Mulled wine is a classic holiday drink that is perfect for warming up on cold winter nights. Made with red wine infused with warm spices, it’s the ultimate cozy drink. Enjoy a mug of mulled wine by the fireplace or at your next holiday gathering.
This recipe serves 6 and takes about 25 minutes to make. It’s easy to prepare and requires only a few simple ingredients. The combination of red wine, sugar, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and allspice creates a rich and aromatic drink.
To make mulled wine, combine all the ingredients in a large pot and heat over medium heat until it reaches a simmer. Be careful not to let it boil. Once it’s simmering, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
After simmering, strain out the cloves, cinnamon sticks, and orange slices. Serve the mulled wine hot in mugs and garnish with additional orange slices and cinnamon sticks, if desired.
Mulled wine has a long history that dates back to ancient Rome, where wine was heated and infused with spices to improve flavor and preserve it during colder months. As the Roman Empire expanded across Europe, the tradition spread and evolved, becoming especially popular in medieval times when expensive spices were added to wine as a sign of wealth and celebration. Over the centuries, it became closely associated with winter festivities and Christmas markets across Europe, where warm cups of spiced wine remain a beloved seasonal tradition today.
Mulled wine pairs beautifully with a variety of winter dishes and festive treats. It complements savory foods like roasted meats, sausages, and cheese boards, while its warm spices also enhance sweet desserts such as gingerbread, fruit cakes, and spiced cookies. The rich, aromatic flavors make it a perfect companion for cozy holiday meals and seasonal gatherings. Cheers to a warm and festive holiday season!
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red wine
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 orange sliced
- 8 cloves whole
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp nutmeg ground
- 1 tsp allspice ground
- slices orange Optional garnish
- sticks cinnamon Optional garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine the red wine, sugar, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and allspice.
- Heat the mixture over medium heat until it reaches a simmer. Do not boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the wine simmer for 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Remove from heat and strain out the cloves, cinnamon sticks, and orange slices.
- Serve hot in mugs and garnish with additional orange slices and cinnamon sticks, if desired.
I added extra cloves because I just love them! Made it taste like Christmas in a cup! 10/10
Extra cloves? That sounds amazing! I love that festive touch. Looking forward to trying it! 🌟
I don’t know, sounds like too many cloves! Might overpower the wine. Keep it simple, I say.
I made this, but forgot to take out the cloves 😬. Didn’t taste good. Not sure how you would forget that step, but I did.
This was delicious! Perfect for the holidays. Will make again!
Never thought I’d enjoy mulled wine, but this was a game changer! Just make sure to let it simmer long enough.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Mulled wine is the best on a cold night. I always add extra cinnamon, tastes even better.
I dunno, simmering for too long sounds risky. Might ruin the taste? Just a thought.
I tried it but I think I accidentally boiled it a bit at the start… the wine tasted a little harsh afterward. Also, straining is a must—cloves everywhere.
This is literally the easiest recipe ever. Just mix a bunch of stuff and heat it. 👍
I dunno, it was too sweet for me. Maybe I used too much sugar?
Yeah, I think the sugar can really make it sweet. I usually skip the added sugar altogether!
Cloves + nutmeg can be overpowering. I measured like the recipe said but it leaned sharp for my taste. Still, my house smelled like Christmas.
Totally agree—nutmeg can jump out fast. I usually go a pinch, like way less than 1 tsp, and it still tastes great. Also glad it smelled like Christmas though 😄
I tried this and it was spicy/sharp too. I think the cloves might be too much? Next time I’ll cut cloves in half and use nutmeg like “sprinkle” not “tsp”. House still smells amazing anyway lol.
This is a scam. My wine tasted the same after making it…I think this doesn’t work!
Mulled wine rocks!! My family can’t get enough! Always a hit during the holidays! 🎉