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Home > Drinks Recipes > Simple Mulled Wine Recipe

Simple Mulled Wine Recipe

Modified: Dec 1, 2023 · Published: Oct 30, 2020

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mulled wine in glass with text

Mulled wine is the ultimate cozy holiday drink that will help keep you warm during the winter festive season! The simplest and easiest winter cocktail is here to help you kick-start your holiday season! This traditional drink can be made on the stovetop, slow cooker, or instant pot.

traditional mulled wine in heat proof mugs with spices on sides
Jump to:
  • Why you’ll love mulled wine recipe
  • Ingredients you’ll need
  • How to make it on stove top
  • How to make mulled wine in slow cooker/crock pot
  • Useful tips
  • Storing info
  • Common questions
  • 📋Simple Mulled Wine Recipe

Why you’ll love mulled wine recipe

  1. Hands down one of the easiest and simplest winter cocktails out there. It doesn’t get easier than steeping wine with winter-warming spices, fruits, and sweeteners.  Heat in a pot on LOW flame to let the spices blend in.
  2. Best ways to kick start holiday party. This vintage recipe adds a warm charm to the party; your guests will love it.
  3. It can be made on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or crockpot without almost any prep work and no hands-on cooking time.
  4. A cozy drink to help warm up during winter evenings.
  5. Comforting drink perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s a crowd-pleaser!
  6. Steeping wine with spices, oh boy my house smells like Christmas! You’ll want that beautiful scent to linger on for ever!
  7. Mulled wine sold in stores is mostly very sweet and spicy. And comparatively expensive. The homemade version of traditional mulled wine is not just cheaper and helps you save $$, but you can control how sweet or how strong the spices should be steeped into the wine according to your preference.
  8. No need to buy expensive bottles of red wine. Pick the economical bottle. The flavor of the wine will be enhanced and changed with mulling. Grab a bottle of inexpensive wine.
  9. It keeps well for 3 days in the refrigerator. Great for make-ahead drinks. But best served hot immediately.

Ingredients you’ll need

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 bottle of dry red wine  I used Cabernet Sauvignon
  • ½ cup brandy optional but recommended
  • ½ cup demerara sugar or other sweetener of your choice like honey, maple syrup
  • 2 orange cut into slices
  • 6 cloves
  • 2-3 cinnamon sticks
  • 6-8 cardamom pods
  • 4 star anise
  • 1 teaspoon all spices

For Garnish:

  • Orange slices
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Star Anise
all ingredients for traditional mulled wine recipe on white board
  • Wine – don’t buy expensive or cheap wine. You can pick the economical bottle of dry red wine for a mulled wine recipe. You don’t need expensive wine. You can use any of these Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Chianti, Merlot
  • Brandy – optional but will add a nice flavor to the cocktail. Flavored liqueur like orange-flavored brandy works great.
  • Spices – Be judicious about the amount of spices. Choose the amount of spices that suits YOUR taste. Feel free to include other spices that you may like reduce the amount of spices mentioned in the recipe or leave out any spice that is not your personal favorite. Do NOT use ground spices.
  • A traditional mulled wine usually includes all these whole spices – cinnamon stick, star anise, cardamom pods, all spices, cloves
  •  Sweetener – feel free to use any sweetener of your choice. I have used demerara sugar. Granulate white sugar, honey, maple syrup, or stevia can be used. If you like a sweeter cocktail increase the amount of sweetener in the recipe.
  • Fruits – fresh orange cut into slices. Other fruits may also be used.

Additions and substitutions

  • Other Spices – Nutmeg, bay leaves, vanilla pod, fennel seeds, fresh ginger slices, chili pepper, coriander seeds.
  • Other Fruits –  apples, pears, and grapes are the best choices.
  • Fresh Berries – berries can also be added, like cranberries, and cherries.
  • Some German mulled wine recipe calls for adding almonds and raisins.

How to make it on stove top

  1. In a large saucepan or pot pour red wine. Add in all whole spices – cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and allspice. Add demerara sugar and orange slices.
  2. Give it a stir.
  3. Heat wine on LOW flame. Behold the temptation to heat wine at a high temperature and let it boil. Boiling will evaporate all alcohol from the wine.
  4. Cover and let it heat on LOWEST heat on your stove. Please do not let wine boil. Allow the spices and fruit flavors to steep into the wine. You can let wine steep anywhere between 15 minutes to 5 hours. The longer you steep, flavors will be.
  5. When done, turn off the flame. Strain spices and fruits from the pot using a strainer. Discard fruits and spices. Note – I removed the fruits and most of the whole spices using a strainer spatula. Tiny spices while all spices were strained using a fine strainer.
  6. Serve wine immediately in heat-proof mugs. Mulled wine is best enjoyed while it’s hot.
step by step picture collage of how to make mulled wine recipe

How to make mulled wine in slow cooker/crock pot

  • Set slow cooker to low.
  • Pour wine, and add spices, fruits, and sweetener to the cooker. Stir.
  • Heat it until spices and fruits are steeped. You can steep it for 1 hour to 5 hours. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavors will be.
  • Serve hot.
German mulled wine cooked on the stove top in a pot

Useful tips

  • For best results use dry red wine.
  • Wine should be heated low and slow. Hold the temptation to increase heat to boil wine assuming that might help steep fruits and spices into wine. No, it won’t! You’d rather be boiling away all alcohol content from wine. Do not let it boil.
  • Use whole spices. We do not want the grits of ground spices. Ground spices will change the wine texture to grainy and gritty which is not pleasant. Whole spices will impart beautiful flavor and aroma to the drink.
  • Be judicious on the amount of spices. Don’t go overboard. A few spices are enough to add flavor and aroma to the wine. Choose the amount of spices that suits YOUR taste.
  • Be sure to taste your mulled wine before serving. Stir in extra sweetener is you find the mulled wine too strong.
  • Be sure to fish out all the spices before serving. Use cheesecloth if you have to remove all the spices.
  • Other liqueur like brandy is optional but highly recommended. It will enhance the flavor.
  • Don’t miss out of garnish. Few slices of fresh oranges, cinnamon stick and star anise.
  • Always serve mulled wine hot in heat proof mugs.

Storing info

Store: allow the wine to cool completely. Pour into an airtight glass container and store in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Reheat: when ready to serve gently warm wine in a pot on stove top on low heat. Reheat until warm, and serve immediately.

Common questions

What is mulled wine?

Mulled wine is a traditional winter cocktail. Wine steeped with mulling spices and fruits is served on cold winter evenings. It’s a great holiday drink for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Different regions make this age-old traditional winter cocktail slightly different.
In some countries, nuts and raisins are also included in mulling wine.

What’s the other name for mulled wine?

Mulled wine is also called glögg, spiced wine, hot wine, glühwein, and vin chaud.

What’s the best wine to use?

No need to buy expensive bottles of red wine. The flavor of the wine will be enhanced and changed with mulling. Grab a bottle of inexpensive wine.
Dry red wine is best. You can use any of these Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Chianti, Merlot
If you want to make mulled white wine, choose any inexpensive dry white wine and follow the recipe.

MORE WINTER DRINKS:

  • Cranberry Margarita
  • Pumpkin Spice Latte
  • Cranberry Moscow Mule
  • Christmas Punch
  • Instant Pot Apple Cider

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hot mulled wine in heat proof mugs with spices on sides
traditional mulled wine in heat proof mugs with spices on sides
5 from 7 votes

📋Simple Mulled Wine Recipe

Jyothi Rajesh
Mulled wine is your ultimate cozy holiday drink that will keep you warm this festive season! The simplest and easiest winter cocktail is here to help you kick-start your holiday season! This traditional drink can be made on the stovetop, slow cooker, or instant pot.
Prevent your screen from going dark
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Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 5 people
Calories 301

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bottle dry red wine I used Cabernet Sauvignon
  • ½ cup brandy optional but recommended
  • ½ cup demerara sugar or other sweetener of your choice like honey or maple syrup
  • 2 orange cut into slices
  • 6 cloves
  • 2-3 cinnamon sticks
  • 6-8 cardamom pods
  • 4 star anise
  • 1 teaspoon all spices

For Garnish:

  • Orange slices
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Star Anise

Instructions
 

  • In a large sauce pan or pot pour red wine.
  • Add in all whole spices – cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, star anise, all spice. Add demerara sugar, orange slices.
  • Heat wine on LOW flame. Behold the temptation to heat wine on high temperature and let it boil. Boiling will evaporate all alcohol from wine.
  • Cover and let it heat on LOWEST heat on your stove. Please do not let wine boil.
  • Allow the spices and fruit flavors to steep into wine.
  • You can let wine steep anywhere between 15 minutes to 5 hours. The longer you steep, flavors will be stronger.
  • When done, turn off flame. Strain spices and fruits from the pot using strainer. Discard fruits and spices. Note – I removed the fruits and most of the whole spices using strainer spatula. Tiny spices while all spices were strainer using a fine strainer.
  • Serve wine immediately in heat proof mugs. Mulled wine is best enjoyed while it’s hot.

Video

Notes

    • For best results use dry red wine.
    • Wine should be heated low and slow. Hold the temptation to increase heat to boil wine assuming that might help steep fruits and spices into wine. No, it won’t! You’d rather be boiling away all alcohol content from wine. Do not let it boil.
    • Use whole spices. We do not want the grits of ground spices. Ground spices will change the wine texture to grainy and gritty which is not pleasant. Whole spices will impart beautiful flavor and aroma to the drink.
    • Be judicious on the amount of spices. Don’t go overboard. A few spices are enough to add flavor and aroma to the wine. Choose the amount of spices that suits YOUR taste.
    • Be sure to taste your mulled wine before serving. Stir in extra sweetener if you find the mulled wine too strong.
    • Be sure to fish out all the spices before serving. Use cheesecloth if you have to remove all the spices.
    • Other liqueur like brandy is optional but highly recommended. It will enhance the flavor.
    • Don’t miss out on garnish. A few slices of fresh oranges, cinnamon sticks, and star anise.
    • Always serve mulled wine hot in heat-proof mugs
 
Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 301kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 144mgFiber: 3gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 118IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Follow @CurryTrail and tag #CurryTrail to share your creation!

Created by Jyothi Rajesh

Thank you for stopping by.

I’m Jyothi Rajesh (Jo for short) and i’m the founder of the food blog, Curry Trail where I share my culinary Adventures. I live in Bangalore, India. I’m a mom of two beautiful kids. My passion is creating and sharing delicious and easy recipes for the home cook. I have been blogging since 2007 and many of my recipes have appeared in both online and print publications over the years. Learn more about Jyothi Rajesh

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Debbie says

    December 12, 2021 at 12:32 am

    I am not a big fan of Cabernet Sauvignon, what else can I use? Could I use a cranberry wine?

    Reply
    • Jyothi Rajesh says

      December 12, 2021 at 8:13 pm

      From what I know and tried mulled wine recipe is made of dark red wine only. I haven’t tried it with cranberry wine so can’t really comment on it

      Reply
  2. Naiby says

    December 22, 2020 at 12:15 am

    5 stars
    OMG, Jyothi, it’s like, you read my mind! I was just talking to my friend the other day about how we should have mulled wine outside with a few friends. (I had no clue how to make it). And now you gave me a recipe! I couldn’t be happier. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  3. Cindy says

    December 21, 2020 at 12:56 pm

    This tasted so good and is so easy to make! I really liked the cardamom in there and will never make mulled wine without it after this! Thanks for the lovely drink recipe.

    Reply
  4. Jamie says

    December 21, 2020 at 9:37 am

    5 stars
    This is such a great festive drink! I love all the spices in here. It goes perfectly with the wine. We’ll be enjoying this for the holidays!

    Reply
  5. Moop Brown says

    December 21, 2020 at 6:17 am

    5 stars
    This looks so perfect for the holidays! I love the way the instant pot was used for this recipe as well.

    Reply
  6. Sam says

    December 21, 2020 at 4:18 am

    This is such a classic holiday drink! I bet the house smells amazing when making it. Sharing with a few friends who would love this,

    Reply
  7. Denise says

    December 17, 2020 at 5:19 am

    5 stars
    Mulled wine during the winter is so lovely! Not only the deliciousness of drinking it, the scent throughout the house is so comforting!

    Reply
  8. Sharon says

    December 15, 2020 at 9:50 pm

    5 stars
    This mulled wine is a must-have during the holidays, it’s so delicious and makes the house smell like Christmas.

    Reply
  9. Melanie C says

    December 15, 2020 at 9:28 am

    Mulled wine is one of my favorite drinks of the winter! I love to sip it around a campfire with my hubby!

    Reply
  10. Chef Dennis says

    December 15, 2020 at 3:28 am

    5 stars
    Tasty! This Mulled wine is perfect for our winter nights! My wife will surely to try this.

    Reply
  11. Linda says

    December 15, 2020 at 1:16 am

    5 stars
    Loved how easy this way to make and, since I always have wine in the house, it seemed like a no-brainer to give this a try. I think I’d even make it just for the aromas coming from it as it steeped. lol But I really love the fact that it isn’t as sweet as store bought and the amount of spices was perfect. Thanks for this great holiday cocktail.

    Reply
    • Jyothi Rajesh says

      December 15, 2020 at 9:41 am

      Hope you like it Linda

      Reply

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Jyothi - Author of Curry Trail.

Welcome, I'm Jyothi

My food philosophy is simple, fresh and full of flavors! I love ‘spicy’ food. In fact so much so that I can skip dessert for extra spicy savory food!

More About Me
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