Mulled Wine is the perfect holiday drink. This simple glühwein recipe is delicious and it’s made in under 30 minutes. Holiday Spiced Wine will warm up any chilly night!
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Why We Love This Mulled Wine Recipe
- Cozy. I love curling up with a warm drink throughout the fall and winter season.
- Festive. Whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and oranges bring on the holiday spirit.
- Versatile. You can make a non-alcoholic version using grape juice or apple cider as the base. Add the same spices and ingredients, and omit the wine.
Variations on Glühwein
This simple mulled wine recipe is the perfect base for any warm spiced flavors you can think of. Try adding some cardamom pods, black peppercorns, fresh ginger, or a bay leaf. A splash of vanilla extract or spiced rum would also enhance the spicy flavor.
For a fresher taste, try adding different types of citrus, like lemons, grapefruits, or limes for a tangy twist. Or add some cranberry juice for a touch of tartness.
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How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover mulled wine in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. To reheat it, place it in a pot and let it simmer until warm.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this delicious glühwein at your next holiday party with a charcuterie board, bacon wrapped dates, sausage rolls, or mini quiches. It’s also great with a bowl of comforting beef stew, a prime rib roast, orange cranberry pork loin, or a rack of lamb.
Also known as glühwein, it is an alcoholic drink made with red wine and mulling spices.
This drink is typically served hot, whereas sangria is served cold. Plus, sangria can be made with red or white wine and usually incorporates a lot more fresh fruit.
This drink usually has an alcohol content of around 7%, but it can be as high as 14%, which is about the same as a typical bottle of wine.
A full-bodied, dry wine works best. Look for bottles that are described as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla”. I like Cabernet Sauvignon best.
Yes, this drink is meant to be served hot.
Yes, to quickly warm it up, you can microwave glühwein in 30-second increments until hot.
More Holiday Cocktails To Try
- Mulled Wine Margaritas
- Holiday Sangria
- Jingle Juice
- Cranberry Margaritas
- Christmas Punch
- Homemade Eggnog
- Sparkling Holiday Flirtini
Mulled Wine Recipe (Glühwein)
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Ingredients
- 750 milliliters red wine I like Cabernet Sauvignon (1 bottle)
- ¼ cup honey or agave nectar
- 2 cups apple cider — not apple cider vinegar!
- ¼ cup orange liqueur I like Grand Marnier (optional)
- 1 orange sliced
- 4 whole cloves
- 4 cinnamon sticks
Optional Garnishes
- Star anise
- Orange slices
- Cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Bring the wine, honey, cider, orange liqueur, sliced fruit, cloves, and cinnamon sticks to a simmer in a saucepan set over medium-high heat.750 milliliters red wine, ¼ cup honey, 2 cups apple cider, ¼ cup orange liqueur, 1 orange, 4 whole cloves, 4 cinnamon sticks
- Once simmering, reduce to medium-low heat and continue to simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Strain and serve, garnished with more fruit, star anise, and cinnamon sticks if desired.Star anise, Orange slices, Cinnamon sticks
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Nutrition Information
How to Make Mulled Wine Step by Step
Combine the Ingredients: Bring 750 milliliters (1 bottle) of red wine, ¼ of honey, 2 cups of apple cider, ¼ cup of orange liqueur, 2 sliced oranges, 4 whole cloves, and 4 cinnamon sticks to a simmer in a saucepan set over medium-high heat.
Simmer the Wine: Once simmering, reduce the mixture to medium-low heat and continue to simmer for about 30 minutes.
Strain and Serve: Strain the mulled wine through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth and serve garnished with more fruit, star anise, and cinnamon sticks if desired.
How long will the wine Last after you have mulled it? Does it get stronger? How long can you store it and should it go in the fridge?
Hi! Yes it should be stored in the fridge in a sealed container and should last 3-5 days. It shouldn’t takes much stronger with time but might a little bit.
I would definitely take a glass..or two..or more! This looks gorgeous!
Thank you Serene!!!
That winery looks amazing, I want to go now!! I love a good mulled wine for the holidays, and this is gorgeous!
Our next blog trip should be to san fran and we can visit Wente!!!! <3
The winery is stunning! And so is this drink. Mulled wine is a favorite of mine!
Thanks so much Michelle!
I’m definitely not ready for Christmas music, but would love a glass of this mulled wine anytime. I’m bookmarking this for the holidays, for sure.
Thank you so much!!
THAT is where I wanna be! Take me awaaaay!
…bring a few bottles, too… :-D
I’ll def bring a few bottles!!! Miss you girl!
Save some for us!!!! It looks delicious and I look forward to tasting Entwine Wines. Yum!!
You are going to love it!!
OK, are you in my brain?? I am OBSESSED with mulled wine and was just thinking about how excited I am to drink it last night. WHY don’t we live closer???
I WISH WE DID!!!! Ugh that would be so fun. Are you going to blogher food? I need to see you again soon!
The queen of beverages is back! Haha. I love this combination and that wine sounds stellar (I need to remember visiting if I ever travel!) I am so excited for this drink with the cold temperature setting in.
Ha thank you Kacey! You are too sweet!
Their corks are so fun with their logo on them!! I am so not ready for christmas yet.. but if you put a fake spider on each glass, this could be perfect for halloween too! :)
I like the way you think!!! And aren’t those corks so cute?!