Mulled Wine, A Holiday Tradition

Smell of cloves, cinnamon, and allspice mixed with oranges makes me think of the holiday season and I get all happy and warm inside. Mulled wine is all of those cozy, happy, festive feelings in one pot and it’s one of my favorite things to make during the holidays.

Vintage Cookware & Glassware

I have quite a few vintage items in my cupboard and love finding alternate use so these well made items don’t go to waste. A fondue pot from the 1970’s (originally my dad’s) is a perfect pot to simmer the mulled wine. This brick colored pot with the wooden handle was just too cute and rustic to sit and collect dust.

Set of small glass cups are perfect size to sip mulled wine. These are also vintage, circa 1950’s and its part of a punch bowl set. Hard to believe my dad almost threw the entire set with the original box in the trash and thank god I rescued them! Honestly, most companies these days don’t make things like they used to so I’m so happy I get to use and enjoy these beauties.

What is Mulled Wine?

Mulled wine is an alcoholic drink that has its roots in ancient Rome and you see mugs of mulled wine served in Christmas markets around Europe. There are different variations of this drink, but it’s typically made by combining wine, mulling spices, which can include warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, allspice, cardamom and orange. This drink isn’t just for the holidays actually, and you can enjoy it throughout winter!

What You Need to Make this Spiced Wine

It’s very easy to make mulled wine, you need few quality ingredients and you are all set to go.

• Bottle of Red Wine – I recommend red wine that is fruity, with ripe berry flavors. It tends to marry really well with warm spices and fresh oranges! You don’t need to buy expensive bottle; my favorite for mulled wine at the moment is Red Wine Blend or Midnight Blend from Ménage à Trois and both are around $10 depending on where you purchase them.
• Mulling Spices – There are lots of mulling spices available, but I have been using one from Williams-Sonoma for years. It’s a blend of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, orange peel and I buy them every year and this is my favorite blend of mulling spices. If you are buying loose mulling spices and not the ones that already come in a sachet, be sure to put your spices in the tea bag or infuser so they don’t end up floating around in the sauce pan and end up in your mug.
• Whole Cloves – I add extra whole cloves, to my mulled wine
• Cinnamon Sticks – I use two cinnamon sticks; mulled spices include cinnamon but I find cinnamon sticks really elevates the flavor and aroma of the wine.
• Fresh, Sweet Oranges – Fresh orange slices will add just the right amount of sweetness to the wine. You also get refreshing taste to the spice rich drink.

For variations of mulled wine, use additional spices, sweetener or distilled wine:

• Cardamom
• Star Anise
• Ginger
• Nutmeg
• Sugar or Honey
• Brandy

Flagrant, Flavorful Drink Ready in 15 Minutes!

Once you put all the ingredients in the saucepan, just simmer under low heat for 15 minutes. I stir the pot occasionally to make sure the extract from the mulling spices gets incorporated in the liquid. Once ready, serve your mulled wine in a heat resistant mugs and add the slice of orange from the pot as garnish!

Perfect Accompaniment with Mulled Wine

Seriously, I can’t get enough of spices and I just love Ginger Baby Cookies from Rustic Bakery in San Francisco. I found these cuties few years ago and bought a jar, and was so pleasantly surprised by the rich tasting cookies (lot of store made gingerbread just taste of sugar). They also taste great with mulled wine and I munch on them as I sip my wine. These cookies are a must have and I always stock up at the beginning of the season.

My home made sweets, Pain d’Epices and Cranberry-Orange Pumpkin Bread are also full of spices, fruit and they are also fantastic accompaniment with mulled wine!