"Burning Drink of Winter"

"Sweetness and strength mulled wine revive man...
Wine activates all the convolutions of the brain and ignites in the depths of the soul a magical fireworks display of sparkling wit and joy.”
(Voltaire)

The cold weather is coming, and with it the season of mulled wine, which in German means - flaming, hot wine- This is a favorite drink of millions of people, especially popular in European countries. For Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, mulled wine- is as important a part of the Christmas holiday as a sparkling tree, fragrant pastries and festive markets.

And who has been to Christmas markets in Europe? How does this happen? It would be interesting to hear first-hand, at least a short story-))

U Wanderer Dory V New Year and Christmas tours - mulled wine also required by the program. Interestingly, this warming drink is older than itself Christmas holiday.
It is unknown who first came up with the idea of ​​heating wine and adding sweetness and spices to it. But already in ancient Roman times, the author of the cookbook “Conditum Paradoxum”, Apicius, taught gourmets the intricacies of “ennobling” wine with spices, namely thyme, coriander, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves.

In the 16th century, for the first time, they appeared in cookbooks. mulled wine recipes from bordeaux and claret. The ingredients used were honey, cardamom, cinnamon and galingal herb root.
Mulled wine was also held in high esteem in Victorian England. One type of mulled wine, “Negus,” was even served at children’s parties.
The Roman Empire fell, morals and times changed, but humanity still preserves its love for the warming drink.
Today there are countless options for preparing mulled wine, but they are all united by one of the main properties of this drink - to warm you up :-)

And it’s true - nothing will warm you up after a winter walk, or make you happy during a rainy, dull season, like a glass of properly prepared mulled wine. A nice mug of hot aromatic wine after winter active games in the air- be it sledding, skiing or just playing in the snow.

Several years ago, in New Year's tours of the Wanderer Dory Skiing on Ai-Petri was an obligatory item on the program, because there is always snow there in winter and skiing in Crimea possible until March.

Nobody believes that this is possible in the warm Crimea, but it is so. Snow in Crimea in winter there is. In the mountains you can ski and sled. The most popular places are Ai-Petri with ski slopes And Angarsk pass. Usually in winter there is very rarely snow below the sea, but the mountains are quite often covered in snow, February, its first half, is especially harsh.

And of course, after skiing - a picnic in the highlands with the obligatory aromatic hot wine - just the thing!
basis classic mulled wine is a good red wine, in rare cases white, dry and not strong wines are ideal. The spices used are vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, tangerine zest, sugar, raisins and nuts.

Special connoisseurs add finely chopped ginger to mulled wine.
Then, in addition to the warming effect, mulled wine acquires tonic and preventive health properties, being wonderful and the most delicious remedy for an oncoming cold. Mulled wine is used as a sedative and during the recovery period after infectious diseases.
And one more secret, which is often not mentioned in most recipes and that sellers of the ready-made drink do not use. When the wine heats up, the alcohol evaporates from it, and in order to return the strength to the mulled wine and add a piquant note, you need to add a strong alcoholic drink - cognac or rum, a little, to taste.

And the last important point in preparing this drink is that when heating wine, just like coffee, you just need to bring it to a boil, do not boil!
The temperature should be about 70 degrees.
The wine should not be heated in a metal container (except silver), preferably in a fireproof one, until the white foam that forms at the beginning of cooking disappears.
Mulled wine drink hot, immediately after preparation, before the wine loses its taste and bouquet, enjoying the aroma of the drink.
The best thing serve mulled wine in ceramic cups that retain the warmth of mulled wine for a long time in cold weather or in tall glasses, preferably transparent, to once again admire the color of the drink.

And now mulled wine recipes:

Mulled wine classic
- nutmeg - to taste
- cloves - 6 pcs.
- boiled water boiled - a third of a glass
- sugar - 1 tablespoon
Place cloves and ground nutmeg in a pot, add water and bring to a boil, boil for another minute. Let it brew for 15 minutes. Pour the wine into a container and put on fire. When it becomes warm enough, add spice infusion and sugar. Remove from heat when it becomes hot enough. Do not boil.
The drink is ready. Pour mulled wine and serve hot.

Mulled wine “Vostok”
- table red wine – 1 bottle.
- sugar – 4 tablespoons.
- 2 lemons
- cinnamon to taste
- cloves - a couple of pieces.
Pour red wine into a bowl and heat to a temperature of 70-80 degrees, add spices. Squeeze the juice of 1 lemon into the heated wine and add one lemon, cut into pieces. Then sugar. Stir well until the sugar is completely melted and bring to a boil, let sit for a while and serve.

Mulled wine "Jamaican"
- one glass of boiled water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- six cloves.
- six Jamaican peppercorns
- one bottle of dry red wine
- one glass of port wine
- one tablespoon of sugar
- peel of half a lemon
- lemon slices for decoration.
Pour hot boiled water over the spices and let stand for about twenty minutes. Strain. Pour red wine into a container. Add strained water infusion to it. Top up with port, add sugar and bring the mixture to a boil. Serve hot, garnish with a strip of lemon peel and lemon wedges.

Glogg - a Scandinavian Christmas drink
- 60 ml vodka
- 1 cinnamon stick
- six cloves - two tablespoons of sugar
- half a tablespoon of ground ginger
- 100 g raisins
- almonds – 100 g.
Pour wine and vodka into a container. Add all other ingredients and heat slightly until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and let stand for at least 30 minutes. After half an hour, heat the drink and serve.

Mulled wine "The Night Before Christmas"
- one and a half liters of Cahors
- one glass of Old Arbat liqueur
- two lemons
- cloves and cinnamon - to taste
Pour Cahors into a container, heat it and bring to a boil.
Remove hot wine from heat, lemon and liqueur, cinnamon and cloves.
Let it brew for 15 minutes. Pour the finished hot mulled wine into cups and serve it to the festive table.

Mulled wine “Aromatic”
- red table wine – one bottle
- one and a half glasses of honey
- one and a half glasses of rum - one and a half glasses of water
- two glasses of sugar
- 18 cloves
- 18 pieces of cardamom
- cinnamon and nutmeg to taste
Place red wine, boiled water, and all other ingredients in a container. Heat to a temperature of 70 degrees, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Serve hot, pour into glasses, strain through a strainer.

Mulled wine "Carolina"
- red wine – one bottle
- cognac - 150 ml
- vodka - 100 ml
- sugar - 100 g - two peas of allspice
- one pinch of cloves
- three pinches of cinnamon
- grated nutmeg - to taste
Pour the wine into a container, add sugar, spices, heat, stirring with a spoon (wooden) until the sugar is completely dissolved, do not bring to a boil. Pour in cognac and vodka and heat a little. Pour into a thermos and let it brew for at least one hour.

Mulled wine "Shagane"
- one bottle of red port
- one glass of orange liqueur - one and a half pcs. lemon
- half a glass of sugar
- nutmeg to taste
Pour wine into a container and add sugar, heat the temperature to 70 degrees, stirring until the sugar is completely filled. Remove from heat, add liqueur and lemon, cut into thin slices. Let it brew for 10 - 15 minutes. Heat and serve hot, pour into cups, sprinkle with finely chopped nutmeg on top.

I wish you all bon appetit, warmth and cheerful winter holidays!

Depositphotos/maxsol

Definition

And yet, what is mulled wine?

According to the definition given on Wikipedia, mulled wine is a hot alcoholic drink based on dry or semi-dry red wine, heated to 70-80 degrees, with the addition of sugar, spices, lemon zest, fruits, and sometimes even nuts. It is most popular in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland during the Christmas holidays.

origin of name

The word mulled wine comes from the German name “Gluhwein” (“gluhwein”). “Gluhwein”, in turn, was formed from the phrase “gluhender Wein”, which translated from German sounds like “hot wine”. According to some sources, the word mulled wine comes from the Polish “glintwajn”. Mulled wine in English sounds like “glintwine” (translated as “flaming wine”).

The history of mulled wine

The history of the mulled wine drink dates back to the era of Ancient Rome, when spices began to be added to cold wine to enhance the taste and give it a spicy aroma. This ancient Roman drink has little in common with modern mulled wine. However, its history began precisely from this period.

The mulled wine as we know it now appeared in Northern Europe and Scandinavia in the 16th century as a warming drink during the cold winter season. Then Bordeaux and other red wines were used as a basis. The wine was heated to 70 degrees and the only herb available at that time, galangal, was added to it, replacing all other spices. Later (in the 18th-19th centuries), honey, cinnamon, cardamom and a number of other spices began to be added to the drink. It is worth noting that in the Middle Ages, only rich and noble people could afford mulled wine, since spices at that time were worth their weight in gold.

Despite the fact that mulled wine began to be prepared almost simultaneously in many European countries, Germany is considered to be its historical homeland. This is due to the fact that the first official mention of this wonderful drink was found in the archives of this particular country.

The first recipe for Christmas mulled wine was documented in 1840. It has a very simple composition:

• 750 ml dry red wine;
• 6-7 carnation umbrellas;
• 3 tablespoons sugar;
• 3 cinnamon sticks;
• 1 lemon;
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg.

Wine with sugar, spices and sliced ​​lemon was heated to a temperature of 70 degrees, infused for 15 minutes, filtered and poured into glasses.

Methods for preparing mulled wine

What is put into mulled wine during its preparation? Perhaps the most important ingredient of mulled wine is weak red wine (dry or semi-dry). Sometimes liqueur, rum, cognac or port are added to give the drink greater strength. Contrary to all traditions, it is sometimes prepared from white wine, as well as from verbless ingredients: tea, juice, fruit drink and even liquid honey. However, according to the traditional German recipe, the alcohol content in mulled wine must be at least 7 degrees.

Table of ingredients used to prepare mulled wine:

There are a great many recipes for making mulled wine. They vary greatly depending on the geographical location and taste preferences of the person preparing it. The ingredients listed in the table above are the most commonly used in the preparation of this wonderful Christmas drink. However, this does not mean that you necessarily need to use them all at once. We advise you to choose from the list of possible ingredients those that suit your taste, and then the resulting drink will definitely be tasty and aromatic.

Depending on the spices and additions used to prepare mulled wine, it is divided into the following types: ginger, coffee, medicinal, fruit, pepper, orange, spicy, etc.

In addition to the base, spices and additives, you will also need to choose one of 2 main cooking methods:

With water

• We put water to boil at the rate of 150-200 ml per 1 liter of wine.
• Add spices to boiling water and boil them until the water acquires a spicy, aromatic taste.
• Add sugar or honey.
• Lastly, add the wine.
• Heat the drink to 70-78 degrees (without boiling!).
• After the white foam disappears from the surface of the wine, remove the container from the heat and let the drink brew under the lid (about 20 minutes).
• Strain the drink through a sieve and pour into glasses.

No added water

• Place the desired amount of wine on medium heat.
• Immediately add sugar or honey, spices and all additional ingredients (fruits, nuts, etc.).
• Heat the drink to 70-78 degrees, stirring occasionally. Wine should not be brought to a boil!
• Then let the drink brew under the lid for 40-50 minutes.
• Strain the drink and pour into glasses.

Each of these cooking methods is good in its own way. However, it is worth considering that mulled wine without adding water will have a richer alcoholic taste. And in a recipe with the addition of water, the taste and aroma of spices will be more noticeable, since they are not just infused at a temperature of 70-80 degrees, but boiled at 100 degrees.

• During the cooking process, it is better to use non-ground spices. Otherwise, when straining the drink, you will not be able to filter it completely, it will be cloudy, and the spice particles will grate on your teeth.
• Do not bring mulled wine to a boil. Otherwise, it will lose most of its alcohol content and its wonderful taste.
• The better the quality of the wine, the tastier the drink. Choose dry or semi-dry wines for cooking.
• Try to use enamel dishes for cooking.
• After removing the mulled wine from the heat, let it brew thoroughly. The more it is infused in a container with a closed lid, the better, since the taste of the spices is revealed gradually.
• To give young wines a “noble” hue, you can add a little cognac or liqueur to the mulled wine. This can also be done if you want to increase the strength of the drink.
• Cloves and cinnamon are spices that must be included in mulled wine. They give this drink its characteristic aroma and taste. Other spices are added as desired.

Mulled wine: how to drink it and what to eat with it?

Serving

Prepared mulled wine is usually served in a special mulled wine glass, also known as an Irish glass. It is a tulip-shaped glass made of thick transparent glass with a capacity of 250-350 ml with a short stem, handle and “skirt”. It can also be poured into “bellied” mugs or tall glasses made of heat-resistant glass with handles.

Traditionally, the drink is decorated with a cinnamon stick, which can even be used as a straw, an anise star, as well as an orange slice lightly sprinkled with cinnamon or a lemon ring. In some cases, the rim of the glass is decorated with sugar crystals.

Another popular option for non-standard serving is serving the drink in halves of apples. To do this, apples are cut in half, the pulp is cut out, and mulled wine is poured into the resulting “cup.”

Snacks

Traditional snacks for mulled wine in Germany are meat sausages and grilled pork ribs. This unusual combination of grilled meat with a spicy, warming drink can be tried at one of the many German fairs. Various cheeses and canapés also go well with mulled wine.

Among sweet snacks, gingerbread cookies and gingerbreads, dried fruits, nuts, fresh fruits, strudel, apple charlotte, as well as chocolates and cakes are often served with it.

You need to drink mulled wine in small sips while it is still hot, enjoying its aroma and unforgettable taste.

Classic mulled wine recipe

Of course, it is better to choose your favorite mulled wine recipe individually, experimenting and relying on your own taste preferences. However, there are recipes that have stood the test of time and become popular all over the world. These include a recipe for classic or traditional mulled wine.

Ingredients:

• 750 ml (bottle) dry red wine;
• 6-7 clove buds;
• 1 tbsp. spoon of sugar;
• ½ glass of water;
• half an orange;
• 4-5 peas of allspice;
• 1 cinnamon stick;
• nutmeg to taste.

Step-by-step preparation:

• Pour ½ cup of water into a saucepan and put on fire;
• cut half the orange along with the zest into slices;
• pour cloves, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon and orange slices into a saucepan;
• bring to a boil and cook for another 1 minute;
• Cover the broth with a lid and leave to infuse for 15 minutes;
• pour 750 ml of wine into an enamel pan and put on fire;
• Pour the contents of the Turka into warm wine and add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of sugar;
• heat the wine to 70-80 degrees (do not bring to a boil!);
• remove the mulled wine from the heat, cover with a lid, let it brew for 15 minutes;
• strain the drink and pour into mugs, garnish with an orange slice, a cinnamon stick and an anise star.

The calorie content of this mulled wine is 136 kcal per 100 ml. These indicators indicate that this drink has a fairly high energy value. Therefore, if you want to lose weight, you should not abuse it.

Other interesting video recipes:

Christmas (fruit)

Non-alcoholic

When you hear the word “mulled wine,” associations immediately arise associated with something warm, comfortable and cozy. And for good reason, because this sophisticated wine-based drink has warming properties and literally envelops you with its unique spicy aroma, reminiscent of the wonderful winter season. The nice thing is that making mulled wine at home is not difficult.

It is a drink that is ideal for the cold season, as it not only warms you up, but can also be an effective means of preventing and treating colds, especially if consumed with honey. The drink has its own history - as rich as its taste. For centuries, rich people drank mulled wine to demonstrate their ability to add expensive spices and sugar to wine rather than use it strictly for cooking. Over the years, mulled wine has become synonymous with the arrival of cold weather. Today in European countries, mulled wine is one of the most popular winter drinks consumed at holiday fairs.

Making mulled wine at home is very simple. The classic mulled wine recipe is based on dry red wine, but the use of semi-dry wine is not prohibited. Before you start preparing aromatic mulled wine, it is important to choose the right wine. Wine is the base of the drink, so the type and quality of the wine will greatly influence its taste. Expensive wine is appropriate if you want to impress, otherwise cheap wines and even homemade wine are the best choice. It is better to refrain from using strongly flavored wines. If you want to make non-alcoholic mulled wine, then you can use fruit juice and compote, for example, grape, cherry or pomegranate as a basis.

The unique thing about mulled wine is that you can experiment with the ingredients and add seasonings, spices and fruits based on your preferences. Traditional spices for mulled wine include cinnamon sticks, dried cloves, star anise, black peppercorns, allspice, bay leaf, ground ginger, ground cardamom and ground nutmeg. By choosing different spices in different proportions each time, you will always get unique combinations of flavors. The main thing is not to overdo it with the amount of spices, otherwise you can ruin everything. You should be especially careful with ground spices, as they often do not dissolve completely. Some of these spices float to the surface, and some of them settle as sediment. This can ruin the appearance and taste of the drink. The main ingredients of mulled wine are also sugar, honey, oranges, lemon, apples and raisins. As for citrus fruits, you can use their zest instead of the fruit itself.

To get mulled wine, you need to heat the wine with sugar, honey, spices and fruit. If required, the wine can be diluted with water in a ratio of 5:1. It is best to cook mulled wine in an enamel pan, but not in an aluminum one. Usually all the ingredients are added to the wine immediately or during the heating process. It is best to add sugar at an early stage so that it has time to completely dissolve. The main point of preparation is to never allow the wine to boil! The drink should be heated in a saucepan over low heat to a temperature of 70-80 degrees. Then the mulled wine can be covered with a lid and left for 15-40 minutes so that it absorbs the aroma and taste of the spices. After preparation, the drink is best strained and served hot. As an option, spices and pieces of fruit can be placed in cheesecloth and then simply taken out.

The alcohol content in mulled wine can be significantly reduced by letting it simmer over a fire for a long time so that all the alcohol evaporates. However, according to the standards established in Germany, the alcohol content in mulled wine must be at least 7%, otherwise it is not mulled wine at all. In any case, no matter what recipe you take, boiling the drink is prohibited. To increase the strength of mulled wine and increase its intoxicating properties, you can add cognac, brandy or rum to the drink after cooking.

A glass of sweet, spicy mulled wine on a windy winter day instantly warms your soul and body. This versatile drink is perfect for both a noisy party and a small cozy evening with loved ones. By preparing mulled wine at home, you will definitely delight your family and guests with a flavorful drink, and our selection of recipes will help you with this. To begin with, we present to your attention a recipe for mulled wine according to the classic recipe. If desired, you can also add apples, raisins, orange or lemon zest to the wine to suit your taste.

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 1)

Ingredients:
1 liter of dry red wine,
150 g honey,
a pinch of cinnamon powder,
3-4 buds of cloves,
a pinch of nutmeg.

Preparation:
Pour the wine into an enamel pan and place on low heat. Add honey, stir well and heat the wine to high temperature. Then add spices, remove the drink from the heat and let it brew under the lid (ideally about an hour). After this, reheat the drink and serve.

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 2)

Ingredients:

1 orange,
2 glasses of water,
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon or 2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon dried cloves.

Preparation:
Pour wine into the pan and turn on the heat. Add sugar and mix well. Grate some orange zest and add to the wine. Slice the orange into thin slices and add to the pan along with the cinnamon and cloves. Allow the drink to heat for 10 to 15 minutes, but do not let it boil. Leave the mulled wine covered for half an hour, then reheat until it reaches the required temperature and serve.

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 3)

Ingredients:
1 bottle of dry red wine,
1 orange,
1/4 cup brandy or cognac (optional)
1/4 cup honey or sugar
8 clove buds,
2 cinnamon sticks,
2 star anise.

Preparation:
Cut the orange into slices. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat over high heat, without boiling. Reduce heat and simmer for at least 15 minutes. Strain, add brandy or cognac if necessary, pour into glasses and serve.

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 4)

Ingredients:
1 bottle of dry red wine,
60 g sugar or honey,
1 cinnamon stick,
grated nutmeg to taste,
1 orange,
1 dried bay leaf,
60 ml cognac or brandy (optional),
1 tablespoon fresh ginger or 2 tablespoons ground ginger.

Preparation:
Pour wine into a saucepan and put on fire. Add the orange cut in half, sugar or honey, bay leaf, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. You can increase or decrease the amount of sugar according to your own taste. Heat the wine until you are sure the sugar or honey has completely dissolved. Remove from heat, add cognac or brandy (if using) to wine and stir. Strain the wine, pour into heatproof glasses and serve hot.

When preparing mulled wine at home, you have ample opportunity to experiment. You can use different types of wines and different seasonings, making each new drink different from the previous one. Just like making your own wine or trying a new recipe for the first time, the perfect homemade mulled wine requires a little patience and experimentation. Take notes, refine the recipe, and keep tasting until you get the flavor you want.

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 5)

Ingredients:
1 bottle of dry red wine,
1 cup of sugar,
2 cinnamon sticks,
3 buds of cloves,
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg,
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon allspice,
1 star anise,
1 orange,
1 lemon,
1 glass of cognac or brandy.

Preparation:
Pour wine into a saucepan and put on fire. Slice the orange and lemon and add to the pan along with the rest of the ingredients. When the drink is hot, reduce the heat to low and cook over low heat for about 15 minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove the pan from the heat, add cognac or brandy, then stir. Let the mulled wine brew, strain and serve.

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 6)

Ingredients:
750 ml dry red wine,
100 ml cognac,
100 g honey,
1 lemon,
2 cinnamon sticks,
10 buds of cloves.

Preparation:
Add wine and honey to a saucepan and heat over low heat, but do not boil. Add chopped lemon with zest and spices to the heated wine, pour in cognac and let it brew for 10-15 minutes. After this, mulled wine can be consumed.

Although mulled wine is a drink made from red wine, why not try making your own mulled wine from white wine? The lighter aromas of white wine pair well with lemon, rosemary, thyme and vanilla. White mulled wine can also be made with cider. For a non-alcoholic option, apple and pear juices are suitable.

White wine mulled wine

Ingredients:
2 bottles of dry white wine,
1/2 lemon
1 orange,
4 kumquats (optional)
2 tablespoons honey,
1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar,
6 buds of cloves,
6 peas of allspice,
2 cinnamon sticks.

Preparation:
Wash the lemon, orange and kumquat (if using) and cut them into thin slices, removing the seeds. Place the fruit in a saucepan, add honey, sugar (use less sugar if you prefer tart drinks, more sugar if you want a sweeter taste), cloves and allspice. Using a knife, cut the cinnamon sticks lengthwise into thin strips. Add cinnamon and 2 cups of water. Heat to high temperature over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour in the wine and cook for about 8 minutes. Let it brew for a while, strain and pour into heat-resistant glasses.

Spiced mulled wine is a real favorite among winter drinks, so warm, soothing and so flavorful! Try making mulled wine at home, and you will immediately feel how the cold and bad mood recede.

A drink popular in cold countries that warms the body and soul on chilly evenings is mulled wine, the recipe for which is familiar to many and does not leave anyone indifferent. The drink has German roots and translated means flaming wine. It fully lives up to its name, because hot mulled wine spreads pleasant warmth throughout the body.

This drink has not only a pleasant taste, but also tonic and medicinal properties for colds, hypothermia or loss of strength. It consists of wine, fruits and spices. Has a rich spicy taste.

There are many tips on how to make mulled wine. But the basic principle of cooking remains unchanged. The basis is dry or semi-dry wine. Citruses, herbs and spices are added to it. Cinnamon and cloves are a must. Heat the entire mixture over medium heat, but do not bring it to a boil. After this, the drink is removed from the heat and allowed to brew.

How many degrees in mulled wine depends on the main ingredient and how to prepare the drink. Classic recipes use red wine. It has a strength of about 12%. If the mixture is not brought to a boil, the percentage of alcohol in the drink will remain almost unchanged. Otherwise, the strength of the drink will be 6-7%.

If you use stronger alcohol such as cognac or whiskey, the alcohol content of the drink will increase. Sometimes ancient recipes reach 25% alcohol. The intoxicating effect can be reduced by adding juice or syrups. Hot mulled wine with a strength of more than 7% is considered optimal. This percentage was used in classic German recipes.

General principles and features of preparing mulled wine at home

The general rules for preparing this ancient drink are the same for all recipes:

· Mulled wine is a hot drink, so it needs to be boiled.

· The mixture is not brought to a boil, as this will cause the strength of the drink to be lost.

· The main spices are cinnamon and cloves. They set the tone for the entire cocktail.

· The finished mixture must be infused so that the taste of all ingredients is fully revealed.

· If the drink boils, you need to remove the pan from the heat and leave it covered. In this case, the alcohol will not be able to evaporate in large quantities.

The classic recipe for mulled wine at home does not contain complex ingredients. Typically, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and citrus zest are added to the base. For sweetness, sugar or honey is included.

The question often arises: How to make mulled wine at home quickly and inexpensively? For this purpose, special mixtures are sold in stores. They contain the main ingredients for one serving in dried form. The cost of the bag is small and you don’t have to look for the right spices for a long time.

Composition and ingredients

The composition of mulled wine begins with dry wine. This is an invariable component for any classic recipe. To get an original drink, you need to use several spices and fruits:

Cinnamon and cloves add richness and spicy notes to the drink. Not a single recipe is complete without their use. Nutmeg helps the dish develop and enhances its flavor. Ground ginger has a rather pungent, incomparable taste. It conveys its taste well to the dish, and peppercorns are added to enhance the heat and spiciness.

The fruit component of the drink is lemon and apple. They have a pleasant taste and are rich in vitamins. The addition of orange zest will enhance their beneficial properties and give mulled wine a noble bitterness. Depending on the recipe, cognac or water are added.

Opponents of alcohol do not abandon it, but simply brew it using juice or fruit drink. All ingredients equally saturate the cocktail and give different shades. Sweets are added with sugar or honey. This will make the taste of the dish softer and sparkle with new colors.

Wine for mulled wine

Dry red wine is used in this dish. Young, inexpensive wines fit in most organically. They do not have a strong taste and will not overpower the flavor of the other ingredients. You should not choose elite wines. They themselves have a full bouquet and do not require any additives. The fresher and simpler the wine, the better suited it is for mulled wine.

Table wines from New World winemakers fit this description: Chile, Argentina, South Africa. You should not pass by the wines of Georgia and Russia. The well-known Kindzmarauli and Khvanchkara will fit perfectly into the composition of the drink.

Not only red wine is appropriate for making mulled wine. White wines are also found in recipes for this dish. They have similar flavor tones to traditional red wines, but are not as dense. Their light texture gives the drink a distinct, but no less pleasant taste.

Spices for mulled wine

The abundance of seasonings for this drink makes your eyes wide open. Those who prepare mulled wine for the first time are divided into 2 types. The first ones add the spices specified in the recipe and nothing more. The second ones try to add a little of everything. Following a recipe in the absence of experience is the surest move. Each spice has its own properties. Their incorrect combination will only harm the cocktail and discourage you from making it again. The basis for choosing seasonings is the expected result. Each spice has its own taste and beneficial qualities.

• Black and red peppers in small quantities will warm you up and add a pleasant aroma.
• Cinnamon is the basis of the taste of mulled wine. You should prefer ground cinnamon sticks.
• Ginger – has a warming and invigorating effect, and adds pungency and tartness to the drink.
• Bay leaf does not affect the taste, but adds a camphor-ether smell. Add for a couple of minutes at the very end, otherwise you can overdo it.
• Cloves have a pungent taste and a strong aroma that cannot be confused with anything else. It's hard to imagine the taste of mulled wine without it.
• Star anise will add a licorice flavor and decorate the cocktail thanks to its unusual star shape.
• Cardamom has a citrus aroma and can easily replace lemon in its absence.
• Nutmeg is a natural flavor enhancer. With it, the drink will become brighter and richer.
• Barberry, added in small quantities, will give the cocktail its slight sourness.
• Saffron has a spicy taste and gives the mixture a golden color. The seasoning is very rich, so it is added in small quantities.
• Sage has a calming and relaxing effect.
• Coriander is spicy, sweetish, with notes of woody aroma.

It is better to add ground spices as little as possible. They create a cloudy coating and an unpleasant sediment. Whole seasonings will reveal their aroma more strongly and decorate the drink, floating to the surface.

Mulled wine brewing technology

Making mulled wine is an easy and interesting process that won’t take much time. In European countries, it is customary to dilute alcohol with water. In our country, only alcohol is diluted with water, and not always. But it will be good for mulled wine. This way the strength will be lost, but the volume of the drink will increase. This method is suitable for those who are not a big fan of alcohol, but do not want to give up the traditional recipe. Regardless of the composition, there are basic recommendations on how to properly brew mulled wine.

The cocktail is made in a container with thick walls. Alcohol is poured into the pan, spices and fruits are added, honey or cane sugar is added. If the wine is diluted, cooled boiled water is added. Boiling water is combined with alcohol only slowly and poured over the edge of the container. The entire mixture is heated over medium heat. Readiness is achieved at a temperature of 80 degrees. Not everyone has a food thermometer in their kitchen. Therefore, we heat the cocktail to the highest possible temperature without letting it boil.

How long to brew mulled wine depends on the volume of the mixture and the alcohol used. In the classic version, for a bottle of wine, cooking does not take more than 10 minutes. Once ready, mulled wine must be removed from the heat and allowed to brew under the lid for at least 30-40 minutes. During this time, the cocktail will be saturated with essential oils and the aroma of spices will reveal itself.

The prepared drink is poured into containers with thick walls. This will allow the mulled wine to cool more slowly.

Mulled wine recipes

The simplest recipe for mulled wine is hot alcohol with the addition of spices. It's quick to prepare and delicious to drink on cold winter evenings. But this drink may not be so simple. Mulled wine and its preparation may vary depending on the choice of alcohol, the amount and variety of spices, fruits and additives. It can be a drink made with cognac or whiskey, very spicy or, on the contrary, sweet. They prepare both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. Having a recipe for making any mulled wine at home, you can easily cook it step by step.

Classic mulled wine recipe

This recipe is ubiquitous and easy to prepare due to the availability of all the ingredients. To get classic mulled wine you will need:

• Dry red wine – 1 bottle.
• Water – 50 ml.
• Sugar – 1 tablespoon.
• Nutmeg – a pinch.
• Cinnamon – 1 stick.
• Cloves – 5-6 pieces.
• Citrus zest - a couple of strips.

The decoction of water and spices is brought to a boil over low gas. After letting it boil, remove the container from the stove and leave. While the mixture is standing, heat the wine, add sugar to it and pour in the prepared broth. Heat the drink as much as possible and remove from the stove, leaving to steep for 40 minutes. Ready mulled wine is served with a cinnamon stick or orange slices.

Mulled wine with honey

This recipe differs from the classic one by adding 1-2 tablespoons of honey instead of sugar for sweetness and a couple of apple slices. The combination of these ingredients will give a sweetish taste and floral notes to the drink.

Unusual mulled wine with tea, ginger and tangerine

If the strength of the drink is not important, but you want new sensations, adding tea is a great option. It will add lightness to mulled wine, and ginger and tangerine will create a New Year's mood.

Pour half a glass of water into a container, add a teaspoon of black tea. Boil and strain the liquid. Add basic spices and tangerine zest to the strained tea. Heat the mixture as much as possible and keep it closed.

Wash the tangerine, peel it, divide it into slices and cut them in half. Pour a bottle of wine into the pan, add tea with spices and tangerine. Bring to readiness and remove from heat.

Add 2-3 tablespoons of honey to taste to the cocktail, stir and leave covered for 40 minutes. Serve with oatmeal or shortbread cookies and tangerine slices.

Mulled wine with rum and amaretto according to a recipe from Denmark

The drink according to the Danish recipe is very gentle and sweet, but with a large share of alcohol. This mulled wine will perfectly warm you up after the cold and lift your spirits.

Pour a liter of dry wine into a saucepan. Add 5 star anise, a teaspoon of cloves and 2-3 cinnamon sticks. Warm up a little to 50-60 degrees. Without removing the pan from the stove, add 2 chopped oranges and 1 apple. After this, pour in 50 ml of rum and a little amaretto. Heat to maximum and turn off heat. Add 3 tablespoons of honey and leave. Serve with dark chocolate and orange.

Mulled wine with pepper, almonds and port

Place a teaspoon of cloves, black peppercorns, cinnamon, the zest of 1 orange and 100 grams of almonds in a saucepan. Everything is poured with a glass of water and boiled for 10 minutes. After this, add half a glass of port wine and 100 grams of sugar. After heating the entire mixture, you can add a bottle of wine and stir. Bring the drink to readiness and leave for half an hour.

Mulled wine prepared according to this recipe has a piquant pungency and a bright almond flavor. And port wine will add strength and tartness to the drink.

Simple mulled wine with ginger, cognac and cinnamon

This mulled wine is prepared with the addition of lemon juice. It adds a noble sourness and goes well with other ingredients.

Cut the zest from the lemon and squeeze out the juice. Pour half a glass of wine into the cooking container, throw in 3-4 slices of ginger, cinnamon and a teaspoon of cloves. Let the liquid boil. Add fresh lemon juice, half a glass of cognac and the remaining wine in the bottle. Bring everything to readiness. And add 3 tablespoons of honey after removing from the stove. Leave the cocktail covered for 20-30 minutes.

Ginger mulled wine

Ginger mulled wine is made from white wine and has healing properties. It helps with colds, sore throats and just helps you warm up.

Chop a couple of slices of ginger root and 3 slices of citrus. Pour 1 liter of alcohol over them and leave for 10 minutes. At this time, brew 200 ml of tea with tangerine zest. Add cinnamon, a teaspoon of cloves, a pinch of vanilla sugar to the cocktail and pour in the tea. Bring the entire mixture to 80 degrees and remove from the stove. Let stand, stirring with 3 tablespoons of honey, for 20 minutes. This mulled wine will be very light, sweet, with a pleasant ginger spiciness.

Fruit mulled wine

This recipe includes: apple, lemon, tangerine, pear. Seasonings: 1 teaspoon each of spices and a cinnamon stick. Fruit ingredients need to be washed and half of each fruit cut into small pieces.

Heat 1 glass of water and add all the spices. Continue heating the mixture, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, heat 1 liter of wine in another pan. Pour the mixture of water and spices into the wine in a thin stream. Add fruit. Bring the drink until ready, add 3 tablespoons of honey and leave covered. This mulled wine is served with remaining fruit, cut into slices.

Apple mulled wine

Apples, like ginger, go better with dry white wine. To enhance the apple taste, it is diluted with natural or purchased juice.

Place lemon, 1 chopped apple, slice of ginger, cloves, cinnamon sticks, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 100 grams of raisins in a bowl. Pour all this into a glass of water and heat it up. Next, mix everything with wine and heat until cooked. Remove from heat, season with 3 tablespoons of honey and leave. This drink has a very sweet apple-candy aftertaste.

Men's mulled wine with red pepper

This drink is light, but at the same time very strong and spicy. In addition to wine, vodka or whiskey is added to mulled wine. You need to drink it carefully, enjoying every sip, which will spread burning warmth throughout your body.

Place a small portion of hot pepper into a saucepan, squeeze out the juice of half a lemon, add cinnamon, a tablespoon of sugar, nutmeg, cloves, saffron and anise. Pour a glass of red wine over the spices and heat. After a couple of minutes, pour in the remaining wine and heat up as much as possible. After removing from the stove, add 100 grams of vodka. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

White wine mulled wine

Mulled wine made with white wine differs in its taste from traditional red wine. It is lighter and often has fruity notes.

To prepare, mix 1 liter of white wine with a tablespoon of honey and heat over low heat. After this, add a teaspoon each of cardamom and anise, a cinnamon stick, the juice and zest of one lemon and a couple of slices of ginger. Heat the mixture until small air bubbles appear on the surface. After this, leave for 10-20 minutes and serve in a bowl with thick walls.

Non-alcoholic mulled wine

The non-alcoholic drink is brewed using fruit juice. To prepare it, you need to defrost 1 cup of currants, mash or grate along with 2 tablespoons of sugar.

For the base, bring a liter of water to a boil. Place the prepared currants, 4 slices of ginger, a teaspoon of cloves, star anise and a cinnamon stick into a ceramic bowl. Pour boiling water over all ingredients and leave for an hour. The finished mulled wine needs to be strained and mixed with a tablespoon of honey.

· Fruits enhance the aroma of the drink, but a large amount will overwhelm the taste of the wine and you will end up with a compote.

· Whole spices are better than ground ones. They do not leave a cloudy sediment and do not require straining.

· For cooking, it is better to use small pans with thick walls. This way the drink will quickly end without losing precious heat.

· Fruits for mulled wine should be washed thoroughly, and it is better to use only the pulp.

· Fortified wines are not suitable for preparing the drink. You can increase the strength by adding cognac, whiskey or liqueur.

Useful properties of mulled wine

Spices and spices contained in the composition improve blood circulation, heart function and the general condition of the body. In addition, they have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system and stomach. The combination of warm wine, lemon and spices improves immunity, fights colds and warms up the entire body. It is because of these beneficial properties that mulled wine is often consumed during a cold. Its aroma and essential oil content restores the sense of smell and soothes sore throat.

Mulled wine brings not only benefits, but also harm. Never forget that this is an alcoholic drink. Abuse of it will not bring a therapeutic effect and can harm your health. A useful dose is 1-2 glasses.

Mulled wine for colds

This recipe contains a dose of fruit vitamins and healing spices. It resembles a classic recipe.

Mix all spices (cinnamon - 1 stick, teaspoon each of cloves, ginger and pepper) with 1 liter of wine. Heat until fully cooked and turn off the gas. Add finely chopped apple, lemon and half an orange, and honey to taste to the finished mixture. Infuse the finished drink for 30 minutes.

For a therapeutic effect, this mulled wine should be taken when preparing for bed. The optimal volume is one mug. After such a decoction it will be much easier to wake up, your health will improve and your recovery will go faster.

In different areas of human activity there are very ancient and truly phenomenal inventions. The dates of their appearance have been lost in the darkness of centuries. But they are so popular today as if they were know-how and invented quite recently. Mulled wine belongs to their category.

Mulled wine (German Glühwein (glühwein) from glühender Wein - flaming wine, hot wine) is a hot alcoholic drink based on red wine heated to 70-80 degrees with sugar and herbs (spices). Traditionally used in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic at Christmas markets and holidays held in the open air. In some countries, mulled wine is also drunk on Halloween. (Wikipedia)

In this publication we will not make an excursion into the history of this wonderful drink. Much has already been said about this and if you wish, you can find information on the Internet. Now let's talk about the main thing - how to make mulled wine at home and about the rules that must be followed in the process of preparation and consumption.

Rules for preparing various mulled wine recipes at home

Warming up is the most important step in preparing mulled wine.

The most important condition for preparing good mulled wine (subject to all other conditions) is the duration and thoroughness of heating. There are two options: warm it up for a long time and slowly, or heat it quickly and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Some recipes advise making a concentrated syrup of spices and herbs and then adding wine, which is also acceptable.

The optimal temperature of the drink is 70°C. The wine should not boil! Boiling will ruin it irreversibly. It is better not to reach the specified temperature than to exceed it.

Keep the mulled wine on the fire until the white foam that appears at the beginning of heating disappears.

Wines for making mulled wine

Wine for mulled wine is young red dry, semi-dry or white dry, and also, in theory, red semi-sweet.

In theory, because the semi-sweet wines on sale are mostly produced in violation of technology and are not suitable for mulled wine. They should be called flavored wine drinks, because they consist of alcohol, grape concentrate powder diluted with water, citric acid, flavorings, etc. Even on the world market of semi-sweet wines of natural fermentation there are not so many, because their production involves a rather complex technological process .

Dessert wines are also not suitable for making mulled wine due to their high sugar content (20%) and strength (17%).

What remains is young dry or semi-dry red wine, which is simple in technology and therefore inexpensive. Moreover, there is no need to strive to purchase elite vintage wines. They are good in themselves, and they will cost a lot for such an affordable drink as mulled wine. As for white wine, only dry wine is used.

The best wine option for making mulled wine is ordinary table red dry or semi-dry wines that do not have a pronounced aroma. The sugar content is low (0.3 g/cm³ for dry wines, and 3-12 g/dm³ for semi-dry wines). Of the white wines, only dry ones are suitable for mulled wine.

Here is a small list of proven, good wines for making mulled wine:

Red wines for mulled wine:

• Saperavi – made in Georgia
• Pinot Noir de Gai-Kodzor – produced in Russia
• Casillero del Diablo Carmenere made in Chile
• Simonsig - made in South Africa

White wines for making mulled wine:

• Likuriya (dry) - made in Russia
• Voskevaz (dry) – made in Armenia
• Simonsig (semi-dry) – made in South Africa

Water in mulled wine recipes

Mulled wines are prepared with and without water. Water is diluted to soften the taste of the wine, and it goes without saying that it must be soft and of high quality. In this case, water acts as a catalyst for oxidative processes, as a result of which the flavor range and bouquet of aromas become more pronounced. People invented diluting wine with water a long time ago. Traditionally, this drink is drunk in Georgia, Greece and other countries where the winemaking culture is at a high level.

The amount of water for mulled wine should not exceed 1 glass per liter of wine.

Water is added in two ways. The first is to boil the required amount of water shortly before use. Spices are heated in wine over low heat. Then carefully and gradually add hot water, pouring in around the edge. You cannot suddenly pour hot water into hot wine, as this will ruin the taste of the drink.

The second method is to first brew spices in water, boil for 2-3 minutes, then add sugar, and at the very end - wine.

When added to a good wine, water reveals its taste and aroma. But when mixed with low-quality wine, water reveals its shortcomings.

Spices and herbs for making mulled wine

You should not buy ready-made crumbly mixtures for mulled wine that are on sale; it is better to use them separately - cloves, ginger root, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, etc.

The composition of additives can be very diverse. But the main spices that are used in almost all recipes are cinnamon and cloves. Below is a list of spices, herbs, and fruits that can be used to make mulled wine at home.

• Cinnamon
• Carnation
• Cardamom
• Star anise
• Shaftran
• Ginger
• Coriander
• Nutmeg
• Bay leaf
• Pepper
• Citrus fruits or citrus zest
• Nuts
• Dried berries and fruits (figs, prunes, raisins, dried apricots, apples, dates, etc.)
• You can also add fruit juices - orange, pear, strawberry, apple, etc.

Mulled wine is a creative drink. The composition of the ingredients is selected according to preference, or whatever happens to be at hand. In both cases, the value of the drink will not change.

It is important not to get carried away with adding herbs, spices and other additives. They play the role of accents in the taste of the drink and should not overwhelm the aroma and taste of the wine. Their task is to complement the wine bouquet, creating a unique composition of taste and smell.

• Honey, due to the fact that at temperatures above 40 ° C, loses its healing qualities, is added not just at the end of preparing mulled wine, but as it cools.
• They drink mulled wine hot, from transparent, tall glasses (the evaporation area is small, the wine does not cool down so quickly), preferably with a thick bottom.
• The strength of mulled wine is ideally 7% (by German standards).
• Mulled wine cannot be stored, except that it can be poured into a thermos for a while, after removing the lemon slices (so that the bitterness does not pass into the drink). Therefore, corked bottles of mulled wine that appear on sale are nothing more than a money grab.
• Wine can only be heated once. Immediately after preparation, the drink should steep for 15 minutes (if required by the recipe). Then it is strained, poured into glasses, garnished with slices of fruit and drunk. If you didn’t have time to drink mulled wine while it’s hot, it’s better to drink it while it’s cool than to warm it up. Cannot be heated.

Here are basically all the secrets of making mulled wine at home using any recipe. It would seem like a simple drink, but there are so many nuances! Below we will present several mulled wine recipes that can easily be implemented in your kitchen. And if you carefully read all the tips and recommendations, then your mulled wine will definitely turn out tasty and aromatic.

How to make mulled wine - homemade recipes

Recipe No. 1 - Classic recipe for mulled wine at home (Pokhlebkin V.V. Culinary Dictionary)

Ingredients: Dry black tea – 5 teaspoons
Fruit juice without pulp (apple, cherry, grape) – 0.5-0.7 l
Dry red wine – 250 ml
Sugar 100-200 g
Lemon zest, lemon juice
Raisins, nuts
Spices (cinnamon, cloves, star anise) Preparation: Pour wine, fruit juices (preferably a mixture of several juices) into an enamel pan, add sugar, lemon juice and zest, spices, cover with a lid and put on low heat to warm up. Meanwhile, brew 5 teaspoons of prepared tea in 1 liter of water and let it sit for a while so that the tea leaves sink to the bottom. When the sugar dissolves in the wine and juices, pour in the tea. It is important that tea should be poured into wine, but not vice versa. Heat for some more time, without bringing to a boil. Place prepared raisins and nuts into glasses, pour in strained mulled wine. If the drink is prepared for children, no wine is added.

Recipe No. 2 – Mulled wine with dry red wine and ginger

Ingredients: 750 ml dry red wine
Small ginger root
Glass of water
1 cinnamon stick
Medium sized apple
Orange
5 carnation umbrellas
Honey – 3 tablespoons. Preparation: Cut the apple and orange into slices. Pour a glass of water and boil in a heat-resistant container for 3-5 minutes. Then the orange segments must be removed so that they do not transfer bitterness to the wine. Cool the brewed water to 60-70°C, carefully pour in the wine and place on low heat. We must be careful that the mulled wine does not boil. Remove from heat when the white film disappears from the surface of the drink. The cocktail should sit for 15 minutes, gradually cooling. Add honey, stirring well. And the last thing to do before serving is to strain and pour into glasses.

Recipe No. 3 – Mulled wine with dry red wine and nutmeg

Ingredients: dry red wine – 750 ml
Water – half a glass
Sugar – 1 tablespoon
Nutmeg – 1
Carnation – 7 umbrellas. Preparation: Peel and chop the nutmeg. Pour water over the nuts and cloves and boil for just a short time – just over a minute. Remove from heat, cover with a lid and let sit for 10-15 minutes.
Heat the wine in a suitable container, after adding sugar. Carefully pour the previously obtained spice decoction into the wine. Continue heating to 70°C. There is no need to infuse the cocktail. Strain immediately and serve.

Recipe No. 4 – Mulled wine with citrus fruits, dry red wine and cognac

Ingredients: Wine – 750 ml
Cognac – 90 ml
Lemon
Orange
Cinnamon – 2 sticks
Carnation – 4 umbrellas
Apricot jam – 50 g Preparation: Mix wine and cognac in a bowl for preparing mulled wine. Cut citrus fruits into slices with peel. Add jam, citrus fruits, spices to the wine. Heat over low heat to 70°C. There is no need to defend. Immediately strain and pour into containers.

Recipe No. 5 – Mulled wine on dry white wine with cranberries

Ingredients: Dry white wine – 750 ml
Water – half a glass
Cranberries – 100 g
Ginger – root 5 cm
Allspice – 4 peas
Honey Preparation: Grate the ginger on a fine grater. Mix all ingredients, except honey, with wine in a thick-bottomed bowl. Heat slowly to the desired temperature (70°C). Remove from heat, strain and cool to 40°C. Add honey.

Recipe No. 6 – Mulled wine with dry white wine and tangerines

Ingredients: Dry white wine – 750 ml
Tangerines – 6 pieces
Lemon – 0.5 pieces
Cinnamon – 2 sticks
Carnation – 4 umbrellas
Ginger
Allspice – 3 peas
Honey – 3 tablespoons Preparation: Grate the ginger (5 cm root), divide the tangerines into slices. Pour wine over spices and fruits. Heat over low heat to 70°C. Let it brew and cool a little. Strain and add honey. The drink is ready.

Recipe No. 7 – coffee mulled wine with semi-dry white wine

Ingredients: Semi-dry white wine – 750 ml
Coffee (strong brewed) – glass
Sugar – 3 tablespoons
Orange
Cinnamon – 1 stick
Cloves – 3 umbrellas Preparation: Brew coffee separately (remember that properly brewed coffee is not boiled). Pour the orange, cut into slices, and all other ingredients, except coffee, with wine and heat to 70°C over very low heat. Add coffee and heat a little more, without bringing to a boil. Strain and pour into glasses.

We have provided several recipes with red and white wines. After looking at them, you will draw certain conclusions for yourself regarding the dosage of certain components. And, for sure, create your own mulled wine recipes.

We just want to draw your attention to the following fact:

Drinking hot wine with herbs and spices is pleasant and healthy in small doses. Not only the alcohol component, but also the active substances contained in the supplements dictate the need for a reasonable dosage. Two glasses for the evening are more than enough. Mulled wine is not a drink that can be drunk in liters.