The Best Mulled Spiced Wine Recipe — Sugar & Cloth (2024)

If you’ve never tried a hot spiced wine, then you’re missing out! This easy mulled wine recipe is perfect for cold weather and staying cozy…

The Best Mulled Spiced Wine Recipe — Sugar & Cloth (1)

Hands down one of our favorite things about winter is that every day is a perfect excuse for a warm drink.

We love hot chocolate as much as the next gal. But sipping on a spiced co*cktail just can’t be beaten!

This mulled wine recipe is super easy to make.

And you can personalize it to be as spicy or as sweet as you’d like based on your preference of mulled wine spices.

We know there are a ton of renditions of the staple spiced wine.

Ours not only has Mirassou Cabernet Sauvignon (one of our favorite red wines for sharing)!But it also has added brandy for some additional flavor and a little extra pizzazz!

It goes without saying, but this seasonal drink recipe is as beautiful as it is tasty.

Plus, it’s perfect for sharing with family and friends as a batch co*cktail.

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Table of Contents

What Is Mulled Wine?

It’s name pretty much explains it all!

This drink is essentially wine (typically a red wine) that you let simmer over medium heat and stewed with a mix of spices.

There are many alternate names — spiced wine, hot wine, vin chaud, and pot spiced are the most popular.

It’s also commonly served at Christmas markets and parties or fall gatherings since it is a warm spirit that can be made in large pot batches.

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What Wine is Best for Mulled Wine?

Merlot, Zinfandel, or Garnacha are the finest red grapes to use for mulled wine.

But for a real winner use a wine with a heavy dose of spice, such as a spiced port.

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What Goes into Mulled Wine Recipe?

While the spices and flavors of mulled wine are the real showstoppers, they’re also great for garnishing for a pretty drink presentation.

The more mulling spices and garnishes you add will play a big factor in how sweet or spicy your wine will be.

For our mulled wine recipe, we used the following spices — cinnamon sticks, orange zest, star anise, and whole cloves.

You definitely need the cinnamon sticks and clove for the flavor and spice.

But additional add-ons or ingredient substitutes to use are —

— Cranberries

— Blackberries

— Orange slices

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How to Serve Mulled Wine

Trust me when I say that this recipe is the perfect cold-weather party drink!

Though it only takes about 15-20 minutes to whip together, you’ll probably be insanely busy with other party prepping.

To serve mulled wine, you can combine all ingredients and let them brew in a slow cooker on a low setting.

Guests can serve themselves throughout the party by sitting out a ladle and mugs so the drinks are served warm.

Note that making a crockpot hot spiced wine will take about an hour to heat on low. But at least, you don’t have to check up on it once it’s ready!

For a quicker version, you can warm it on the stovetop for about 20 minutes and then reduce heat to low for serving.

Also feel free to make this recipe ahead of time and just re-heat to medium on the stove in a pot.

However, do not bring it to a boil. You don’t want to alter the wine flavoring.

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What To Serve With Mulled Wine

When mulled, pour the red wine into mugs and add a ginger snap to each drink.

It’s decadent and delicious, but if you’re looking to add even more flavor consider serving your mulled wine with a fruit compote drizzled over vanilla ice cream along with assorted sweet pastries or a dessert board.

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The Best Mulled Spiced Wine Recipe — Sugar & Cloth (8)

How Long Will Spiced Wine Keep?

Made way too big of a batch of mulled wine for your holiday party?

Don’t sweat it, you can store your spiced wine recipe in the fridge for up to three days.

When storing, make sure the wine is cooled to room temperature. Then, strain out the garnishes before transferring it to an airtight container.

Reheating will affect the alcohol content, so keep that in mind as well! Of course, you can always just add in more brandy!

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Do you all have any go-to drink recipes that you always make for the holidays and winter months?

In case you’re looking for some other winter weather co*cktail recipes or pairings for your mulled wine recipe, here are some of my favorites —

  • An easy blood orange sangria recipe
  • A refreshing white autumn sangria recipe
  • The best easy turkey chili recipe
  • Coffee old fashioned co*cktail for a twist on the classic
  • Healthy easy baked apple recipe

The Best Mulled Spiced Wine Recipe — Sugar & Cloth (10)

Mulled Wine Recipe

Print Recipe

5 from 6 votes

This simple hot spiced wine is super easy to make, and you can personalize it to make it as spicy or as sweet as you’d like

Total Time20 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine co*cktails

Equipment

  • Large pot

  • Slow cooker optional

Ingredients

  • 2 bottle red wine 750 ML bottles
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 6 cinnamon stick
  • 2 cup orange juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 cup brandy
  • 1 tsp brandy
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 1 fresh ginger slices from a 2" or 3" piece
  • 1 orange for zesting
  • 1 whole cloves or whole allpsice for garnishing

Nutrition

Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 112IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg

Servings: 12

Calories: 128kcal

Notes

  • This recipe can be made in a slow cooker, but keep in mind that it will need to heat on low for at least an hour before serving.

Instructions

  • Pour the red wine into a large pot with the freshly squeezed orange juice.

  • Add your spices, ginger, brown sugar, 4 cinnamon sticks, and orange zest and stir to dissolve the brown sugar.

  • Warm the combination over medium heat, but do not bring to a boil.

  • Once evenly warmed and the sugar has dissolved, add the brandy and reduce to very low heat to serve warm or remove from heat to transfer to a punch bowl to serve at room temperature depending on your preference.

  • Garnish with remaining cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and orange zest.

KEYWORD: mulled wine recipe

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Don’t forget to share your mulled wine with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! And if you’re looking for more quick and delicious recipes you can find them all right here with a fewbitesto go along with them!

Other Wine Recipes To Try

The Best Mulled Spiced Wine Recipe — Sugar & Cloth (13)

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The Best Mulled Spiced Wine Recipe — Sugar & Cloth (14)

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Blood Orange Sangria Recipe

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Autumn Fig Sangria Recipe

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Cherry Watermelon Frosé Recipe

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Paper Plane Spritz Recipe

The Best Mulled Spiced Wine Recipe — Sugar & Cloth (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between mulled wine and spiced wine? ›

Modern day mulled wine is typically sweeter than its 'spiced wine' predecessors, as it tends to use more fruit juice to help tune out the overwhelming acidity and spice.

What is the best wine for mulled wine? ›

The best red wine to use for mulled wine is Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache). These wines are dark, fruity and full bodied, which means they can support all of the flavors we'll be adding. Look for labels that describe the wine as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla.”

How do you reduce the bitterness in mulled wine? ›

To minimize any bitter flavor, you can peel the orange before simmering it in the wine. You can also always add extra sweetener.

How long should you heat mulled wine? ›

Method. Put the red wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar in a large pan. Cook on a low heat for 10 mins. Remove from the heat and cool, leaving to infuse for about 30 mins.

Can I use cheap wine for mulled wine? ›

Mulled Wine Ingredients:

Wine: No need to splurge on a pricey bottle — a mid-range bottle of dry red or white wine will do. (Or if you're making a big batch, this is a great recipe to break out a nicer boxed wine too!)

Which country drinks the most mulled wine? ›

This drink is consumed enormously in Scandinavian countries, particularly in Sweden and Denmark, where it is called Glögg and Gløgg respectively (terms meaning "mulled wine" in each language). In Germany, as in most Germanic countries, it is mainly consumed under the name Glühwein.

Why does my mulled wine taste bad? ›

You need to infuse the wine long enough with the spices to take on their flavour but DON'T ON ANY ACCOUNT LET THE MIXTURE BOIL as you'll be left with a bitter taste. Slow and low is the way to go. And it shouldn't be served piping hot, just comfortably - and comfortingly - warm.

Does heating mulled wine reduce the alcohol content? ›

Contrary to the popular belief that heating mulled wine diminishes the alcohol content, prompting many to drink it with an added shot of amaretto or rum, this happens only once it reaches a temperature of 78 degrees Celsius (172 degrees Fahrenheit).

What can I use instead of star anise in mulled wine? ›

Here are a few more alternatives you can use when you don't have star anise on hand.
  • Anise Seed.
  • Fennel Seed.
  • Chinese Five Spice.
  • Cloves.
  • Allspice.
Jul 5, 2018

Can you cook mulled wine for too long? ›

One important thing to remember when making your mulled wine – don't boil or heat it for too long! You'll cook off all the alcohol and be left with tasty but boozeless mulled grape juice.

Can you overheat mulled wine? ›

The key to successfully heating up mulled wine is to take it up to a nice warm temperature without boiling it. Wine has a lower boiling point than water, and overheating it will cook off some of the alcohol, resulting in an unpleasant bitter flavour.

Can you drink mulled wine straight from the bottle? ›

Yes. Even though the spiced wine is heated, most of the alcohol remains. I suppose you could make a batch of mulled wine with a non-alcoholic wine and that would not have alcohol.

What is spiced wine? ›

Mulled Wine, sometimes referred to as Spiced Wine, refers to wine, most often of a red variety, infused with various fruits and spices then served warm.

What is spiced wine called? ›

Mulled wine goes by many names—spiced wine, hot wine, glögg, glühwein, and vin chaud are a few I hear used interchangeably. As far as I know, they all essentially refer to the same drink, although the spices and booze of choice may vary depending on the region.

What does it mean when a wine is mulled? ›

The word “mull” means to “to heat, sweeten, and flavor (a beverage, such as wine or cider) with spices,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Indeed, mulled wine, or spiced wine, is served and enjoyed while hot, making it a perfect drink for the holidays.

What is similar to mulled wine? ›

Just as warming as mulled wine, mulled cider is a less sweet alternative. Made using a similar technique, mulled cider is packed with spices to create a harmonious taste that can be served in mugs or fancy glasses.

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