What Is Mulled Wine?
Mulled wine is a warm, spiced red wine that’s often served during the holidays. This festive wine is ideal for the winter season. Mulling is the process of warming and sweetening the wine with flavorful spices. Although mulled wine recipes vary, they typically include cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise. Other ingredients may include orange slices, honey, and brandy.
A Brief History Of Mulled Wine
While we're not historians here at The Wine Cellar Group, here's some background about mulled wine:
- Roman Empire, 20 AD: Roman soldiers mixed red wine with various spices to protect themselves from frigid winter temperatures. The delicious spiced wine’s popularity quickly spread to other parts of Europe.
- France & Spain, 12th Century: The French and Spanish embraced their “spiced wine,” which was a similar imitation of the Romans’ concoction.
- England, 13th Century: People believed that mulled wine improved health and warded off sickness. Even King Henry III drank this holiday favorite.
- Germany, 19th Century: Mulled wine became a staple at annual Christmas markets in Germany starting in the 1890s. The hot, spiced beverage kept market-goers warm as they walked around in the cold winter weather.
The Difference Is In The Spice
From the cinnamon sticks to the citrusy orange slices to the splash of brandy, mulled wine has more robust flavors than any other kind of wine. While other wines are served either room temperature or chilled, mulled wine is served hot—making it the perfect cold-weather drink for the holiday season. Mulled wine also is fruitier and sweeter than traditional wines.
Why Mulled Wine Is An Ideal Holiday Beverage:
- Warm: comforting in cold weather
- Flavorful: cloves and cinnamon are festive holiday flavors
- Simple: easy to make which minimizes stress during a busy season
- Inexpensive: ingredients won't break the bank
How To Make Mulled Wine
The process of mulling wine is easy and only requires a few ingredients. Using a crockpot or stovetop, follow the recipe below to make a delicious mulled wine that will keep guests coming back for more:
Ingredients
- 1 bottle of red wine
- ½ cup brandy
- 1 orange
- 6 whole cloves
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 6 star anise
- ¼ cup honey
Cookware
- Medium saucepan (or crockpot)
- Large spoon
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
Directions
- Cut the orange into thin slices
- Combine wine, brandy, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and honey
Stovetop:
- Turn to medium heat and bring ingredients to a simmer (not a boil)
- Reduce heat to medium-low for 10 minutes
Crockpot:
- Set to low heat and cook for 1 hour
- Reduce setting to warm
- For more flavor, add lemon slices or cranberries
- Serve in heat-resistant mugs and garnish with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, or star anise (optional)
Best Wines To Use For Mulled Wine
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah/Shiraz
- Zinfandel
- Your favorite red wine
How To Enjoy Wine This Holiday Season
Fact: everything is better during the holidays. Something about colder weather, celebrations, and family makes even the smallest delights much more enjoyable. Spice up your next Thanksgiving gathering or holiday party by grabbing a set of stemmed Irish coffee mugs and adding tasteful garnishes—like mint, cranberries, and rosemary—to specialty beverages. Throwing a festive holiday party can be cheap and easy.
Find the Perfect Red in Our Cellar Collection
At The Wine Cellar Group, we specialize in acquiring and selling boutique-style wines from family vineyards all over the world. We offer a wide selection of wines so you can enjoy high-quality bottles at unbeatable prices. Celebrate this holiday season with a bottle of red wine from our Cellar Collection—perfect for mixing up your next batch of mulled wine. Suggested Cellar Collection Bottles:
- Merlot
- Cabernet
- Syrah/Shiraz
- Zinfandel
- Favorite
