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Original post published March 3rd, 2021. Post last updated on December 30th, 2023.
Today is National Mulled Wine Day!
If you haven’t tried it, mulled wine is an alcoholic beverage made by infusing fruits and spices into rich 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 every pub and restaurant in town serves some version of mulled wine during the festive period. It’s also available at many outdoor festivals, Christmas markets, and other holiday celebrations.
This easy mulled wine recipe makes for a comforting drink on a frigid day. It’s very simple to make: Just pour a bottle of red wine into a large saucepan or stock pot, add some spices, citrus, and sweetener, and let the mixture simmer for half an hour or so. Then strain the wine, pour it into mugs, and enjoy.
As a bonus, this mulled wine recipe will also make your home smell amazing while it simmers on the stovetop!
Choosing Your Wine
I made this mulled wine with a cabernet sauvingnon, but any number of wines will work. Try it with merlot, pinot noir, zinfandel, or shiraz.
Add a Splash
If you’d like, you can add a few tablespoons of brandy, vermouth, or other spirit of choice to your wine mixture for an added splash of flavor.
The Ingredients
As written, this recipes calls for the following mulling spices:
Cloves
Allspice berries
Star anise
Cardamom pods
Cinnamon sticks
Fresh ginger
However, there is some room for interpretation, so feel free to adjust the recipe based on the spices you like, or the ones you happen to have on hand. Be sure to select whole spices, not ground—ground spices will be impossible to strain.
You can also experiment with the flavor profile by adding other elements to your infusion. Some suggestions include currants, raisins, cranberries, lemon or grapefruit slices, or herbs such as fresh rosemary or thyme.
Other winter drinks recipes you might enjoy:
White Hot Chocolate
Red Wine Hot Chocolate
And if you 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!
Easy Mulled Wine with Citrus and Spices
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Description
A classic mulled wine recipe, infused with spices, honey, lemon, and citrus. A warm, comforting beverage for a cold winter’s day.
Ingredients
1 bottle red wine (750 milliliters)
1 orange, washed and sliced into rounds
6 whole cloves
5 whole allspice berries
4 whole star anise
3 whole cardamom pods
2 cinnamon sticks
1 thumb-size piece of fresh ginger, peeled
3 tablespoons honey, or to taste
Lemon or orange wedges, to garnish
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan or stock pot.
Warm mixture until steaming over medium heat. (Do not boil.) Reduce heat to low and simmer gently, about 30-40 minutes.
Strain the wine with a fine mesh strainer. Taste and adjust sweetener accordingly.
Ladle into mugs. Garnish with citrus wedges and serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Alcoholic Drinks
