The Only Mulled Wine Recipe You’ll Need This Christmas & Winter.
Few drinks capture the magic of winter like a steaming cup of traditional mulled wine. There’s something timeless and comforting about mulled wine. Whether you’re hosting Christmas dinner, cozying up on a cold night, or preparing a festive party, knowing how to make mulled wine that’s perfectly spiced, balanced, and aromatic is an essential winter skill.
This guide covers everything you need: the best wine for mulled wine, the essential ingredients, the easiest mulled wine recipe, expert tips, and delicious variations to elevate your winter sipping experience.
What is Classic Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a warm, spiced wine traditionally made by gently heating red wine with spices, citrus, and a hint of sweetness. Popular across Europe, especially in Germany (Glühwein), the UK, and Scandinavia, this festive drink has been enjoyed for centuries as a way to stay warm in winter.
The core components of any great traditional mulled wine are always a fruity red wine, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and fresh orange slices. The key difference between a good mulled wine and a great one is in the quality of the base wine and the balance of these spice components.
Choosing the Best Wine for Mulled Wine
If you want to achieve a really good mulled wine, you must start with a really good wine. This is because choosing the best wine for mulled wine is crucial for delivering the expected depth, richness, and balance. For any successful mulled wine recipe, the key is selecting a base that is fruity, medium-bodied, and not overly tannic. This careful selection allows the aromatic spices to integrate beautifully, ensuring they shine without being masked or overwhelmed.
Top 5 Best Types of Wine to Use
Merlot
Merlot is a classic choice for hot spiced drinks. It is inherently smooth, soft, and easy-drinking, with primary notes of plum and cherry. Its naturally low tannin structure means it won’t become harsh or drying when heated, making it the perfect canvas for cinnamon and clove.
Zinfandel
For a richer, deeper flavor profile, Zinfandel is exceptional. It boasts bold, jammy red and black fruit notes (like raspberry, blackberry, and often a hint of pepper) which naturally complement the warming spices. This wine adds complexity and a beautiful dark ruby color to your finished drink.
Tempranillo (Spanish Rioja)
A common choice for authentic European traditional mulled wine, Tempranillo offers excellent value and depth. Spanish varieties often carry subtle earthy and vanilla notes from aging, which add an extra layer of complexity to the overall spice blend without being overpowering.
Grenache (Garnacha)
Grenache is prized for its high volume of bright, ripe red fruit flavors (strawberry, cherry) and its medium body. Because it is naturally low in acid and tannins, it creates a remarkably smooth, sweet-spiced, and aromatic mulled wine that is ready to drink quickly.
Budget Cabernet Sauvignon
While high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon can be too tannic, using a lighter, inexpensive bottle is perfectly acceptable for mulled wine. Look specifically for bottles that are described as “soft” or “fruit-forward.” The intense dark fruit character works well, but be cautious—if the tannins taste strong before mulling, they will intensify when heated.
Avoid Wines That Are:
- Highly oaked (tastes like old wood when heated)
- Very tannic (can taste dry and dusty)
- Extremely sweet or overly acidic
Pro Tip: Choose a wine you’d drink on its own, but save the expensive bottles. Mulled wine recipe results are forgiving.
The Ultimate Mulled Wine Recipe — How to Make Mulled Wine
This is the most reliable, richly flavored mulled wine recipe: deep, aromatic, and perfectly balanced. This recipe has never failed me and has been a staple during winter times and, of course, Christmas dinners. It’s also a pretty easy mulled wine recipe.
Recipe Ingredients (Core List)
- 1 bottle (750ml) red wine
- 1 orange (sliced into rounds)
- Zest of 1 orange
- Juice of ½ orange
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- ¼ cup sugar or honey (adjust to taste)
- ¼ cup brandy or Cointreau (optional but highly recommended for richer flavor)
Instructions: How to Make Mulled Wine
- Combine Ingredients: Add wine, orange slices, zest, juice, spices, and sweetener to a large pot or saucepan. Do NOT add the optional brandy/liqueur yet.
- Heat Gently (Crucial Step): Warm on the lowest heat setting for 20–30 minutes. Do not boil—boiling evaporates the alcohol and can make the spices bitter. Steam rising slightly is the goal.
- Taste and Adjust: Remove a small sample, taste it, and add more sweetness, citrus, or spice as desired. If the flavor is too mild, continue to simmer for 5–10 more minutes.
- Add Alcohol (Optional): Turn off the heat. Stir in the brandy or orange liqueur for extra warmth and depth. Let it sit for 30 seconds before serving.
- Serve Warm: Ladle into mugs, ensuring you leave the heavy spices (like cloves) behind. Garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick or orange slice. And now, take a deep breath inhaling the warmth, the spiciness…and enjoy!
Do you need to make a bigger batch? Just double or triple the recipe. Mulled wine scales perfectly for parties. Simply multiply all ingredients by your desired volume.
Expert Tips for Perfect Mulled Wine Retention
1. Control the Temperature: The number one mistake when learning how to make mulled wine is boiling it. Gentle, low heat is the secret to extracting spice flavors without bringing out bitterness.
2. Don’t Over-Spice: Spices intensify over time. Start small with the amounts in the mulled wine recipe above. You can always add more, but you can’t take them out.
3. Sweeten Gradually: Different wines need different amounts of sugar. Taste after 15 minutes of simmering.
4. Let It Rest: Mulled wine tastes even better after 10 minutes off the heat as flavors meld.
5. Make It Ahead: Mulled wine stores well for 3–4 days in the fridge. Just reheat gently. This is a great party prep tip!
Mulled Wine Variations to Try
Want to try something different? Once you have mastered the traditional mulled wine recipe, these exciting variations allow you to customize the flavor profile to suit any festive occasion or personal preference.
The Brighter Citrus Blend
If you prefer a more citrus forward drink, go for it! Add more thin slices of orange and lemon peel to the simmering pot. For the final touch, stir in a splash of high-quality orange liqueur like Grand Marnier or Cointreau instead of brandy.
Apple Mulled Wine (Hot Wassail Style)
Want something fruitier and brighter? Try this variation which blends the classic spice profile with orchard flavors. Replace 1 cup of the red wine with quality, unfiltered apple cider. Add sliced apples (Gala or Fuji work best) along with your citrus. The result is a richer, more autumnal take on how to make mulled wine.
White Mulled Wine (German Christmas Market Style)
A refreshing alternative to the classic red, White Mulled Wine (Weisser Glühwein) uses a dry, aromatic white wine like Pinot Grigio or Riesling. The spice profile is often lighter: think elderflower syrup, pear slices, honey, and cardamom instead of cloves. It offers a cleaner, brighter flavor perfectly suited for pre-dinner sipping.
Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine (Family-Friendly)
If you’re looking for a recipe that includes children or those that abstain from alcohol, you might want to try this one. It’s an essential recipe for holiday entertaining. To make this, simply replace the red wine with a dark, high-quality grape, cranberry, or pomegranate juice. Follow the exact same instructions for adding spices and citrus. The gentle simmering process still creates a complex, aromatic, and warming festive drink that everyone can enjoy.
German Glühwein Style
For an authentic taste of a European Christmas market, increase the proportion of cloves and lemon peel in your mulled wine recipe. The German version often favors lemon over orange for a sharper balance. To achieve the dramatic “Feuerzangenbowle” style, soak a sugar cone in high-proof rum (like Stroh Rum) and light it on fire, allowing the caramelized sugar to drip into the finished wine.
What to Serve With Mulled Wine
The warm spices of your traditional mulled wine complement rich, cozy winter treats beautifully. The key to successful pairing is matching the wine’s spice notes (cinnamon, clove) and balancing its sweetness with rich or savory textures. Your mulled wine will pair very well with gingerbread cookies, panettone, apple pie or crumble, dark chocolate desserts, spiced nuts and even cheeseboards.
Whether you’re aiming for a traditional mulled wine flavor or exploring modern variations, mastering a great mulled wine recipe is one of the joys of the holiday season. With the right ingredients and the best wine for mulled wine, you’ll create a warm, aromatic drink that instantly elevates any winter gathering.
Related content:
Leave a Reply