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–+ servings

Mulled Wine

Appetizers & Snacks, Drinks
The classic French winter warmer. Red wine simmered with cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and orange until it's fragrant and steaming, sweetened just enough to balance the spices. It tastes warming and slightly sweet, with that deep spiced-fruit flavor that fills your mouth and throat with heat. The drink you cup in both hands at Christmas markets when it's freezing, breathing in the steam before each sip. Simple, comforting, and exactly what you want when it's cold outside.
Mulled Wine recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients 

  • 750 ml red wine a decent Côtes du Rhône works
  • 2 orange 1 sliced, 1 juiced
  • 100 gr caster sugar adjust to taste
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 star anise
  • 3 cardamom pods
  • 1 vanilla pod
  • 50 ml cognac or brandy, for extra warmth

Equipment

Instructions

  1. 1. Prep your spices
    Lightly crush the cardamom pods with the flat of a knife. Split the vanilla pod lengthways and scrape out the seeds (chuck both pod and seeds in). Slice one orange into rounds.
  2. 2. Combine everything
    Pour the wine into a large saucepan. Add the sugar, orange slices, orange juice, and all the spices. Give it a good stir to dissolve the sugar.
  3. 3. Heat gently, don't boil
    This is crucial. Put the pan over a low heat and warm it through for 15-20 minutes. You want it steaming and fragrant, but if it boils, you'll cook off all the alcohol and end up with expensive fruit juice. Keep it just below simmering point.
  4. 4. Taste and adjust
    After 15 minutes, taste it. Too sweet? Add a squeeze more orange juice. Not sweet enough? Bit more sugar. Want it stronger? Splash in some brandy or cognac now.
  5. 5. Strain and serve
    Use a fine sieve to strain out the spices and orange slices. Ladle into heatproof glasses or mugs whilst still hot. Stick an orange slice or cinnamon stick in each glass if you're feeling decorative.

Notes

  • For the wine, don't use anything expensive, but don't use absolute paint stripper either. A basic French red, Côtes du Rhône, Merlot, or even Beaujolais works perfectly. The spices do the heavy lifting.
  • French mulled wine tends to be less sweet than German glühwein. Start with 100g and adjust. Some people like it barely sweetened, others want it properly syrupy.
  • The cinnamon, cloves, and orange are non-negotiable. Everything else is fair game. Some recipes add fresh ginger, nutmeg, or a bay leaf. Experiment!
  • If you would like an alcohol-free versio, use red grape juice instead of wine and add a bit of lemon juice for acidity. Works surprisingly well for kids or if you're driving.
  • You can prep this a few hours in advance and just reheat gently before serving. In fact, it tastes better if the spices have had time to infuse properly.