Lazy Saturday in February, temps in the 40’s, and no place to be. It’s the perfect time for one of my winter favs- mulled wine! I’m always so surprised when I hear people say they’ve never had it before. Like sangria in the summer, it’s a staple in our house in the winter. Aside from the obvious that it tastes delicious, it’ll warm you from the inside out, make your house smell oh so good and leave you feeling nice and cozy. Not to mention the fact that it’s so pretty to look at- having a pot on the stove just makes me happy!
So what is mulled wine?! Simply put, mulled wine = spiced wine. Start with a dry red of wine (I prefer a merlot), add spices (cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise), throw in sliced oranges and whole cranberries, and simmer. From here, there are lots of options and recipes out there. Sometimes I add apple cider, other times I add brandy. Once you know how you like your mulled wine, you can make it by taste.
If you’re thinking this sounds just like another warm wine drink called Glühwein, then you’re right! Glühwein is what they call hot spiced wine in Germany + Austria, and is traditional found at Christmas markets. Sometimes we’re lucky and find actual bottles of Glühwein- here in Japan, Kaldi Coffee Farm often carries it, which is always fun because I love the pretty, festive label on the bottle…
But if I’m being honest, making our own from scratch is my favorite. Here’s a recipe I’m loving this winter from #wowitsveggie …
Easy Gluhwein Recipe (Mulled Wine)
Ingredients
- 2 bottles of dry red wine
- 2 cups orange juice
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar [or maple syrup/agave]
- 2 oranges, sliced
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
- 10 whole cloves
- 4 star anise
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 cup brandy [optional]
Instructions
- Place a medium sauce-pan over medium-high heat on the stove.
- Add the orange juice and granulated sugar and stir until the granulated sugar is dissolved.
- Then, add in the red wine and all of the spices and fruits.The spices will be whole, not ground in a container, so their flavors will infuse into the liquid! Add the brandy if you are using it.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer the mulled wine for 30 minutes. At this point, taste the Gluhwein and adjust the flavor as necessary! You may want to add a little more sugar or add more brandy if it is too sweet for you! You can simmer the Gluhwein for up to a couple hours if you have time!
- Serve the mulled wine garnished with cinnamon sticks, orange peel, star anise, cranberries, and more!
What’s your favorite way to make mulled wine?! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment below!
Cheers!
