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

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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)

Table of Contents

  • 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

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!

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How to make this recipe:

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

  1. Push a few cloves into the skin of an orange, and then cut the orange into quarters.
  2. Combine orange juice, cranberries, sugar, oranges with cloves in a pot.
  3. Cook the mixture until syrup-y.
  4. 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.

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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!!
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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,

Mulled Wine Recipe ~ How to Make the Best Mulled Wine (6)

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.

Total: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

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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, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 194mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 34g, Vitamin A: 198IU, Vitamin C: 50mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Mulled Wine Recipe ~ How to Make the Best Mulled Wine (7)

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

This postwas originally published on November 28th, 2014.

Christmas Drinks

Mulled Wine Recipe ~ How to Make the Best Mulled Wine (8)

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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  1. Mulled Wine Recipe ~ How to Make the Best Mulled Wine (13)
    Hi there

    Amazing recipe! Can you freeze this? I made the syrup today but only made half- rest is in the fridge

    Reply

  2. Mulled Wine Recipe ~ How to Make the Best Mulled Wine (14)
    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

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

FAQs

How do you keep the alcohol content in mulled wine? ›

The heat used in mulling encourages greater flavours from the citrus and the spices but also reduces the alcohol content, hence the common addition of a slug of spirit or liqueur just before serving.

What is the best win 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.

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.

Why does my mulled wine taste bad? ›

You need to infuse the wine long enough with the spices to take on their flavour but DON'T ON ANY ACCOUNT LET THE MIXTURE BOIL as you'll be left with a bitter taste. Slow and low is the way to go. And it shouldn't be served piping hot, just comfortably - and comfortingly - warm.

How many times can you heat mulled wine? ›

You can reheat mulled wine as many times as you like, as long as it hasn't been overheated. Always use a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. If you plan to use your leftover mulled wine at a later date, keep it in the fridge for up to three days.

What is the most expensive mulled wine in the world? ›

Hailed as the world's most expensive, it costs £10 more than last year's bankrupter - the £50 Mayfair Mulled Wine from Hush in west London. The so-called Cinnamoney Spiced Wine's unique ingredients include a premium Bordeaux, a fine Champagne, a Normandie 'cidre' and a dessert wine.

What is the best way to drink mulled wine? ›

Right Temperature: Serve mulled wine warm, but not too hot. Aim for a temperature that's comfortable to sip, similar to a warm cup of tea. Appropriate Glassware: Use heat-resistant glasses or mugs. Traditional glass wine goblets might crack with the heat, so opt for thicker, sturdier glasses or even festive mugs.

How do you make mulled wine last longer? ›

TO STORE: Let your mulled wine cool completely, then pour it into an airtight storage container and place it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm mulled wine in a large pot on the stovetop over low heat, or pour leftovers into your slow cooker and reheat on LOW until warm.

Why has my mulled wine gone fizzy? ›

Either some carbon dioxide was trapped inside when the wine was bottled, or the wine started to re-ferment while in the bottle, and the bubbles are a byproduct. A little fizz won't make you sick, but I find it unpleasant, and it usually comes with a yeasty stink.

How can I improve my shop bought mulled wine? ›

Serve them in little glass cups with handles, add a bit of orange peel and nobody will know that you didn't make it yourself. And finally, whether you're buying it in or making it yourself, a glug of port, sloe gin or even rum before serving will lift the whole thing.

What makes wine less bitter? ›

As a wine gets older, its tannins tend to break down due to oxidation or other chemical reactions. This can tone down its bitterness.

Can you cook mulled wine for too long? ›

One important thing to remember when making your mulled wine – don't boil or heat it for too long! You'll cook off all the alcohol and be left with tasty but boozeless mulled grape juice.

Can you drink mulled wine straight from the bottle? ›

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

Can you leave mulled wine overnight? ›

Leave to simmer on a low heat for 10 mins. Turn off the heat and cover, leaving the wine to infuse. We like to leave the Wine overnight but recommend a few hours as a minimum.

Does mulled wine lose its alcohol content? ›

As a reference, here's a helpful rule of thumb: After 30 minutes of cooking, alcohol content decreases by 10 percent with each successive half-hour of cooking, up to 2 hours. That means it takes 30 minutes to boil alcohol down to 35 percent and you can lower that to 25 percent with an hour of cooking.

When you boil mulled wine does the alcohol evaporate? ›

It can take over 2 hours for most of the alcohol to evaporate out of wine if you're using boiling as a method.

Does wine lose alcohol when heated? ›

The science: Alcohol does partially evaporate during cooking, but not as much as you might think. Depending on the cooking method and how much alcohol is used, anywhere from 4 to 85 percent of the alcohol may remain. After 15 minutes of cooking, about 40 percent of the alcohol remains.

Does the alcohol cook off in mulled cider? ›

Very little alcohol will cook off. The boiling point of ethanol is 79C - you should WARM mulled wine and certainly not bring it anywhere near close to 79C.

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