine you've ever had not only comes down to the combination of spices, but the selection of wine you choose.
The best wine choices for mulled wine are California Merlot, Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines have a strong flavor profile that compliment the mulling spices quite nicely and have a relatively high alcohol level that is ideal for cooking. Delicate wine selections will quickly be overtaken by the spices as well as become sour and off-putting, so you'll want to avoid those.
Cooking tools you might need
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- Saucepan: stainless steel or dutch ovens are best for retaining heat.
- Glass mugs: great for serving to guests at parties!
How to cook the best mulled wine
Cooking mulled wine can quickly go wrong if you're not careful. There are a few things to keep in mind as you cook this mulled wine recipe.
- Don't allow it to simmer: alcohol will vaporize above 173F, so you want to be careful not to let it reach that temperature by simmering or boiling. Always lower the heat when it appears to be approaching a simmer state.
- Remove from heat immediately: once done cooking, you want to remove from heat, but keep warm by placing a lid over the pan.
Mulled wine ingredients
- Red wine: choose your preferred dry red wine, the better the selection, the better your mulled wine will taste.
- Honey: a bit of honey adds a delicious flavor to this holiday drink.
- Orange: thinly slice a whole orange for this recipe.
- Cloves: cloves are a great addition of flavor to this drink.
- Cinnamon sticks: cinnamon sticks are best for flavor over the ground spice.
- Star anise: this earthy, sweet spice adds the perfect flavor to the other spices.
- Rosemary: an optional spice that adds a nice flavor, as long as fresh rosemary is used.
How to make sugar free mulled wine
- Pour the red wine and honey in a small saucepan and stir until well combined.
- Add the oranges, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Heat the mixture on low-medium heat until just before a simmer, or it's hot to the touch.
- Reduce the heat to low immediately and cover. Watch carefully to ensure it doesn't simmer or boil.
- Cook for 10 minutes, then add the rosemary and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Keep a close watch and reduce heat if needed.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
How to store homemade mulled wine
If you end up with leftover mulled wine, not all hope is lost as it keeps well for later. But there's a good chance that you won't have any leftover, it's quite delicious!
To store mulled wine, allow it to cool to room temperature and move it into an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for about 2-3 days.
When you're ready to reheat, heat over a very low heat on the stove until warm (being careful not to heat it up too much).
Mulled wine variations
One of my favorite things about mulled wine is how easy it is to come up with other variations. From the combination of spices, citrus, alcohol selection, and more - there are so many ways to mix things up!
- Alcohol choices: try using a different wine selection, brandy, or even bourbon!
- Fruit juices: add a fruit juice for flavor such as apple cider or cranberry juice.
- Spices: try swapping out the spices for your favorites - I've also heard of using tea bags!
More alcoholic recipes:
Try these other drink recipe ideas:
Mulled Wine Recipe
Ingredients
- 750 ml dry red wine
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 orange thinly sliced
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 star anise
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Pour the red wine and honey in a small saucepan and stir until well combined.
- Add the oranges, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Heat the mixture on low-medium heat until just before a simmer, or it’s hot to the touch.
- Reduce the heat to low immediately and cover. Watch carefully to ensure it doesn’t simmer or boil.
- Cook for 10 minutes, then add the rosemary and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Keep a close watch and reduce heat if needed.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Dry red wines with high alcohol content such as California Merlot, Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon work best for this recipe.
- Be careful not to allow this to simmer or boil as the alcohol will vaporize above 173F.
- Remove from heat immediately upon cooking and keep warm with a lid over the pan.
Nutrition
Make sure to save this mulled wine recipe for later!
