Mulled Wine Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2024)

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This traditional homemade mulled wine recipe is incredibly easy to make and always SO cozy and delicious.

Mulled Wine Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (1)

Mmmmm…mulled wine.

Also known as glühwein, vino caliente,glögg,vin brulé,bisschopswijn,vin chaud, candola, vinho quente…or literally a hundred other names, depending on where in the world life may find you. Needless to say, it seems like just about everyone in the world loves some hot wine. And clearly, I can vouch that you all do too!

I actually first shared this recipe five years ago this month, after returning home from a chilly trip to Spain and England in 2012, where my friends I loved warming up mugs of hot wine each evening in the pubs. Since then, literally hundreds of thousands of you have pulled up this recipe to simmer warm batches for yourself. (Amazing!) And I ironically now find myself living back in the continent where I first fell in love with the drink, where we have been served warm mugs of mulled wine at nearly every holiday gathering and Christmas market and food festival we attend. In our first holiday season away from home, this festive drink has felt more comforting and nostalgic and delicious as ever.

So today, in honor of my mulled wine recipe’s 5 year-iversary on the blog, I thought I would bump it back up to the top of the site (along with a new step-by-step video and fresh photos) for those of you who may also looking to simmer a cozy batch for yourself this winter.

Because after having made this recipe dozens and dozens of times myself over the years, I am absolutely convinced that homemade mulled wine just about the easiest recipe ever for winter and holiday entertaining. Truly. It literally just takes about 5 minutes to prep and can be made either on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. It’s easy to scale anywhere from a “date night” to two…up to big holiday parties with dozens. It’s totally customizable with your favorite spices and liqueurs. And it’s guaranteed to make your home smell absolutely amazing and warm everyone up on a chilly winter night.

So grab a bottle of wine and let’s get to mulling!

Mulled Wine Recipe | 1-Minute Video

Mulled Wine Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2)

My original photo for this recipe from 2012. :)

Mulled Wine Ingredients:

To begin, gather your ingredients. For this mulled wine recipe, you will need:

  • 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!) The best wine for mulled wine will be fruity and full-bodied, so that it can withstand the heat and not have its flavor completely drowned out by the aromatics. I recommend looking for a bottle of Zinfandel, Merlot, Grenache,
  • Brandy: Similar to sangria, it’s also traditional to spike your mulled wine with an extra bit of liqueur. Brandy is the traditional choice, but Cointreau (or another orange liqueur) or tawny port are also delicious alternatives.
  • Fresh oranges: One of which we will slice and mull in the wine, one of which you can slice and use as a garnish if you’d like. (Edit: To minimize bitterness, I recommend peeling the orange before simmering it in the wine.)
  • Cinnamon:I love the making mulled wine with cinnamon sticks, but you could whisk in some ground cinnamon if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Mulling spices: These vary in mulled wine from country to country, but whole cloves and star anise are my favorites, plus perhaps a few cardamom pods.
  • Sweetener:Feel free to add your favorite sweetener to taste. Sugar is classic, but I prefer to naturally sweeten mine with either maple syrup or honey.

Mulled Wine Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (3)

How To Make Mulled Wine:

To make mulled wine, simply…

  1. Combine ingredients. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and give them a quick stir.
  2. Simmer. Heat until the wine almost reaches a simmer over medium-high heat. (Avoid letting it bubble in any way. Alcohol begins to vaporize at 172°F, so take care to ensure that the wine does not evaporate.) Reduce heat to low, cover completely, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.
  3. Strain and season. Using a fine mesh strainer, remove and discard the orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise and ginger. Give the mulled wine a taste, and stir in your desired amount of extra sweetener if needed.
  4. Serve. Serve warm in heatproof mugs, topped with your favorite garnishes.

Full ingredient amounts/instructions listed in the recipe below.

Mulled Wine Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (4)

Possible Variations:

Want to customize this mulled wine a bit? Feel free to…

  • Use white wine:This recipe is also delicious (and lovely) when made with a dry white wine.
  • Use a chai tea bag:In place of the cloves and star anise, feel free to steep 1 or 2 chai tea bags in the mulled wine (preferably caffeine-free, if you are serving this to a group in the evening).
  • Add different aromatics:Feel free to add in whatever aromatics sound fun! Fresh ginger slices, cardamom pods, nutmeg, allspice or lemon zest are some other great aromatics to try.
  • Add garnishes: For a festive touch, feel free to sprinkle some fresh cranberries in the pot a few minutes before serving.
  • Make Crock Pot mulled wine: You are also welcome to try making mulled wine in the slow cooker with the setting on low. I just want to clearly caution that slow cookers can run the gamut when it comes to what they consider a “low” temperature. So if you use a slow cooker, be sure to keep a very close eye on it to ensure that the wine is not accidentally overheated and simmering.

Mulled Wine Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (5)

More Holiday Drink Recipes:

Looking for more festive holiday drink ideas? Here are a few more favorite holiday drink recipes:

  • Sangria
  • Hot Toddy
  • Moscow Mule
  • Chai Eggnog
  • 3-Ingredient Cranberry Bourbon Fizz
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Mulled Wine Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (6)

Mulled Wine

★★★★★4.8 from 53 reviews

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Homemade mulled wine is incredibly easy to make on the stovetop (or simmer in the slow cooker), it’s easy to customize with your favorite spices and add-ins, and it is SO cozy and delicious. Perfect for winter and holiday entertaining!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 (750 ml) bottle of dry redwine
  • 1/4 cup brandy (or orange liqueur)
  • 1 orange, sliced into rounds (also peeled, if you would like a less-bitter drink)
  • 8whole cloves
  • 2cinnamon sticks
  • 2star anise
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste(or your desired sweetener)
  • optional garnishes: citrus slices (orange, lemon and/or lime), extra cinnamon sticks, extra star anise

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients. Add wine, brandy, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, and 2 tablespoons sweetener to a large saucepan. Stir briefly to combine.
  2. Simmer.Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until itjust barely reaches a simmer. (Avoid letting it bubble — you don’t want to boil off the alcohol.) Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.
  3. Strain. Using a fine mesh strainer, remove and discard the orange slices, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Give the mulled wine a taste, and stir in extra sweetener if needed.
  4. Serve. Serve warm in heatproof mugs, topped with your favorite garnishes.

Notes

Cheesecloth option: You can also place the oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and star anise in a cheesecloth. Then simply strain and pull out the bundle when ready to serve.

Photos: I doubled the recipe for the photographs shown above.

posted on December 21, 2017 by Ali

Christmas, Drinks / co*cktails, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day

184 Comments »

Mulled Wine Recipe | Gimme Some Oven (2024)

FAQs

What temp should you heat mulled wine? ›

Mulled wine evaporates at 80 °C, so make sure to keep it below this temperature. We recommend heating and serving it at around 65 °C, using a Thermapen kitchen thermometer to monitor the temperature. Serve your festive drink in warmed glass mugs to help the wine maintain its optimal serving temperature whilst drinking.

How do you heat mulled wine without a stove? ›

Alternatively, pour the liquid into a heatproof bowl and microwave for 2 mins 30 seconds-3 mins until warm, but not boiling.

How long to cook off alcohol in mulled wine? ›

In short, yes, some of the alcohol burns off when boiling mulled wine, but you should only be gently bringing up to the boil and simmering for around 15-30 minutes which isn't enough time to completely remove all alcohol traces.

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.

What is the best way to heat mulled wine? ›

Simmer. Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer. (Avoid letting it bubble — you don't want to boil off the alcohol.) Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.

Does mulled wine lose alcohol when heated? ›

Heat the wine slowly to extract the maximum aroma, and never, ever, ever allow it to boil. Firstly, you will lose the alcohol, and secondly, boiling will change the flavours of the wine.

Can you warm mulled wine in a microwave? ›

Microwave on high until hot but not boiling, 2½ to 3 minutes. Set aside to steep for 15 minutes. Stir in brandy, strain into mugs, and top with a cinnamon stick and orange wedge or twist. Reheat individual mugs on high until hot, 30 seconds (or as needed).

How much alcohol is in mulled wine after heating? ›

But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process. The U.S. Department of Agriculture did a study in 2007 that nailed down the numbers with the magic of the scientific method.

How do you heat store bought mulled wine? ›

Pour the mulled wine into a large pre-heated saucepan on a low heat. Stir occasionally for few minutes until warm to the touch. Do not over-heat and never allow the wine to boil. However tempting it may be do not microwave mulled wine as the delicate spices can be over-excited and result in a rough, burnt tasting wine.

Which wine is best for mulled wine? ›

The best wines for mulled wine are richly fruity, medium-bodied ones with little oak aging, because these stand up to the bold sweetness and spice of the hot drink without tasting too tannic. For example, try a Chilean Merlot, a Zinfandel from California or a Grenache from Spain.

How do you keep the alcohol content in mulled wine? ›

The heat used in mulling encourages greater flavours from the citrus and the spices but also reduces the alcohol content, hence the common addition of a slug of spirit or liqueur just before serving.

Why should you not boil mulled wine? ›

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 homemade mulled wine go bad? ›

Unfortunately, homemade mulled wine is not well-suited for long-term preservation. This is because the wine has been heated and infused with spices, which can cause bacterial growth over time. Additionally, the alcohol content may decrease over time, which can also impact its safety for consumption.

Is it safe to drink old mulled wine? ›

Once opened, mulled wine is known to only maintain its quality for 3 to 5 days. You will be able to determine whether your mulled wine has gone bad by assessing its appearance, aroma, and taste.

Can you leave mulled wine overnight? ›

Leave to simmer on a low heat for 10 mins. Turn off the heat and cover, leaving the wine to infuse. We like to leave the Wine overnight but recommend a few hours as a minimum.

How do you warm up store bought mulled wine? ›

Pour the mulled wine into a large pre-heated saucepan on a low heat. Stir occasionally for few minutes until warm to the touch. Do not over-heat and never allow the wine to boil. However tempting it may be do not microwave mulled wine as the delicate spices can be over-excited and result in a rough, burnt tasting wine.

How do you heat bottled mulled wine in the microwave? ›

Microwave on HIGH for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes (or heat in a saucepan on the stove) until hot but NOT BOILING. Stir. Pour into wine glasses and serve.

Do you serve mulled wine hot? ›

Also known as spiced wine, mulled wine is a sweet and spicy alcoholic beverage typically made with red wine and a variety of mulling spices. It's traditionally served hot and is most often enjoyed during winter, particularly the holiday season.

What temperature is too hot for wine yeast? ›

What is the ideal fermentation temperature? For red wine, wine fermentation temperature is generally in 20 ℃ to 32 ℃(68 ℉ to 89.6 ℉), high temperature is good for color and tannin extract, but when the temperature reaches 35 ℃ to 38 ℃(95 ℉ to 100.4 ℉), the fermentation will be aborted.

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