Warm up with homemade mulled wine: A winter favorite recipe
When it's gray and cold outside, it's a sign that the time for mulled wine has come. True lovers of mulled wine don't need any encouragement, as they reach for this drink with a smile on their faces throughout the winter and into the early spring. It's no wonder, since mulled wine, unlike many other drinks, can enchant and envelop the senses in a pleasant haze of sweetness and spice.
To prepare traditional homemade mulled wine, the key ingredient is red wine. It can be semi-sweet, semi-dry, or dry, but the last one is definitely the healthiest option. Even if you have a sweet tooth, and love the sweet taste, you can simply sweeten the dry version with a teaspoon of honey. Honey will not only make it sweeter but will also enhance its flavor.
- I recommend choosing dry red wines made from varieties that naturally have a sweetness in flavor, such as merlot. It is distinguished by its intense ruby color and a pleasant bouquet with aromas of blackberry jam and lovely hints of cinnamon and caramel, which will blend perfectly with the spices in the mulled wine. The fruity flavor, combining notes of cherry and rhubarb with a velvety texture, is another reason to use this wine as the base for traditional mulled wine - says Dominik Sołtys, partner and wine advisor at HoReca Partner Center.
However, if you're not interested in a sweet taste and prefer a delicate acidity that refreshes the wine, choose wines from varieties with greater tartness, such as shiraz or bobal. These have a dark cherry color and an intensely fruity nose full of aromas like blackberries, raspberries, and black currants. They are delicate and refreshingly tart on the palate, making them pair well with the essential slice of orange and lemon zest in mulled wine.
Homemade mulled wine - step by step
Alright, but how do you prepare this famous mulled wine? The recipe is unbelievably simple, and anyone can handle it, even if they've never had the chance to prepare a hot drink before!
Ingredients:
- 1 bottle of dry red wine,
- 2 tablespoons of honey (or less - adjust to your preference),
- 1 orange,
- 6 cloves,
- 1 piece of cinnamon stick,
- 1 star anise,
- optional: 1 cardamom,
- lemon zest, about 0.4 inches,
- 3 tablespoons of raspberry juice,
- 2 ounces of orange liqueur.
Preparation:
- Pour the wine into a pot and set it over low heat. Add honey, cloves, cinnamon, and anise, then mix thoroughly. If you wish, add raspberry juice or orange liqueur.
- Heat over low heat until the wine starts to gently steam, but do not let it boil. Be careful not to boil the wine!
- Pour the hot liquid into cups or thermal glasses, and place a slice of orange with the peel in each.
- Serve the mulled wine while it's still warm and steaming—it will warm both the throat and cold hands.
- If you want your mulled wine to look nice, you can spike the orange slices (peel) additionally with cloves. For those who are busier or prefer sweeter flavors, we recommend ready-made solutions available on store shelves. There's plenty to choose from! - adds Dominik Sołtys.
