This simple mulled wine recipe combines a unique blend of spices with wine and a little somethin’ extra to make a super satisfying beverage. Best of all, there are endless ways to customize this recipe with whatever you have on hand!
(this post may contain affiliate links – meaning if you follow the links to make your purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you)
Jump to RecipeWhat Exactly is Mulled Wine?
A drink of many names – glühwein, vino caliente, glögg – mulled wine is essentially a combination of warmed wine and spices.
Mulled wine is a must for the holidays since even the process of making it is enough to fill your house with a warm and welcoming winter spice aroma. Whether you make your own spice blend or you use the same one I’m using (I’ll link a discount code below), your house is going to smell so, so good once you get to cooking this recipe.
Now, every recipe for this classic winter warmer is different, so I’ve included many variations in this post. From the spice blend to the type of wine to the additional flavors of liqueurs, you can take my recipe as a base and make it your own.
Oh, and if you’re in need of more seasonal beverage pairings to serve alongside your mulled wine, I have one word for you – Port! If you have any questions regarding this magic elixer, then definitely check out my post on the exciting world of Portuguese wines.
Ingredients for Mulled Wine
Here’s a quick breakdown of the ingredients I will be using to make this mulled wine recipe, along with tips and tricks that will hopefully save you a trip to the store.
Dry red wine- Definitely don’t use your most expensive bottle of wine for making mulled wine. I recommend using wine that’s been open for a couple of days or buying a mid-shelf pricepoint wine. As for wine styles, a balanced red blend or a fruity Merlot, Grenache, or Cabernet Sauvignon – are all great choices. Basically, pick a wine that’s cheap, but not incredibly so, and is younger and fruity in flavor.
Mulling spices- For this recipe, I will be using a pre-made blend from Rumi Spice, an Afghani-based woman-owned spice company that sells ethically-sourced spice blends. I love this blend because it incorporates saffron, and the balance of flavor and aroma is perfect. Alternatively, I’ve also included a recipe for building your own spice blend below.
Honey- My sweetener of choice. This can also be swapped for agave, brown sugar, or maple syrup. Sweetener can also be adjusted to suit your preferences.
Amaretto- Almond liqueur, which I chose because it’s a little out-of-the-ordinary, but I really enjoyed the subtle nuttiness it adds to mulled wine. This can be omitted for a lesser boozy beverage, or it can be swapped with bourbon, orange liqueur, or even Fireball cinnamon whiskey!
Orange wheel- Optional, for serving.
How to Make Mulled Wine
It could not be easier to make mulled wine, even if you don’t consider yourself much of a home cook. Trust me, the aromatic blend of spices will make your house smell heavenly. And, at the end of the day, this recipe is best made when suited to your preferences.
Step One: Add Ingredients to Saucepan
First, if you’re making your own mulling spice blend, add all of your ingredients into a sealable jar. Then, set a medium-sized saucepan to medium heat and add your bottle of red wine, mulling spices, and honey. Bring this blend to a simmer and occasionally stir for about 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can continue simmering on low heat for up to three hours in your slow cooker.
Step Two: Simmer, Adjust and Serve
After 15 minutes, add your liquor or liqueur of choice, mix to combine, then taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. Serve your mulled wine in mugs with optional cinnamon sticks and orange wheels. Then, kick back and relax!
Tips for Making Perfect Mulled Wine
- Cook low and slow- To avoid burning the wine, as this will lead to a bitter and less fruity glögg (as fun to say as it is to drink… glögg!)
- Break out the slow cooker- This recipe tastes great as is, but you can also prepare it in your slow cooker and cook it at a low setting for up to 3 hours with the lid on.
- Choose your spices wisely- If using a darker red wine, emphasize warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. If using a lighter-bodied wine such as a Pinot, emphasize bright green spices like cardamom.
- Try white wine, hard cider, or nonalcoholic apple cider- Either dry or slightly sweet white wine will taste great in this recipe, along with hard apple cider or nonalcoholic apple cider.
Storing and Reheating Mulled Wine
This recipe for mulled wine makes six servings, though it can easily be adjusted to make a half-batch or double-batch. That being said, leftovers can easily be stored in an airtight container for up to three days.
To reheat your mulled wine, transfer the leftovers to a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Stir occasionally until it is fully reheated.
Discount Code
As I mentioned before, I can not get enough of this spice blend from Rumi Spices. Click this link and use code Share10 for 10% off of your first order, and feel good for supporting a small woman-owned spice company.
Next week, I’ll be making a creamy, savory squash soup using this Afghan curry blend.
FAQs
No! As good as traditional mulled wine made with red wine tastes, it can taste just as good when served with white wine, alcoholic apple cider, or nonalcoholic apple cider.
Generally, mulled wine will keep its optimal flavor for about three days, and so long as it’s properly reheated, it should continue to taste just as good as on day one.
It depends on your spice blend, but generally, a light and bright aromatic white wine such as Viognier, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, or Semillon will taste good when prepared as mulled wine.
Mulled Wine
Equipment
- 1 Large saucepan
- 1 Wood spoon
- 1 Ladle
- Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Dry red wine Or hard cider, non-alcoholic apple cider, or white wine
- 3 tbsp Mulling spices Optional, can make your own with the ingredients listed below
- 3 tbsp Honey Or more to taste, can be swapped with brown sugar, white sugar, or agave nectar
- 1/4 cup Amaretto Optional, can be swapped with bourbon, orange liqueur, or Fireball cinnamon whiskey
- Orange wheel and cinnamon sticks, for serving Optional
For mulling spices
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 2 tbsp Dried orange peel, coarsely chopped
- 1 tbsp Cardamom pods
- 1 tbsp Allspice
- 4 Star anise
- 1 tbsp Cloves
- 1 tsp Black or pink peppercorns
Instructions
- In a large saucepan set over medium heat, add your red wine, mulling spices, and honey. Stir to combine and let simmer for 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.
- Add your liquor or liqueur of choice, then taste and adjust the sweetener if necessary. Serve hot with an orange wheel and optional cinnamon stick.
For mulling spices
- Add all mulling spice ingredients to a sealable jar and store for up to six months.
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