What kind of wine is best for mulled wine?

The best red wine to use for mulled wine is Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache) . These wines are dark, fruity and full bodied, which means they can support all of the flavors we'll be adding. Look for labels that describe the wine as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla.”

How do you reduce the bitterness in mulled wine?

(Edit: To minimize bitterness, I recommend peeling the orange before simmering it in the wine .) Cinnamon: I love the making mulled wine with cinnamon sticks, but you could whisk in some ground cinnamon if that's what you have on hand.

What is the best way to heat mulled wine?

Pour the mulled wine into a large pre-heated saucepan on a low heat. Stir occasionally for few minutes until warm to the touch . Do not over-heat and never allow the wine to boil. However tempting it may be do not microwave mulled wine as the delicate spices can be over-excited and result in a rough, burnt tasting wine.

How do you keep the alcohol content in mulled wine?

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.

Does the quality of wine matter in mulled wine?

Generally speaking, you won't go wrong using a relatively dry, but fruity (or “fruit-forward”) wine for mulling . And, if the recipe you choose calls for a dose of brandy or other liquor, you'll probably want to choose a wine that's low in alcohol (unless, of course, you have a specific goal in mind).

How long should you heat mulled wine?

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.

Is Merlot or Pinot Noir better for mulled wine?

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.

Is cabernet or merlot better for mulled wine?

Merlot is an ideal choice of wine for making mulled wine . Its bold, juicy fruit flavor has notes of red cherry, plum, and cranberry.

What kind of dry red wine 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.

Can you drink mulled wine straight from the bottle?

Yes . Even though the spiced wine is heated, most of the alcohol remains.

Mulled Wine Recipe ~ How to Make the Best Mulled Wine (2024)

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By: Shinee

Published: Dec 14, 2020

Updated: Dec 11, 2022

5 from 11 votes

This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure.

Perfect homemade mulled wine recipe with 7 simple ingredients and make-ahead tips included.Spice up your holiday with this warm & cozy winter drink.

Mulled Wine Recipe ~ How to Make the Best Mulled Wine (2)

What is Mulled Wine?
Why you’ll love this recipe:
Key Ingredients:

Why whole spices

How to make this recipe:
What type of wine is best for mulled wine?
What to Serve with Mulled Wine:
Make-ahead Tip:
FAQ:
Mulled Wine Recipe

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What is Mulled Wine?

Mulled wine, also known as glühwein in German, is a warm spiced wine popular in Europe, especially around Christmas time.

It’s typically made with red wine simmered with mulling spices.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Over the years, I’ve had various versions of mulled wine. Mulled wine made with glühwein teabags was my first introduction into the world of spiced wine. Then I’ve had it in a paper cup at a Parisian outdoor market. I’ve also tried a ready-to-use mulled wine spice mix, etc.

And I have to say homemade version is just as simple, and incredibly delicious!

Super simple to make
Pantry staples!!
No star anise, if it’s not your thing.
Customize it to your taste.

Key Ingredients:

My basic starting point is always the same:

a whole orange
whole cloves
orange juice
granulated sugar
cinnamon sticks

Sometimes I grate a little bit of nutmeg, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I add cranberries, sometimes I don’t.

Why whole spices

When making mulled wine, it’s recommended to use whole spices, like whole cloves, cinnamon sticks or whole star anise.

The reason for that is you won’t get weird powdery texture in your spiced wine.

Also, fresh spices are easier to strain!

How to make this recipe:

It couldn’t be simpler to make this mulled wine!!

Push a few cloves into the skin of an orange, and then cut the orange into quarters.
Combine orange juice, cranberries, sugar, oranges with cloves in a pot.
Cook the mixture until syrup-y.
Then pour in wine and heat it through.

Tip

Once wine is added, be careful not to boil it, or the alcohol will evaporate, which is no big deal, but why would you do that??

Studding oranges with whole cloves takes away the hassle of fishing out tiny little cloves!

You’ll still get that warm cloves aroma in your wine.

Mulled Wine Recipe ~ How to Make the Best Mulled Wine (4)

What type of wine is best for mulled wine?

Any dry, full-bodied wine works perfectly!

Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, or Pinot Noir are all great choices. And nothing fancy here, but something that you like to sip on on its own too!

What to Serve with Mulled Wine:

If you’re planning a menu to serve along with spiced wine, consider the following appetizer and main dishes:

Baked brie makes a perfect appetizer to serve with a cup of warm wine.
Prime rib is a classic holiday centerpiece and pairs perfectly with red wine!
Pork schnitzel is a traditional pairing for glühwein in Germany and Austria.
Bacon wrapped filet mignon is also a great choice.

Make-ahead Tip:

Mulled wineis a perfect holiday party drink! And you can totally make it ahead and even double it, if you want to.

Make the spiced orange syrup in advance. And when ready to serve, mix it withwine andwarm it up.
Or better yet, place it in a slow cooker to keep it warm longer!!

Mulled Wine Recipe ~ How to Make the Best Mulled Wine (5)

FAQ:

What are the best wine for mulled wine?

Any dry, full-bodied wine works perfectly!
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, or Pinot Noir are all great choices. And nothing fancy here, but something that you like to sip on on its own too!

What spices do you use for mulled wine?

Cinnamon, star anise and clove are the classic spices in mulled wine. But you can always add some freshly grated nutmeg, cardamom,

5 from 11 votes

Mulled Wine

By Shinee

Perfect mulled wine recipe with 7 simple ingredients and make-ahead tips included.Spice up your holiday with this warm & cozy winter drink.

Ingredients

▢ 1 orange
▢ 8-10 whole cloves
▢ 1 cup (240ml) orange juice
▢ ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
▢ ½ cup cranberries fresh or frozen, optional
▢ 1-2 cinnamon sticks
▢ 1 bottle (750ml) dry red wine Note 1

Instructions

Cut an orange into quarters. Push 2-3whole cloves into the outer skin of quartered oranges, as pictured above.
In a large pot, combine orange juice, sugar, cinnamon sticks, orange quarters with clovesand cranberries.
Turn the heat to medium high and slowly heat the mixture, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved.
Once sugar is dissolved completely, bring itto a boil and cook until it thickened and reduced by almost half, about 15-20 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and pour in wine.
Simmer until wine is heated through. Don’t boil, or alcohol will evaporate.
You can strain the wine and pour into a slow cooker to keep it warm.Garnish with orange slices and serve warm.

Tips & Notes

Note 1:Any dry, full-bodied wine works perfectly!Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, or Pinot Noir are all great choices. And nothing fancy here, but something that you like to sip on on its own too!

Make-Ahead Tip: Follow the steps 1-4. Keep the syrup in fridge for up to 3 days.When ready to serve, mix it withwine in a large pot andwarm it up. Or better yet,place it in a slow cooker to keep it warm longer!!

Nutrition

Calories: 305kcal

Carbohydrates: 43g

Protein: 1g

Fat: 1g

Sugar: 34g

Sodium: 2mg

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Did you make this?Share a comment or a review below!

This postwas originally published on November 28th, 2014.

Christmas Drinks

Hi, I’m Shinee!

Welcome! I’m so happy you’re here! I believe anyone can cook restaurant-quality food at home! And my goal is to help you to become a confident cook with my easy-to-follow recipes with lots of tips and step-by-step photos.

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Hi there
Amazing recipe! Can you freeze this? I made the syrup today but only made half- rest is in the fridge
Reply
My family looks forward to drinking this every Christmas and New Years. It’s so easy to make and is absolutely delicious. I make the syrup on the stove and put it in the crockpot with the wine on warm for everyone to enjoy!
Reply
1. That sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing your experience, Joy!
  Reply