Easy Mulled Wine

It could not be easier to make your own classic Mulled Wine. Simply combine a bottle of red wine with some spices and aromatics and place all the ingredients into a saucepan. Heat over low heat until barely a simmer and keep on the stove for about 10 minutes to infuse the flavours. Then, sit back and enjoy. It is that easy!

Jump to:

• Why we love this recipe:
• Ingredients in this recipe:
• Step by Step Instructions:
• Tips for Success and FAQs:
• Serving suggestions:
• Easy Mulled Wine

Why we love this recipe:

This traditional drink is ideal to sip on during the colder months of the year. It is easily made, and as it gently simmers on the stove, your home is filled with the tantalising aroma of its spices.

Mulled Wine is a drink that is made from wine, most often red, which is heated with spices, citrus, a sweetener of some kind and sometimes a spirit. This classic, warm and comforting drink has been enjoyed since the days of Ancient Rome.

Some of the reasons we love Mulled Wine are:

• It is quick and easy to make – ideal for a casual weeknight or for entertaining.
• There is little hands-on time, so you can serve a crowd with minimal effort. For larger groups, it is easy to double or triple the recipe.
• On a bleak day, a glass of this sweet, spiced drink will immediately stimulate your senses and provide a sense of comfort and warmth.
• You can customise the spices and aromatics to suit your taste.

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Red wine – don’t use the best quality and don’t use the worst. Choose a moderately priced wine that you would enjoy drinking.

Orange slices – they look festive and add citrus flavour.

Lemon zest – adds a bright note.

Cloves – this is a powerful spice; a little goes a long way. It adds warmth as well as sweetness and a slight trace of bitterness.

Cardamom – fragrant, citrusy and spicy, it complements the cloves and star anise.

Star Anise – this is a warm and sweet spice.

Cinnamon stick – adds further warmth and depth of flavour, and makes a great garnish.

Honey – it is easy to dissolve in the wine, but you can use caster/superfine sugar if you prefer.

Brandy – optional but it does add depth of flavour. If you don’t want to include the brandy, just leave it out.

Step by Step Instructions:

1. Pour the wine into a medium sized saucepan and add the orange slices, the lemon zest, the cloves, cardamom pods, star anise and honey. Alternatively, you can make your own spice bag. Just put the three spices into a small square of muslin and tie with string. It is easy to remove the spices when the Mulled Wine is ready.
2. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat down to low, give the wine a stir and continue to simmer very gently for 10 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the brandy, if using. Ladle the mixture, through a small strainer, into heatproof glasses. Garnish if you wish with a cinnamon stick, star anise or orange slice.

Tips for Success and FAQs:

You can customise this recipe to suit your personal taste. If you prefer, you could add nutmeg or some slivers of ginger. If you like some spicy heat, you could even add a dried chilli. The options are endless.

Serving suggestions:

Serve in a heatproof glass mug or sturdy glass. If you don’t have any, serve in ceramic mugs. The wine should be hot but able to be sipped.

If making for a festive occasion, serve with a Homemade Fruit Mince Pie. For something savoury, try my Blue Cheese Puff Pastry Tarts.

For many, a Christmas celebration is not complete without Mulled Wine. With the addition of aromatic spices, it fills your home with the aromas that we associate with Christmas.

This celebratory drink is more associated with the festive season in the northern hemisphere. It would be rare here in Australia to be able to enjoy this tipple on Christmas day.

Each year, as cooler nights approach, I look forward, with great anticipation, to enjoying a warm and comforting glass of Mulled Wine.

It does conjure up images of a warm, cosy fire, although, for many of us, the reality is different. Many of us don’t have a fire so I like to light a few candles, they create a great atmosphere.

I encourage you to try this beautiful drink. It’s worth making just for the aroma that fills the air.

Alex xx