In cold weather, we find ourselves turning to warmer beverages to keep us toasty warm. Chocolate lovers enjoy hot chocolate, apple lovers drink hot apple cider, and hot tea and coffee are always popular as well. But what about wine lovers? Are they supposed to suffer through the cold with chilled bottles of white or lukewarm bottles of red? Absolutely not! In the chill of fall and winter, wine lovers turn to mulled cider wine to keep them warm.
Making Mulled Wine
The process of making mulled wine is quite simple. It involves red wine, mulling spices and usually a crockpot. The wine for mulled wine should be red to enjoy the most authentic taste, but it doesn’t need to be the highest quality wine on the shelf. The mulling spices will add a nice flavor to any red wine you choose.
Recipe for Gluhwein
Hot German wine that has been mulled is often referred to as Gluhwein. The German beverage is often thought of as an after-ski drink by tourists due to its ability to thaw you out after hours in the blistering cold of the snowy mountains.
This recipe for Gluhwein will warm you on the chilliest of autumn nights.
Ingredients:
- 750 ml of dry red wine
- ¼ cup brandy (optional)
- ¼ cup honey (or sugar)
- 8 cloves (whole)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 1 orange (sliced in rounds)
Directions:
Combine ingredients, cooking the mulled wine recipe in your crockpot on medium-low for 15 minutes to 3 hours. Before serving, strain your Gluhwein.
Warm Up With Mulled Wine
Whether you’ve been racing down the slopes or haven’t left the house, mulled wine is a great way to end the day on a warm and relaxing note. It’s the perfect warm beverage for the cold season. It complements many dishes that pair well with a traditional red wine, and it’s also delicious on it’s own. If you aren’t normally a wine drinker, we highly suggest you try a mulled version this year. You may find a new favorite winter drink!
