Posted on
by 
0 Comments
What screams winter (or fall) more than a homemade mulled wine? Because yes, you can make it at home, and you don’t even have to go on a winter trip to do it 🙂 . Below I will share an easy homemade mulled wine recipe. One with and one without alcohol!
Table of contents
Make your own mulled wine
The very first time I drank mulled wine must have been at a winter sports resort somewhere when I was in my early twenties (and boy, was that a long time ago!!!) I wasn’t an instant fan, I have to admit, because hot wine? I thought it was pretty weird. Besides, I was barely drinking wine at the time, so hot wine was a little crazy. But I immediately loved the smell of cinnamon and other whole spices that went into the wine.
Mulled wine (glühwine)
Now the funny part is that in the Netherlands we mainly use the German name for mulled wine, which translates as glühwein or glowing wine. Or we call it by the Dutch name Bishopwine. The warm wine is generally consumed during the holiday season and over the years I’ve come to appreciate it more and more. And it’s so delicious! Perfect for a hot and stormy and rainy autumn season or after you’ve strolled around the Christmas market forever.
What goes into the mulled wine
Now in order to make this easy mulled wine recipe you need – obviously – wine. You can use both red wine or white wine, but traditionally red wine is more often used. It’s good to use a bold red wine with some fruity notes. I typically just use the bottles I drink anyway. Don’t go for the really cheap wine and also don’t opt for the most expensive wine. Somewhere in the middle is usually a good bet. I picked a lovely chianti for this recipe.
Apart from the wine bottle you will need spices.
I love adding cinnamon sticks, orange slices and whole cloves. Cardamom is also a great addition but can be overpowering. I love using star anise as well and instead of using only orange slices I also use mandarin and lemon for a bit more depth of flavor. You can use only oranges or only the orange peel. Nothing wrong with that. Adding a little brown sugar or maple syrup will make it a bit sweeter.
Don’t use ground spices for the mulled wine as the flavor will be different and too strong. You want it subtle.
How to make this warm drink
For the recipe I have added both a mulled wine with alcohol and a mulled wine without alcohol. Obviously the one without alcohol is not really wine, but it would be great to serve kids at a holiday party. Also keep in mind that due to heating the wine the alcohol content will become less. It won’t completely disappear but if you like a strong drink, this is not it. I do hear people adding more booze in after it’s been warmed but for me that is totally unnecessary. But there really are lots of variations to this easy recipe and there is no right or wrong!
Keeping the wine on a low simmer for a longer time will intensify the flavors. So the longer your wine is simmering the more intense the flavors of the spiced wine will be. It takes just a few minutes of prep and is such a comforting drink for any holiday gathering. The aroma of the warm spices will fill the air. Nothing better on a cold night!
Questions asked about making mulled wine
As mentioned above, a good wine, but preferably one with a strong flavor. Because you add all kinds of things to it, the flavor can be lost if the wine is not strong enough. I like to use a nice Chianti for the mulled wine.
Don’t let the wine boil. Keep it on a low to medium heat. The higher you heat it, the more the alcohol will evaporate. Keep the temperature relatively low. Around 70˚C is ideal. I love also making this in my slow cooker. Especially when you’re entertaining guests it’s perfect for pouring everything in the slow cooker and keeping it there on low setting until ready to consume.
Yes, you can. If you want to experiment, try using a bottle of white wine instead of red. You can use a slightly sweeter white wine such as Moscato. Don’t add any extra sugar!
Yes, you can, but of course it is not officially mulled wine. I have included two versions below. One with alcohol and one without. The different flavors in the non-alcoholic version make it look like mulled wine. Ideal if the kids want to join in with a glass!
Serve with
The mulled wine would be delicious served with some small meatballs for instance like this cocktail meatballs here. Or serve with these crispy onion rings! I also love adding pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread)
Mulled wine
Ingredients
With alcohol
- 1 liter Chianti
- 3 tbsp brown sugar or to taste
- 1 orange peel
- 1 lemon peel
- 1 lime peel from 1
- 1 orange juice
- 4-5 cloves
- 3 star anise
- 2 sticks cinnamon
without alcohol
- 500 ml cranberry juice
- 100 ml orange juice
- 400 ml apple juice
- Peel of 1 orange
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise seeds
- 3 cloves
- 3 cardamom pods
How to make mulled wine
Alcoholic version
- Put the sugar in a saucepan and add a little wine. Bring to the boil and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the zest and spices. Pour in the rest of the wine and allow to warm. (Maximum 70˚C – 158 ˚F) Note: It should not boil at this point. You don't want all the alcohol to evaporate.
- Turn off the heat and cover the pot. Allow all the flavors to infuse and reheat the wine just before serving.
Non-alcoholic version
- Combine the cranberry juice, orange juice, and apple juice in a saucepan. Add the orange zest, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and cardamom. Add the vanilla pod or vanilla extract and bring to a boil. Simmer gently for about 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
- Best wine? Use a strong-flavored red like Chianti.
- Heating temp? Keep at ~70°C/158˚F; don’t boil to preserve alcohol. Slow cooker works great!
- White wine version? Yes! Use a sweet white like Moscato, no extra sugar needed.
- Non-alcoholic version? Yes! A spiced juice alternative works for kids.
Nutrition Information per portion:
Disclaimer:
The nutritional values above are calculated per portion. The details are based on standard nutritional tables and do not constitute a professional nutritional advice.
