The best mulled wine recipe is one that's simple, easy to make, and loaded with warm, mulling spices—and this is it!! This festive drink is perfect to serve for Christmas and throughout the holiday season.
Nothing says the holidays like this simple recipe for mulled wine. It will fill your house with the intoxicating, irresistible aroma of warm spices!
This festive, spiced wine drink is enjoyed all over the world, from Germany, to Sweden, to Mexico, and beyond. A hot mug of mulled wine is just the thing to keep you cozy at a Christmas market or cookie exchange, or while spending an evening by the fire.
All you need to do is simmer a bottle of red wine with spices, citrus, and a little sugar—it's as simple as that!
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Mulled wine ingredients
Homemade mulled wine can be made with a variety of spices, so use the mix that appeals to you and put your own spin on it!
- Red wine: Choose an inexpensive red wine that's not too sweet with a dry finish. See below for more info about the best red wine for mulled wine.
- Oranges: We'll use wide strips of orange zest and the orange juice for a festive flavor.
- Star anise, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, whole allspice: This is the blend of spices that I like for mulled wine. You can use all of these or some of these, and even add your own ideas and throw in some black or pink peppercorns, or cardamom pods. The possibilities are endless!
- Brown sugar: This will sweeten our mix and add earthy notes.
- Brandy, cognac or amaretto (optional): If you'd like to make your mulled wine with brandy or amaretto, add ยผ cup once you've turned off the heat and it's done simmering. (You don't want the alcohol to catch fire!)
- Garnishes: Garnish with cinnamon sticks and orange slices, and optionally, add fresh cranberries and additional star anise pods.
Spices for mulled wine
Spices for mulled wine can run the gamut from cinnamon sticks to cardamom pods to peppercorns. Some recipes call for fresh ginger and lemon peel, too. The mix is really up to you. Start making mulled wine and just experiment and come up with a signature spice mix that's all your own.
How to make mulled wine
Step 1: Juice and zest the orange
Use a vegetable peeler or paring knife to cut wide strips of zest from the orange, being careful to leave the bitter white pith behind.
Juice the orange and set aside.
Slice another orange into thin half moons to use for garnish.
Step 2: Add brown sugar to red wine
Pour one bottle of red wine into a large stock pot over medium low heat. Add the brown sugar and whisk until it's melted.
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Step 3: Add the mulled wine spices and simmer
Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves and allspice to the pot, along with the orange peels and orange juice. Bring just to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes.
If adding brandy, cognac or other liquor, remove from heat before stirring it into the finished mulled wine.
Garnish with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and cranberries if using.
Slow cooker instructions
To make mulled wine in a slow cooker or crock pot, add the wine and brown sugar on the low setting and whisk to combine. Then add all other ingredients, close the lid, and leave on low for 15-20 minutes, making sure it's not simmering. Switch to the warm setting to keep it hot for serving.
Best wine for mulled wine
The best wine for mulled wine is one that you'd enjoy drinking without any spices in it, but don't choose an expensive one. I like a red wine that is lightly sweet, but still on the drier side, since you'll be sweetening it up with sugar and orange juice.
- Garnacha: An affordable Spanish wine, Garnacha is well balanced and light bodied, perfect for mixing with the spices in mulled wine. You might find this same variety in the French wine section, called Grenache.
- Gamay/Beaujolais Nouveau: These French wines are meant to be consumed soon after they are ready, and are usually quite affordable.
- Montepulciano or Sangiovese: An Italian wine could be an excellent choice, and these two varietals have nice berry fruit flavor, but are not overly sweet.
- Merlot or Cabernet Sauvingnon: These two wines have a velvety texture, and enough body to stand up to the spices.
What is mulled wine?
Mulled wine is simply red wine simmered with warm whole spices and citrus, and sometimes mixed with alcohol, that is served warm and enjoyed in the winter months. It's prepared all over the world, in German it's gluhwein, in France they call it vin chaud, and in Italy it's vin brulé.
How to serve mulled wine
- Use a slow cooker as your serving vessel: Even if you don't make it in the slow cooker, it's an excellent vessel for serving. Keep it on the "warm" setting and keep the lid on so it doesn't over-reduce.
- Serve it at a winter wine and cheese party: Why serve the same old stuff when you can serve a hot, mulled wine during the winter months?
- Try it with sweet treats: It's the perfect pairing for a holiday cookie swap or dessert party. I especially like it with Triple Chocolate Cookies or a Flourless Chocolate Torte (because wine and chocolate!) and it goes well with the salty sweetness of Pecan Sandies.
- Enjoy it with appetizers: Serve alongside holiday appetizers like Oven Roasted Nuts with Crispy Herbs and Garlic or Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Dip.
Storage and make ahead
Make ahead: You can prepare mulled wine up to 2 hours ahead and hold it at room temperature, then gently reheat on low before serving.
Storage: To store leftover mulled wine, first remove the spices and citrus peels, then transfer to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently in a small sauce pan over low heat.
More holiday drink recipes
Try these hot drinks to keep things warm and festive all season long!
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Recipe
Mulled Wine Recipe
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Equipment
- Dutch oven or large sauce pan with a lid
Ingredients
- 1 750 ml bottle red wine
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- zest of one orange
- juice of one orange
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks plus more for serving
- 3 star anise plus more for serving
- ¼ cup brandy or amaretto optional
- orange slices for garnish
- fresh cranberries optional garnish
Instructions
- Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves and allspice to the pot, along with the orange peels and orange juice. Bring just to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes.
- Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves and allspice to the pot, along with the orange peels and orange juice. Bring just to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes.
- Garnish with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and fresh cranberries if using.
Notes
- Make sure you do not BOIL the mulled wine. Just bring it barely to a simmer then turn down to low. While it's covered, check and make sure it's not bubbling too much. Cooking it at too high a temperature will reduce it down too much and make the citrus and spices bitter.
- To make mulled wine in a slow cooker or crock pot, add the wine and brown sugar on the low setting and whisk to combine. Then add all other ingredients, close the lid, and leave on low for 15-20 minutes, making sure it's not simmering. Switch to the warm setting to keep it hot for serving.
- You can prepare mulled wine up to 2 hours ahead and hold it at room temperature, then gently reheat on low before serving.
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