My Favorite Mulled Wine Recipe: Warm Winter Wine (2024)

FAQs

What is the best wine to use to make 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.”

Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas.

Most do enjoy this festive drink as a winter warmer, but drinking it chilled is always an option too if that's your preference. Or you can even use your mulled wine to make a mulled wine co*cktail … which is said to be a great party drink (here's a simple recipe for a mulled wine co*cktail from BBC Good Food).

As the crisp winter air settles in and the holiday season approaches, there's nothing quite like a warm, aromatic glass of mulled wine to lift your spirits. But keeping mulled wine hot for extended periods can be a challenge. That's where the magic of an insulated wine bottle comes into play.

Mulled Wine Ingredients:

Wine: No need to splurge on a pricey bottle — a mid-range bottle of dry red or white wine will do. (Or if you're making a big batch, this is a great recipe to break out a nicer boxed wine too!)

Just like with the best wines for sangria, the wines you choose for mulled wine don't need to be fancy (you'll be adding other ingredients to it anyway so there's no need to break the bank on an expensive bottle).

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

Just follow the directions for your favorite recipe and let the wine simmer with spices until it's deeply infused. Then let the mulled wine cool at room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge — it will keep well there for up to three days.

Cinnamon is probably the most popular spice but you could also use cloves, cardamom (lightly crush a few pods) ginger and nutmeg. Some recommend star anise but use sparingly if you don't want your mulled wine to taste of aniseed.

A delicious ready made mulled wine, perfect for parties, or even just warming you up on these chilly evenings. Aromatic, fruity, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon.

What is the point of mulled wine? ›

What exactly is mulled wine? The word “mull” means to “to heat, sweeten, and flavor (a beverage, such as wine or cider) with spices,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Indeed, mulled wine, or spiced wine, is served and enjoyed while hot, making it a perfect drink for the holidays.

But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process. The U.S. Department of Agriculture did a study in 2007 that nailed down the numbers with the magic of the scientific method.

Be careful not to overcook as the wine will reduce. Remove pan from heat. Cover and steep until well-flavored. We recommend letting it steep 5 to 10 minutes.

Once the mixture has cooled and the spices have fully infused the wine, you can pop it in the fridge to chill. You'll want to refrigerate it for at least 2 hours, but you can leave it for longer than that. The mulled wine should keep for roughly 2 weeks in your fridge, so you can drink it slowly over time.

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.

Red wines are traditionally used to make mulled wine, and while any red wine can work, sweet reds will give you a nice, sweet base, meaning less sugar added in later. If you use a dry red, keep in mind you may need to add more sugar than a recipe calls for.

These delightfully layered notes make the Carneros Pinot Noir the perfect choice for mulled wine.

Both wines are flavored with apple cider, some vanilla bean, an assortment of spices and fruit. The red is sweetened with a touch of maple syrup (YES!) while the white is sweetened with some honey and ginger.