29 Nov Mulled Wine: A Different Take on a Classic Beverage

Mulled Wine is a drink you see frequently during the holidays, particularly around Thanksgiving and Christmas. This warm winter drink is a staple beverage in cold snowy regions but it’s increasing in popularity all over the world.

What is Mulled Wine?

Mulled wine is a popular alcoholic drink that is made with a blend of wine and a variety of spices. This drink is served warm with a few garnishes. Sometimes you’ll see versions of it with raisins or other citrus fruits like oranges. There are also non-recipes made is mulled apple juice instead.

Mulled wine became popular with ancient Romans because they didn’t want to waste any leftover wines so they began mixing it with spices and reusing it.

Which Wine to Use for Mulled Wine?

Steer away from picking a delicately flavoured wine such as Gamay or Pinot Noir, since much of the flavour will be lost during the mulling process. Choose bold, full-bodied red wines such as Syrah or Malbec. This is also a great time use up that nasty wine on the back of your shelf that you never wanted to finish.

If your recipe calls for a white wine then a couple good options would be Riesling, Chenin Blanc or Moscato.

How Do You Mull Wine?

Mulling wine is a pretty simple four-step process.

• First, pour the wine into a saucepan and add your oranges if desired. Then add sugar and your blend of spices for taste.
• Next, slowly heat the wine and continue stirring until all of the sugar has dissolved. Taste the wine throughout this process and add more sugar or spices until you get your desired flavour.
• If you are adding Gin or any other juices or alcohol, then add it in here once you take the wine off the heat.
• Lastly, you’ll strain it to remove any fruit pulp or spice leaves and serve it while it’s still warm.

How Do You Serve Mulled Wine?

Mulled wine is best served in a porcelain or ceramic mug to protect your fingers from the heat. However, you can find specialty wine glass with handles on them that are made particularly for mulled wine beverages.

You can also serve mulled wine with a few garnishes to add to the flavour and appearance. Cinnamon sticks, cherries or orange slices are good options.

How Long Do You Mull Wine?

It’s important that you mull your wine long enough to take on the flavour of the spices but make sure that it doesn’t boil or else you will create a more bitter taste. For best results mull at a lower temperature for a longer period of time.

How Long Can You Keep a Bottle of Mulled Wine?

If you find yourself with leftover mulled wine, which is very unlikely, you can store it in the refrigerator. It will keep for about 3-5 days and you can just reheat it on the stove.