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When it comes to wine, there are several options out there for you to choose from which is why there are entire businesses and tons of professionals dedicated to the delicate drink. If you’ve ever been into the depths of the wine world, chances are you’ve heard about or seen mulled wine options before. Mulled wine is very different from traditional wine mainly due to the method in which it is created and processed.
If you want to be adventurous and try your own mulled wine recipe, it’s the perfect choice of wine for such an undertaking because it is very easy to make and you can put your own twist on the recipe to make it unique to your specific likes and interested when it comes to the flavors used in your mulled wine. Mulled wine differs mainly from traditional wine in the sense that it is created using warm water and spices as opposed to the traditional method of letting grapes ferment through a natural process to produce wine.
Mulled wine has a very rich history throughout countries from all over and many natives add local spices and other flavors to their mulled wine in order to make it more of a tradition for the people that are near them. Many countries have different ways of pronouncing their term used for mulled wine most commonly being called Glogg in countries such as Sweden, Norway, and Finland just to name a few.
A lot of people who make homemade mulled wine choose to go with spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cloves because they provide a very earthy, rich, and deep flavor that hits the tongue perfectly. When it comes to making mulled wine, your options are truly endless, you can opt to make an alcohol-free version of your mulled wine, a mild version of your mulled wine, or a strong version of your mulled wine to meet your exact taste needs and desires.
Many people also use fruits such as oranges, lemons, and apples to make their desired version of mulled wine which is what makes it so truly unique. The entire process of making mulled wine is very easy and simple to accomplish so you can begin today if you’re interested in making some of your very own mulled wine.
You can even add raisins or whole nuts to your mulled wine if you want deeper earth tones in your mulled wine. Typically, the mulled wine creation process will consist of your boiling water then adding your choice of spices and letting it simmer for about 30-1hr.
After your boiled spice mixture is finished, you would usually add some sort of fruit juice or wine to the mixture in order to create true mulled wine. If you’re interested in making mulled wine for yourself, you’re in luck because we’re going to teach you how to do so.
In this guide, we’re going to break down all of the critical factors that you should consider when making any variation of mulled wine for your consumption. There are several subtle elements and flavors that you’ll want to include in your mulled wine variety of choice.
We’ll cover important information such as how you should begin creating it, how to filter it, what spices you can add, and a lot more. Make sure that you read this entire guide in full to avoid any issues while you’re making mulled wine, we’ll give you access to all of the information you need so you can understand what mulled wine is and how you can approach making it on your own.
Table of Contents
What is Mulled Wine?
Mulled wine is essentially any wine that uses heat, water, and spices to create the perfect flavor profile of the consumer. Mulled wine can come in many different forms and taste profiles due to the fact that there is no set-in-stone recipe for making mulled wine, you can choose what to add in your mulled wine. A lot of people who make mulled wine use ingredients that are rich in citrus and earthy flavor tones to provide the ultimate wine drinking experience for experienced wine drinkers and novices alike.
Mulled wine is also known as spice wine because many different spicec heated. Mulled wine is typically made with red wine add-ins that even further boost the overall flavor and taste of the wine of your choosing. Mulled wine has a very rich history dating back to the 2nd century in Rome which is where the drink is reported to have gotten its roots from. Mulled wine quickly spread across Europe and today it is an international delicacy that many people enjoy consuming on various occasions and in many different forms.
Most people drink mulled wine as a holiday treat for celebrations like Christmas or during the winter time in general. You can make mulled wine in a variety of different forms including non-alcoholic versions in addition to alcoholic versions that vary in terms of the actual alcoholic content contained within them. D
epending on where you are in the world, your native customs and traditions in relation to mulled wine will take on many different forms. Some people in certain regions of the world enjoy adding particular spices into their mulled wine while others enjoy adding different spices into theirs.
Every culture has its own customs and traditions when it comes to creating mulled wine however one of the main key elements to any good tasting mulled wine is going to be the type of wine used in its creation. Set quantities of how much of a particular ingredient you should use don’t exist in the world of mulled wine which is why it’s so easy for different people to adopt the preparation and production process. One thing that remains the same about mulled wine regardless of where you travel, is it’s a novelty and wonderful flavor whatever kind of recipe you may choose to use.
How Do I Make Mulled Wine?
Making mulled wine is one of the simplest processes that you can possibly go through when compared to any other wine variety available on the market. The thing that everyone loves about mulled wine is the fact that there is no set recipe to make it.
While you do have to follow some basic instruction and procedures to create mulled wine, you can choose to add virtually any kind of spice or fruit that you want to the mixture in order to create the perfect recipe for your taste palette. In the following section, we’re going to detail all of the steps that you need to follow when making mulled wine as a basis for you to explore your wildest creative ideas through the art of winemaking.
If you’re serious about making mulled wine, you’ll want to pay very close attention to the following section to ensure that you avoid any potential issues or mishaps during the process. Each of the following steps is critical in the entire mulled wine making process so don’t skip any necessary steps until you reach the section about adding your own spices to the mixture you’ve created.
Mulled Wine Making Steps
- Add your wine to the pot- this is the first and most important step in making any type of mulled wine that you desire. It’s important for you to take into consideration the dominant flavor profile that you want your mulled wine to have because the type of wine that you choose to use will play a big role in how your mulled wine comes out in the end. There are several great existing wine choices that you can choose from to make your mulled wine however the most commonly used type is red wine. This is largely due to the fact that red wine has natural fruity undertones and flavors that will mesh well with virtually any spice combination you decide to add to your mulled wine.
- Add-in any spices of your choosing- now it’s time for the most important step in making mulled wine, adding your spices. There are several different spices you can choose from to add to your mulled wine of choice. You can use any spice you want including but not limited to: cinnamon, lime, cardamom, orange spice, anise, and more. The type of spices that you add to your mulled wine will play a huge role in its final taste profile and overall flavor so make sure that you choose the right spices which you will enjoy while drinking. There are no limits to the kind of spices that you can add to mulled wine which is what makes it such a versatile and fun drink to make. It is recommended for you to avoid ground spices when making mulled wine because they usually don’t mix well with your wine mixture once added.
- Add Apple Spice or Sugar- now that you have a pretty great tasting base for your mulled wine, it’s time for you to add extra flavoring and that accents the original spices that you used. Two of the most common mulled wine add-ins are apple cider and sugar. Both of these additions will add an extra layer of flavor to the overall profile of your mulled wine. You can choose whether to add apple cider or sugar into your mulled wine by looking at what original spices you used to create it. This will give you a great starting point when deciding on whether to add sugar or apple cider into your mulled wine.
- Add Citrus Flavors- no mulled wine is complete without a citrus flavor profile underlying the overall taste of the wine. Many people use orange peel or crushed orange peels in order to add a well-appreciated citrus undertone to the ultimate flavor profile of your mulled wine. The added citrus in your mulled wine will balance out the contrasting flavors in your mulled wine combination perfectly leaving you with the ultimate festive or occasional drink for you to enjoy.
- Let your mulled wine mixture simmer- before finishing your mulled wine, you need to let all of the ingredients simmer to collect the true flavor from all of their richness. The recommended time to let your mulled wine simmer doesn’t exist because simmer times will vary from person to person depending on how much mulled wine you’re making and how big of a pot you’re making it in.
- Add brandy- the last and final step in making your mulled wine is adding brandy to the overall mix. By adding brandy to your finished mulled wine, you’ll be able to give it that extra boost in terms of potency and flavor as soon as it hits your tongue. The type of brandy that you use is totally up to you because that is what mulled wine is all about, personalization.
Now that you’ve created the perfect combination of flavors and zest for your mulled wine, it’s time to begin serving your wonderful creation to your friends and family. While there is no predetermined way for you to serve your mulled wine, this method is generally accepted as the most commonly used and safest way to do so. Keep in mind, your mulled wine will be very hot when it comes off of the stove top so you want to ensure that you serve the mixture inside of a glass that can handle very high heat.
How to serve mulled wine
To begin serving your mulled wine, you want to grab a ladle which will allow you to scoop your mulled wine into your desired glass or drinking cup of choice. Next, you want to slowly capture your mulled wine inside of the ladle so that you can see exactly how much steam is coming off of the liquid.
For best serving measures, always wait until there is a moderate amount of heat coming from the mulled wine in your ladle to ensure that it’s safe for people to begin drinking. Next, you want to arrange your glassware with garnishments such as whole cinnamon sticks, or peels, or teas leaves of your choice, once again just for another added layer of flavor and zest during consumption. You always want to serve your mulled wine slowly so that all of the flavors are evenly distributed across the entire profile of the mixture.
Once your mulled wine is in the serving glass of your choice, you can begin consuming the mixture to enjoy all of the flavors and spices you combined to make the drink of your choice.
What is the best type of wine variety to use for making mulled wine?
Now that you pretty much know all of the basic elements involved with making mulled wine, it’s time for you to begin deciding on which wine variety out there offers the flavor and robust taste profile that you’re trying to create with your mulled wine mixture. The most commonly used type of wine in mulled wine production is red wine, mainly due to its very deep and robust flavor profile that is oftentimes accompanied by intriguing hints of fruit and other light refreshing elements.
Sticking to the theme of mulled wine in general, there is no predetermined or preferred type of wine that you should use for making your mulled wine. You can make delicious mulled wine from either red or white wine varieties so don’t feel like you’re limited to just one type.
There are various companies and producers of wine varieties that will make for the perfect fit in any mulled wine mixture that you’re trying to create. This means that your options are truly limitless, in the section below, we’re going to cover some of the best and most used wine types and brands available on the market so that you can create the perfect mulled wine for any occasion or event that you may be participating in.
Although all of the wine options listed below are recommended for making mulled wine, you can choose any type of wine that you want in order to create the perfect flavor results for your taste buds.
Top Wine Recommendations for Making Mulled Wine
All of the wine recommendations listed below vary in terms of the flavor profile, color, and a lot more. Before making a final decision to use any one particular wine type in your mulled wine, make sure that you taste the wine before to ensure that it adds the flavor and taste you’re looking for in your mulled wine.
Many of these recommendations can be found in your local grocery store or supermarket and If you can’t seem to find one of the options that you’re most interested in below in a supermarket or store near you, consider going online to find the perfect fit for your specific needs and desires.
#1 Leyda Pinot Noir 2018
Leyda Pinot Noir is a very robust and classic red wine variety that is perfect for making mulled wine. Leyda Pinot Noir has a very rich and mature flavor profile that will add depth and character to any mulled wine that you decide to make. Leyda Pinot Noir is cultivated by harvesting up to 8-9 total tons of grapes in order to make a batch of the delicious beverage.
Leyda Pinot Noir is fermented for about 10 days before being rolled out to the public. The Leyda Pinot Noir goes great with chicken, turkey, baked fish, vegetables, and more. Leyda Pinot Noir is a wonderful and great wine variety that you can mix with virtually any mulled wine in order to create a powerful flavor combination.
If you’re interested in making some premium mulled wine that is rich, robust, and tastes great as soon as it hits the tongue, Leyda Pinot Noir is the perfect choice to make those dreams a reality. Leyda Pinot Noir is a great full-bodied wine that is dry which makes it perfect for boiling and mixing with mulled wine. You can pick up a bottle of Leyda Pinot Noir at a local grocery store or some other supermarket near your area.
#2 2016 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi
2016 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi is a wonderful and luxuriously crafted and fermented red wine option that goes great with virtually any type of mulled wine that you can dream of making. When it comes to the perfect wine variety for your mulled wine, it doesn’t get much better than 2016 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi.
2016 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi incorporates flavors from natural fruits and berries such as black plums, cocoa, vanilla, blueberries, and much more all wrapped into the perfect dry red wine option that will blend perfectly with your mulled wine recipe of choice. You even have the option of cellaring your
2016 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi for up to 10yrs if you really want to grab those deep flavors out of the ingredients used in the original recipe of the wine. 2016 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi is fermented in vineyards that have rather warm and dry climates with nutrients that enrich the soil in which those particular grapes are grown on.
2016 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi contains a complete blend of 17% Petite Sirah, 1% Alicante Bouschet, and 82% Zinfandel which makes for the perfect starting and ending point for a mulled wine. Pick up a bottle of 2016 Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi at one of your local supermarkets or grocery stores that offer wine for sale.
#3 Adobe Syrah Reserva
Adobe Syrah Reserva is a very powerful and robust red wine option for those looking to create great tasting mulled wine. Adobe Syrah Reserva is crafted using a very intricate fermentation process which ensures the maximum flavor profile is extracted from the core of the grapes used during its production.
Adobe Syrah Reserva is created using blackcurrant fruit and blueberries which provide a very smooth and refreshing taste to the wine overall. Adobe Syrah Reserva comes in only one bottle size which is 75cl, the total amount of alcohol content contained in Adobe Syrah Reserva is 13.5% which is fairly low considering the alcohol content in most other red wine options available on the market.
Adobe Syrah Reserva is fermented and crafted in regions close to Chile which is starting to become a leader in wine grape fermentation around the world lately. You can enjoy a very robust glass of mulled wine by using Adobe Syrah Reserva as your base wine, to begin with when creating your overall mulled wine mixture. You can pick up a bottle of Adobe Syrah Reserva at any grocery store or local supermarket in your area and if not you can always purchase a bottle online.
Keep in mind that these suggestions are simply ours and should not dictate what type of wine you ultimately decide to use in your mulled wine. As long as you use all of these recommendations to get a good idea about the type of wine you should use as a starting base when creating your mulled wine of choice.
Conclusion
All of the information and tips in this article will be very useful for you when you begin to create your mulled wine mixture. As stated previously in this guide, mulled wine does not have any set recipe so you can ultimately decide on what overall ingredients you want to use in your mulled wine of choice so don’t get caught up on using any preset standards when it comes to the type of spices or wine you should use as a base for your mulled wine.
As long as you use this guide as a starting point to help you throughout the process, you shouldn’t have any problem making the mulled wine of your deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the best things about the Mulled experience is the incredible aromas and flavors that the “high-temperature” release. You can definitely drink it cold, but it won’t have its distinctive delicious taste.
Yes! If you prepare a big batch of mulled, and you don’t want to throw it away, you can wait until it cools down to room temperature, save it on airtight storage and place it on the refrigerator for a maximum of 3 days. Next time you want to drink it, reheat it on really low heat or even in the slow cooker until it gets the right temperature.
Some alcoholic wines can have a sleepy effect on some people, including mulled, but other that, this beverage can be very healthy! All the aromas and spices on the infused wine can have hormonal benefits and even boost your memory!
Mulled Wine Customized For You
Just use your imagination and creativity when it comes to deciding on what mulled wine recipe is best for your desired flavor and taste profile. All of the wine recommendations and spice recommendations in this guide are great places for you to start creating the overall recipe of your mulled wine.
Be confident and don’t be afraid to experiment with your mulled wine so that you can create lasting memories with those who matter most to you around the holidays and other festive occasions any time of the year.
Further read:
How to Find The Best Port Wine
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