The chilly nights of winter are perfect to snuggle in your cozy blanket in front of a fire and have a spicy, hot cup of mulled wine. It’s a wonderful drink for a snowy night. It smells like Christmas and tastes like a cinnamon stick with a kick!
So, where did this “invention” come from? Well, I did some research and found out some interesting facts about this warm, wintery drink.
Mulled wine originated during the time of the Romans…yes, that long ago! They heated up wine and added various spices to it to help keep warm during the winter months as they made their way across Europe, conquering as they went. They shared their mulled wine with others and soon, it made its way across the whole continent. Fast forward to Victorian England…the warm, spicy wine drink was popular during the Christmas season and became synonymous with tidings of good cheer. During this time in English history, it was actually safer to drink wine than to drink water…so they warmed and spiced it up even more to cover up the taste of the usually bad wine. It was medicinal and gave them a warm feeling inside.
In the 1890’s, mulled wine officially became known as a Christmas drink. Wine merchants started to market the wine using labels with Santa Claus on them and gave out their own unique recipes for mulled wine. So, over the years, there have been many versions of this Christmas drink. It has become a tradition in many households as a way to welcome the holiday season and bring friends and family together.
It certainly is a warm and friendly drink! There are many, many versions of recipes, but I’ll give you the list of ingredients that is most popular. It’s totally your choice as to what to add and what to leave out. This is a list of some of the most popular ingredients.
Red Wine: Grenache, Zinfandel, Merlot…your choice
Mulling Spices:
*Cinnamon sticks
*Star Anise
*Nutmeg
*Cardamom
*Clove
*Allspice
*Vanilla bean
Fruit & Other: Oranges, Meyer Lemons, Honey, Brandy
Now that you have the list of ingredients, experiment with what you like. Some people like the brandy added and others don’t. It’s optional and a personal preference.
So, here’s a favorite recipe of mine:
Mulled Christmas Wine
Red Wine: I like Grenache because it’s fruity and full bodied…avoid wine with too many tannins or too light bodied
Spices: Cinnamon sticks, Star Anise, Nutmeg, Clove, Allspice (use whole spices)
Fruit: Orange slices and Meyer Lemon slices
Tablespoon of honey
Two ways to heat your mulled wine:
Cook time: 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Stove top in a pot: add all ingredients over a medium heat and cover
- Slow cooker: add all ingredients and cook covered on low
Ladle the mulled wine into the glasses and garnish with ½ orange slice, cinnamon stick and cranberries!
Since I am a stickler for the right glassware, typically, mulled wine is served in a clear glass mug (similar to an Irish coffee mug). The glass must be able to withstand the heat of the drink.
If you have some of the mulled wine leftover (I’m not sure how that would happen but…) You can refrigerate your mulled wine for up to 3 days and reheat (do not boil).
Before you know it, your whole kitchen will smell like Christmas and you and/or your guests will be transported back to your favorite Christmas memories. Share them and enjoy your holiday moments together!
Cheers!