Mulled Wine Recipe with Citrus and Spices

Infused with spices, honey, orange slices, and fresh ginger, this easy mulled wine recipe makes the best hot spiced wine beverage for a cold winter’s evening!

What is Mulled Wine?

If you haven’t tried it, mulled wine is an alcoholic beverage made by infusing fruits and spices into red wine, sometimes with the addition of brandy or other kinds of spirits, liquor, or liqueur.

Served hot, mulled wine is especially popular during the cold winter months. In London, it seems like every pub and restaurant in town serves some version of mulled wine during the festive period. It’s also available at most outdoor festivals, Christmas markets, holiday celebrations, and of course, at Winter Wonderland.

Why Do I Love This Mulled Wine Recipe?

As the days grow shorter, darker, and colder (sigh…), there is nothing better than a mug of hot, spiced homemade mulled wine to warm things up.

Featuring a classic blend of red wine, citrus, and winter spices like star anise, allspice, cardamom, and cloves, my easy mulled wine recipe is perfect for festive gatherings or sipping by the fireplace.

In addition to its sweet, spicy taste and comforting buzz, this recipe is also incredibly simple to make: Just pour a bottle of red wine into a large saucepan or stock pot, add spices, citrus, fresh ginger, and honey, and let the mixture simmer for half an hour or so. Then pass the wine through a fine-mesh strainer, pour it into mugs, and enjoy.

And as a bonus, this mulled wine recipe will make your home smell amazing while it simmers on the stovetop!

Homemade Mulled Wine Ingredients

As written, my mulled wine recipe calls for the following mulling spices:

• Cloves
• Allspice berries
• Star anise
• Cardamom pods
• Cinnamon sticks
• Fresh ginger

However, this recipe allows plenty of room for interpretation, so feel free to adjust based on the spices you like, or the ones you happen to have on hand. Just be sure to select whole spices, not ground—the latter will be impossible to strain, creating a gritty or grainy beverage.

In addition to changing up the spices, you can also experiment with the flavor profile by adding other elements to your mulled wine infusion. Some of my favorite additions include currants, raisins, cranberries, lemon or grapefruit slices, or woody herbs such as fresh rosemary or thyme.

Which Wine Should I Use for Homemade Mulled Wine?

I like to make my homemade mulled wine with a cabernet sauvingnon, but any number of red wines will work. Try preparing this recipe with merlot, pinot noir, zinfandel, or shiraz. Choose a good-tasting wine you’d drink on its own, not a cooking wine.

If you’d like, you can also add a few tablespoons of brandy, vermouth, or another spirit of choice to your wine mixture. This will provide an added splash of flavor, and an extra bit of a buzz.

How to Make Mulled Wine

To make homemade mulled wine, begin by pouring the entire bottle of red wine into a large saucepan or stock pot. Stir in the orange slices, spices, honey, and pieces of fresh ginger.

Warm the mixture on the stovetop over medium heat—it should steam, but not boil.  (Boiling can burn off the alcohol and alter the flavor.) Then, reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 30 to 40 minutes, allowing the citrus and spices to infuse and the flavors to meld.

After infusing, use a fine-mesh strainer to remove the spices. Taste and adjust the sweetener accordingly, then pour your mulled wine into mugs, garnish with citrus wedges or a cinnamon stick, and enjoy!

Serving Mulled Wine

I love making mulled wine for a holiday party or festive open house, but it’s equally enjoyable for a quiet evening at home.

For added visual appeal, try serving your mulled wine in clear glass coffee mugs to showcase the vibrant color of the drink. Garnish with a slice of orange or lemon (or a bit of candied orange peel) and a cinnamon stick for stirring. You can also float fresh cranberries or whole star anise on top of each mug for a fun finishing touch.

Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions

Mulled wine is best enjoyed on the day it is made. However, it will last for an hour or two on the stovetop, kept warm over very low heat.

To make it easy for guests to enjoy at their leisure over the course of a party or open house, you can make this mulled wine in a slow cooker, or pour it from the stock pot into a slow cooker set to the ‘keep warm’ setting. Place a ladle, mugs, and bowls of garnishes next to the slow cooker, so party attendees can serve themselves as they please.

Other winter drink recipes you might enjoy:

White Hot Chocolate
Red Wine Hot Chocolate
Vegan Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Hot Chocolate

And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!

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