How to Make Mulled Wine And What Wine to Use

‘Tis the season for mulled wine! Here’s an easy recipe for making the perfect festive mulled wine, as well as the best wine to use.

What is Mulled Wine?

Is there any drink that embodies the spirit of Christmas more than mulled wine?

This hot, spiced wine comes in many forms and is known by many names. Most famously, in German-speaking countries, it is called ‘glühwein’ and is served at Christmas markets alongside sizzling sausages and spiced lebkuchen biscuits.

Meanwhile, the Nordic version of the drink, sipped in the likes of Sweden and Finland, is referred to as ‘glögg’.

But what is mulled wine? When we say something is ‘mulled’, we mean it is heated with sugar and spices. Mulled wine is thought to have roots in the second century when Romans warmed and spiced wine for drinking in the winter months. But it wasn’t until the medieval period that the first written recipe was said to be penned.

The specifics of mulled wine have changed over time as tastes and the availability of ingredients have evolved, but the sentiment has stayed the same.

Mulled wine is the ideal, cosy drink to sip once temperatures have dropped and here’s our favourite way to make it.

Mulled Wine Recipe

Ingredients:

One bottle of red wine (read on to discover which style we recommend)
A few tablespoons of sugar, to taste
1 orange, sliced into rounds (+ extra to garnish
1 cinnamon stick
2 star anise
3 cloves

Instructions:

Combine everything in a large pan and warm on a low heat to infuse the spices – make sure you don’t boil it as the alcohol will burn off.
Enjoy!

Give your mulled wine an extra kick

You can add a little extra kick to your mulled wine with a dash of sloe gin, brandy, Port, or orange liqueur – do this just before serving.

Additionally, you can mix-up the spices with cardamom, ginger and nutmeg. Perhaps take a leaf out of the Nordic glögg book and add almonds and raisins too.

Another popular mulled drink is mulled cider, which pairs the intensity of mulled spices with the sweetness of apple. You can even mull non-alcoholic wine or fruit juice as a delicious, wintry option for guests who don’t drink alcohol or want to ‘go with the low’ for Christmas.

The best wine for Mulled Wine

While it’s possible to make mulled wine using a rich style of white wine -– and even rose is becoming popular now – traditional versions use red wine. And though this definitely isn’t the time to break out that prized bottle of vintage Burgundy, make sure you use a bottle of decent quality. After all, unsurprisingly, mulled wine is 95% wine, so it should be something you’re happy to drink.

The best styles for mulled wine are richly fruity, medium-bodied red wines with little oak ageing. These stand up to the bold sweetness and spice of the hot drink without tasting too tannic. For example, a Chilean Merlot makes the perfect choice.

If you’re short of time, you can also buy a pre-made mulled wine. We have a delicious selection of classic and alcohol-free styles – all you have to do is warm the wine in a pan and serve with a slice of orange.