Mulled wine has a lot going for it. It’s a definitive drink for holiday entertaining, easy to make, and guaranteed to make your home smell amazing. And while many will argue that it’s an entirely customizable recipe, there’s only one mulled wine recipe you need – ours!
Mulled wine is known the world over under multiple synonyms. From glühwein, vino caliente, glögg, vin brulé, candola, or vinho quente, wine lovers everywhere have an affinity for hot vino, especially when the temperatures dip outside.
For ultimate holiday warmth, cozy and delicious, give this mulled wine recipe a try.
The Best Wine for Making Mulled Wine
Given that mulled wine requires heating for upwards of 20 minutes, it’s best to pick a full-bodied red wine to avoid losing the structural impact. Pick a varietal or blend that includes Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah rather than a lighter-bodied wine like Pinot Noir. And leave the expensive bottle on the shelf; the recipe’s spices will mute the flavors of the wine, so save the precious bottle for another night.
SOMM TV’s Mulled Wine Recipe
| Ingredients | To Serve |
|---|---|
| 1 cup boiling water | 1 cinnamon stick |
| 1/4 cup sugar | 1 star anise |
| 750ml red wine | orange zest |
| 20 cloves | |
| 2 star anise | |
| half an orange | |
| dark rum (to taste) | |
| Method |
|---|
| 1. Pour boiling water from a kettle into a pot (leave off the stove until step 6). |
| 2. Add sugar into the water and stir until it dissolves. |
| 3. Pour wine into the pot and stir. |
| 4. Add cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. |
| 5. Squeeze the juice of half an orange and add the juice and the orange into the pot. |
| 6. Let the mixture simmer on the stove, on low, for at least 20 minutes (for up to a couple of hours). Do not let the mixture boil! |
| 7. To serve, pour into a glass (straining is optional) and top with a splash of dark rum to taste. Add a sprinkle of orange zest for aromatics and garnish with a cinnamon stick and a star anise. |
And there you have it!
To watch Matthew Kaner make the perfect mulled wine recipe, check out this snippet from Holiday Cocktails, available on SOMM TV.
