A steaming cup of wine that smells of spices and fruit, the fire crackling in the fireplace and the snow starting to fall outside… Can you see yourself there? An essential drink in Christmas markets and ski resorts, mulled wine is rarely invited at home. However, its preparation is not rocket science!
Step by step recipe
On the material side, it couldn't be simpler, since you will only need a large saucepan. Here are the ingredients you need to make 6 to 8 glasses of mulled wine:
- 75 cl of red wine (one bottle)
- 3 tablespoons of brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon (or 2 small cinnamon sticks)
- 1 star anise or star anise
- 2 cloves
- 1 vanilla pod
- 1 knife tip of grated nutmeg
- orange slices (organic because we keep the peel)
In a large saucepan, pour the red wine, sugar and spices (not the oranges, reserve them for the end). You can adjust the amount of spices according to your taste. Bring to the boil, simmer very gently for just a few minutes, then heat over low heat for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, then let it infuse for half an hour, then reheat just before serving. Pour your hot wine into glasses or mugs, passing the mixture through the filter. Finish by placing an orange slice per glass.
Which wine to choose?
As you can imagine, we rule out great wines from the outset, as well as first-price wines that could spoil your cocktail by giving it a bitter, acrid taste. Opt instead for a young and fruity table wine, not too tannic, such as Gamay, Merlot or Cinsaut.
Mulled wine: the variants
Did you know that in Alsace, there is mulled wine … made from white wine? It will bring a sweeter and syrupy side to your cocktail. Choose a smooth white wine such as Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris or Muscat. Sauternes also work very well. To make this beverage, proceed in the same way as with red wine, adding half a glass of water with the wine, and having a lighter hand on the sugar (1 to 2 tablespoons) .
Last tip : for children, you can make the same recipe by simply replacing the wine with grape juice (the latter being already very sweet, add very little brown sugar)!
Read also :
⋙ Which Christmas menu for 2019?
⋙ Mulled wine with Christmas spices on video
⋙ 3 tailor-made Christmas menus