Mulled wine is a hot red wine cooked with spices and fruits to add warmth to winter time. The most popular place to enjoy a glass of mulled wine is the Christmas markets. When you have a mug full of wine smelling like a spiced fruit cake, everything looks even better. The good news is Christmas markets are not the only places where you can enjoy mulled wine. You can easily make it in the comfort of your home. 

There are a lot of different recipes for mulled wine, as what spices you’ll add depends on your taste. Here is my all time favourite recipe for mulled wine. I also put some optional ingredient, so you can create the best version for your own:

Ingredients:

• Spices: 2 cinnamon sticks, a couple of fresh ginger slices and 4 star anise
• Fresh fruits: Half orange, a small apple and a half pear
• To sweeten up: 2 teaspoons of honey and/or 2 teaspoons of sugar
• To acidify: A teaspoon of lemon juice
• 2 cups of red wine: I chose Malbec because the aromas and the touch of sweetness it has pairs well with the ingredients.
• Bonus: Grand Marnier. You have the option to add a spirit, so can add your favorite; vodka, brandy, rum etc.

Other options:

• Cloves: Be vigilant as it may overpower the taste and destroy the balance.
• Other spices: Nutmeg, cardamom, vanilla… You can be more creative than me and choose the best local spices you have in your country to make it smell like home.
• Other fruits: Quince, lemon, clementine, mandarin… any winter fruits that you can think of upon your palate.
• Fruit juices: There are mulled wines prepared with addition of fruit juices like sour cherry, apple or orange.

Preparation:

• Put spices, wine, honey and fruits in a large saucepan. You can add the orange zest and apple peel inside if you like to have more fruity flavour.
• Start to heat it slowly, under low temperature. This way the flavors can integrate better. Only heat until the point that it starts to boil. Try not to boil it, if you do, just take it away from the stove. If you want the spices to give more flavors you can leave them inside for a while, and heat it up again before serving.
• Add the fruits: Put some of the fruit slices directly into the mugs.
• Final touch, add the spirit. (If you add it at the end, you’ll not lose the alcohol)
• Pour the drained wine into the mugs.

Pairing:

• Serve it with some dried fruits, nuts and rest of the fresh fruits that we’ve cut.

This warm and delicious drink is enough to add some enjoyable moments to a cold winter night. Enjoy your mulled wine under a warm blanket or in front of a fireplace, and make sure you sip slowly.

Cheers,

Nesli

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Categories: Wine & Food, Wines