One of the most exciting things about the impending holiday season is the copious amounts of mulled wine that it allows us to drink. Despite this, mulled wine does not have to be reserved as a treat for the Christmas market as it is incredibly easy to make at home. In preparation for Christmas, it is a must to know how to make wine for the festive season.
Basic Recipe
- Pour approximately 750ml red wine into a pan and add one sliced clementine, one cinnamon stick, one-star anise, three dried figs, four cloves, and three black peppercorns
- Heat the wine mixture gently until it simmers, at which point cull the heat
- Remove the peppercorns and whole spices before adding 50ml brandy
- Pour the mulled wine into heatproof glasses and garnish with a clementine segment
Spices to Try
Typically, mulled wine is made using a range of spices, herbs and flavourings, including festive cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise to name just three; however, you do not need to feel limited to just these. Spices such as cardamom and ginger are great for mulling if you grow tired of tradition.
You don’t want to use too much of each spice as the flavours are extremely strong and will overpower your mulled wine. Similarly, citrus flavours are especially complementary to these warm flavours; standard orange or lemon will suffice but mandarin, clementine, and tangerine are particularly festive.
Alternative Alcohols to Try
Christmas is all about being merry so you might opt for an added tipple in your mulled wine. Curaçao, Grand Mariner, and Cointreau are great for enhancing orange flavours, whereas sloe gin is ideal for enriching the taste of berries. Stronger alcohols such as apricot brandy, cherry brandy and spiced rum can also be used in moderation to give your mulled wine that extra kick.
You will want to avoid alcohol that is excessively sweet or rich (such as schnapps), anything that may curdle (like cream liqueurs), or strong aniseed flavours (sambuca). These will destroy the flavours in your mulled wine rather than compliment them.
Add Sweeteners
If you find your mulled wine to be too boozy, you can make the alcoholic flavour less intense using sweeteners. Usually, you would add granulated or caster sugar during the earliest stage of the heating process so that it dissolves fully; however, if it is still not sweet enough for your tastebuds, you could add some honey or syrup once your wine has been removed from the heat. Just ensure that you have stirred it well so that it dissolves.
Serving Methods
Mulled wine is normally served in a heatproof glass with a handle with a garnish of oranges, lemons, cinnamon sticks, or cloves. Despite this, you should not feel restricted about how your wine should be served. Though you cannot serve in fragile glass, you might choose a festive mug to curl up in front of the TV with. This mulled wine is your own so serve it how you see fit.
Twists On Tradition
Red wine is not the only alcohol suitable for mulling, you can also mull cider and white wine, as long as you adjust the spices accordingly. You must also remember that your chosen tipple should not be too sweet.
For cider, you should mix in Calvados, apple slices, vanilla, cranberries, pear juice, and apple juice. Though for white wine, you should incorporate flavours such as thyme, vanilla, rosemary, and elderflower cordial.
Conclusion
Get ready for the festive season with these top wine mulling tips. What festive tipple will you indulge in this holiday season?
