Simple Mulled Wine Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What wine is good 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. Use Whole Spices. I don't recommend ground spices, as they will float on top of the wine and not incorporate properly.

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.

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.

It is commonly a combination of orange, lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel seed (or star anise), cloves, cardamom, and ginger. The spices may be combined and boiled in a sugar syrup before red wine is added, heated, and served. Variations include adding brandy or ginger wine.

Your ideal mulling wine is an inexpensive, inoffensive, young merlot, burgundy, petite syrah, tempranillo, beaujolais, or other "middle-of-the-road" wine, maybe slightly on the sweet side.

“For mulled wine, I'd use an inexpensive cabernet sauvignon or merlot from Chile, as these wines show lots of fruit and not so many tannins.

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.

While you'll find many different types of mulled wine recipes, the basic ingredients will always be the same. I used a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon here but any red wine would work really, like a Merlot or even a Zinfandel. I also added a bit of citrus to mine and it was just delicious.

Liquor: add some extra “warmth” with brandy or bourbon. This also deepens the flavor in the mulled wine, but it's optional! Citrus: we like to add a sliced orange to the mulled wine for a lovely citrus addition. It makes a beautiful garnish, too.

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.

Will mulled wine get you drunk? ›

Yes. It's wine. Wine gets you drunk. Your friends are probably quite used to drinking.

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.

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.

A delicious ready made mulled wine, perfect for parties, or even just warming you up on these chilly evenings. Aromatic, fruity, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.

Few things truly scream Christmas like a mug of steaming mulled wine. The warmth of the red wine paired with the aroma of the cinnamon and cloves makes for a truly festive experience that even that first glass of prosecco on Christmas day can't quite beat.

Light-bodied reds, like Barbera and Pinot Noir, are a great alternative during the hot summer months. Light-bodied reds can take a chill and are best served at 55–64 degrees. Throwing your bottle in the fridge an hour before dinner ensures these wines are right in the sweet spot for your next backyard barbeque.

Ideally you want to use bigger and bolder red wines like Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, or Cabernet, but any fruity red wine your family members are leaving around will do. I've used Pinot Noir before to success. Honestly, whatever red wine that you're stuck with and you don't want to drink, they'll work.

Shiraz. With the peppery, spicy flavour of shiraz, it's a great match for the cinnamon and cloves in mulled wine recipes with its blackberry and plum notes. It's a bold iteration of mulled wine, and can be balanced with addition of citrus fruits like oranges.

Also known as spiced wine, mulled wine is a sweet and spicy alcoholic beverage typically made with red wine and a variety of mulling spices. It's traditionally served hot and is most often enjoyed during winter, particularly the holiday season.