Mulled Wine

Mulled Wine is a traditional holiday drink made with red wine, brandy, and mulling spices like cloves, star anise, and cinnamon. It’s delicious, cozy, and guaranteed to warm you from the inside out.

Cooler temperatures are here, and the holidays are fast approaching; cozy up with a cup (or two) of this warm, gently spiced mulled wine recipe. (yes, there’s alcohol in it!)

What is Mulled Wine?

A traditional mulled wine recipe consists of red wine that’s been spiced, sweetened, and heated. It usually has some sort of hard liquor mixed in, like brandy, and other optional ingredients like apple cider and citrus slices.

In Germany, mulled wine is known as Gluhwein or “glow wine” and is made with a shot of rum or amaretto. In Prague, the beautiful city where I had my first mulled wine experience, it is called svařák, and is typically served without the addition of hard liquor. Head over to Sweden, and you’ll get Gløgg– a wine made with blanched almonds, raisins, cardamom, and lots of sugar.

While the foundation for mulled wine is the same no matter where you go, the regional differences give each its own unique taste and flavor.

Key Ingredients

Find the printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

• Red Wine. A dry, well-balanced red wine is perfect for this recipe. Most importantly, choose a wine that you enjoy to drink.
• Liquor (optional). Similar to sangria, this recipe really loves a little brandy. However, feel free to pick your favorite liquor- rum, vodka, brandy- or leave it out altogether.
• Oranges. Oranges are a classic additiond, but feel free to include clementines or lemons (or both!).
• Fruit. I went a little rogue with this recipe and added fresh cranberries and blackberries. The blackberries, in particular, added really nice sweet berry notes.
• Whole spices. Although it differs from region to region, there are three must-have spices in any warm and toasty wine (according to me)- whole cloves, star anise, and whole cinnamon sticks. Add whatever you have on hand, but take care to remove all spices (especially those little cloves) before serving.
• Sweetener. I used maple syrup, but brown sugar, granulated sugar, or honey also works. Of course, feel free to skip the added sugar. 

How to Make Mulled Wine

1. Add the wine. Pour the wine into a pot, saucepan, or slow cooker. Add the whole spices, brandy, and other ingredients and mix well to combine.
2. Simmer. Gently bring the wine to a low simmer over medium-low to low heat. Do not boil. Heat for approximately 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. To cook in the crockpot, cover it with a lid, and heat on low for one hour or until warm throughout.
3. Serve. Carefully ladle into the desired number of serving glasses. Leave the spices behind for reuse. Garnish with additional fruit, if desired.

Does Mulled Wine Have Alcohol?

Yes. Mulled wine is a warm, spice-infused wine.

Many recipes (like this one) often include liquor like brandy, vodka, or rum, thus making it even more potent. The key to maintaining the alcohol in mulled wine is to avoid boiling. A few seconds of boiling will not boil off all the alcohol; however, it’s best to keep it at a very low and gentle simmer. The idea is to get the wine warm enough so that the spices and fruit can infuse into it but not so warm that it starts to boil.

Recipe Tips

• Avoid over-spicing. There’s a reason why soups, stews, and, yes, mulled wine only call for a couple of cinnamon sticks or whole star anise…these spices are potent. A couple of each is all you’ll need.
• Do not drink or eat the spices. Instead, leave them behind in the pot. They’re good for 2-3 more rounds of wine.
• Avoid boiling. Boiling for longer than a few seconds will quickly decrease the alcohol content of your spiced wine.
• Add some cider. Adding apple juice or apple cider is a great way to sweeten it up without adding sugar. Start with 1 cup.
• Make it in a slow cooker. It’s easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Fabulous Cocktail Recipes

I love a yummy cocktail from time to time. Mulled wine is one of my favorites to serve for friends and family around the holidays, along with these other delicious drinks.