Mulled Wine

Wine cocktail · Warm

Mulled Wine

Red wine, orange and warm spices. The smell of Christmas.

  • Time20 minutes
  • SkillEasy
  • Serves6
  • GlassHeatproof glass or mug
  • Kits from£26.95
Build your kit Jump to the recipe

A little history

Where it comes from

People have been warming and spicing wine for as long as they've been making it. The Romans did it, and by medieval times spiced wine called hippocras was a winter treat for anyone who could afford the spices.

The Victorians made it part of Christmas. In A Christmas Carol, a reformed Scrooge offers Bob Cratchit a bowl of "Smoking Bishop", a hot spiced port punch. Today it's the smell of every Christmas market from Germany to St Helier.

What you need

  • 2 bottles Fruity red wine In your kit
  • 100ml Port or brandy In your kit
  • 1 Orange, sliced From your kitchen
  • 3 tbsp Sugar or honey Add-on
  • 2 Cinnamon sticks From your kitchen
  • 6 Cloves From your kitchen
  • 2 Star anise From your kitchen

Team tip

Don't waste a good bottle. A soft, fruity, inexpensive red is exactly what you want here.

Build your kit
Three levels, from £26.95

How to make it

  1. 1

    Pour the wine into a large pan and add the sliced orange, sugar and spices.

  2. 2

    Warm it gently over a low heat for 15 minutes. Never let it boil, or you'll cook off the alcohol.

  3. 3

    Stir in the port or brandy just before serving.

  4. 4

    Taste, and add a little more sugar or honey if you like it sweeter.

  5. 5

    Ladle into mugs or heatproof glasses with a slice of orange.

Garnish: A slice of orange and a cinnamon stick

Best with

What to eat with it

Mince pies

The obvious one, for a reason.

Cheese board

Rich cheese with warm, spiced wine. Stilton especially.

Roast chestnuts

Warm, sweet and smoky. Very Christmassy.

Chocolate panettone

A slice of something festive.

Your Mulled Wine kit

1Choose your level

Every kit has two bottles of red and a bottle of port or apple brandy, enough for around 12 glasses.

2Swap the bottle if you like

3Add the extras

Try a twist

Jersey apple mull

Add a splash of Jersey apple brandy instead of port.

White mulled wine

Use a fruity white with honey, ginger and lemon.

Glühwein

The German version, with a little rum stirred in at the end.

Please enjoy responsibly. Over 18s only. For the facts, visit drinkaware.co.uk.