Traditional mulled wine recipe

Mulled wine is not just red wine and spices, it’s the most delicious winter drink, which accompanies Christmas fairs around the world

Would you like to ski on the snow-covered slopes, but the ski resorts are too far away from you? Winter this year does not look like the cold season at all, but more like autumn? The last time you saw real snow was more than three years ago and the show lasted only forty minutes because then everything melted? … and instead of a real fireplace, you have an electric heater? Trust me, it’s not a problem at all! It’s always better to sit in a warm cozy room with an electric heater and dream of snow than to walk between snowdrifts in the cold and dream of a warm cozy room, right? I think the same way.

And a real fireplace, with romantically crackling wood, skiing, and a winter full of snow … it’s all possible! Don’t forget, dreams tend to come true, but not immediately – otherwise it wouldn’t be interesting …

And while the dreams decide that it’s time for them to materialize …

MAKE YOURSELF SOME MULLED WINE!

This aromatic warm drink is already a holiday in itself! It will instantly give you comfort, warm your thoughts and improve your mood.

To be honest, I’m not a “drinker” at all (except for the variety of liqueurs – I love them with all my heart…  otherwise, I only drink non-alcoholic beer, I open champagne exclusively for the New Year, and I mostly adore wine only as an ingredient for risotto, meat stew, and, of course, I use it to make mulled wine! I have to admit… mulled wine is my terrible weakness… And I’m not the only one who loves it… the whole world loves it… well, at least two-thirds of the population for sure!

MULLED WINE – A RECIPE WITH AN ANCIENT HISTORY

Mulled wine is not a modern fashion trend that will be at the peak of popularity until another “new novelty” displaces it. This is a drink with worldwide fame and very ancient history. It confidently goes through the centuries and doesn’t lose its popularity.

EVEN THE INHABITANTS OF ANCIENT ROME PREPARED A DRINK WITH WINE, HONEY, AND SPICES

However, since the weather in their area was not particularly cold, the Romans did not heat the wine but simply infused it with honey, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. In those days, spices were a symbol of abundance, so to show others their wealth, the rich part of the ancient Romans added them wherever possible. The combination of wine and spices turned out to be very successful, so when the Romans conquered most of Europe, the beloved Roman drink Conditum Paradoxum (as mulled wine was called in those days) spread throughout the empire. The drink helped to warm up, served as a digestive at the end of the meal and was used for medicinal purposes (even the ancient Greek doctor Hippocrates “enlightened” people about the disinfecting effect of spices).

In the northern countries, winters were far from being as warm as in Rome, so the local peoples began to cook wine with spices – such a drink warmed up perfectly, and spices gave off even more flavor. Actually, thanks to such a change in the recipe and method of preparation, mulled wine has become even more popular, especially in the North of Europe.

Different peoples have adapted the recipe of mulled wine according to their tastes and local ingredients, giving the wine with spices their own “local” name: Glögg in Scandinavian countries, Vin brulé in Italy, Vin chaud in France, Glühwein in Germany, Bischopswijn in Holland… Someone adds raisins, almonds, ginger to mulled wine; others make the drink even stronger by adding cognac or rum.

NOWADAYS MULLED WINE IS A CONSTANT ATTRIBUTE OF CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR FAIRS…

… as well as gatherings with friends and family during the winter holidays. Mulled wine means a good mood, festive atmosphere, warm comfort and an explosion of fragrant taste. Be sure to treat yourself to a warm cup of this wine with spices for the holidays, don’t deprive yourself of such an incredible pleasure!

How to make mulled wine? My recipe has been unchanged for many years, I carefully weigh and count all the spices – this is my “magic formula” that always works and creates an unsurpassed aroma, taste and a subtle trail of mystery … Fill a cup with this fragrant warming happiness, sit comfortably in front of the TV, turn on your favorite movie and enjoy!

Mulled wine ingredients:

• Dry red wine (you can substitute it for white wine and make mulled white wine – it won’t be a traditional mulled wine recipe, but it will be no less tasty)
• Water
• Oranges (choose big and juicy ones)
• Star anise
• Cardamom seeds (press them down with a rolling pin to open them)
• Clove buds
• Ground ginger (you can substitute it for 1tsp fresh ginger)
• Cinnamon sticks
• Nutmeg (you’ll need just a pinch of it)
• An apple (choose a sweet one and cut it into slices)
• Sugar (brown or granulated white sugar)

Step – by – step recipe

Put together apple slices, 1 orange (sliced) and all the spices

Cover with water, bring to a boil and cook over low heat, covered for 10 minutes

Strain the resulting syrup, add wine to it, put a fresh orange (cut into circles again) and sugar

Heat everything over medium heat. As soon as the wine begins to boil, immediately remove it from the heat and let it brew for 5 minutes. Enjoy your mulled wine drinking!