What is mulled wine (gluwein) - the history and composition of a hot alcoholic drink with wine. Fragrant mulled wine at home Mulled wine recipe at home

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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.

Christmas (fruit)

Non-alcoholic

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 have appeared on sale; it is better to use 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.

Fragrant mulled wine with notes of cinnamon and citrus is a favorite drink not only of Europeans, but also of Americans. It is almost always prepared in winter, because the drink perfectly warms and tones. Today we’ll talk about how to prepare this fiery alcoholic drink from red and white wine, as well as a non-alcoholic one from juice and fruit.

Classic mulled wine is a mixture of red wine and aromatic seasonings that are added to heated liquid. It is simply irreplaceable during cold winters, which is why mulled wine is often offered to tourists visiting ski resorts.

You can prepare such a drink from any available ingredients, but most often the following spices and fruits are added to it:

Cinnamon sticks. In the CIS countries I use crushed cinnamon powder.
Carnation flowers.
Citrus fruits, mainly oranges and lemons. They take on the sweetness of the wine.
A few pinches of nutmeg.
Sugar or honey if dry red wine is used in the preparation.
Water, if you want a not too strong mulled wine.
Cardamom, vanilla.
Ginger, apples.

After preparation, the drink is drunk hot. If the mulled wine contains a lot of seasonings, then the liquid should be strained. In some cases, dry cinnamon is added directly to the glass, and pieces of citrus fruit are also thrown in.

What to serve the drink with?

Serving mulled wine involves adding a cheese plate and citrus fruits.
If your mulled wine is based on white wine, then it can be complemented with baked fish, spicy chicken or several types of cheeses. If the drink is based on red wine, then it is served with cold cuts, baked meat or chocolate.

Important! You can also complement the drink with cheese crackers, grilled vegetables, and Bavarian sausages.

What are the benefits of this drink?

Alcoholic drinks are certainly not very healthy. But mulled wine is a special case. The fact is that the traditional recipe for this drink uses natural red wine, which is not boiled during the preparation process. Light heat treatment helps preserve all the beneficial properties of the wine, so mulled wine is effective in combating the following diseases:

Colds, throat diseases.
Hypothermia.
Low hemoglobin (anemia).
Has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, improving digestion.
Invigorates and tones the body.
Helps overcome insomnia and psychological exhaustion.

Mulled wine is considered one of the best drinks for a romantic winter evening. Already want to learn how to cook it? Then let's move on to the recipes!

Classic winter drink recipe

To prepare this aromatic tonic drink, prepare the following set of ingredients:

A liter of red wine, it is better to choose dry.
50-100 ml of water.
15 g sugar.
5-6 pcs. carnation flowers.
A pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon.

First, prepare a spice infusion. Add cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon to boiling water. Boil this infusion for 2 minutes, then let it sit for 10 minutes. While infusing, take care of the wine: add sugar, heat well, but do not bring to a boil. Add infusion with water and spices to hot wine, stir. Mulled wine is ready.

Recipe with honey and aromatic seasonings

This mulled wine is quite hot, but it perfectly tones and warms. This recipe is often used in expensive restaurants. To make this drink prepare:

1 liter of dry red wine. If you take sweet or semi-sweet, it will turn out very cloying.
4-5 tbsp. l. honey If you want a less sweet drink, add 2-3 tablespoons.
7 pcs. clove buds, 4 allspice and the same amount of star anise.

Place honey in a deep saucepan, pour wine over it, stir. Then add spices, heat, but do not boil.

Important! After preparation, such a drink can be garnished with lemon slices, poured into a special glass, and served hot.

How to prepare a drink if you only have white wine?

Classic mulled wine is made from red wine, but if this is not available and guests are already on the doorstep, take out 1 liter of white wine.

Important! Take dry white wine, otherwise the drink will turn out very sweet. If there is only sweet or semi-sweet wine in the house, then put more lemon in it.

So, we need the ingredients:

A liter of white wine.
half an orange or lemon (grind with zest).
1-2 tbsp. l. honey If you use sweet wine, skip the honey.
Flavorful seasonings to taste. It is better to use classic cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

Place all ingredients in a saucepan, heat, then let the mixture brew for 15 minutes, strain. Use only warm!

Custom recipe with frozen fruit

Do you have half a kilogram of raspberries lying around in the freezer? Take it out and hurry up to prepare excellent mulled wine, following these instructions:

We need 1 liter of dry white wine.
About 400-500 g of frozen raspberries, if it’s in season, you can take fresh ones.
Vanilla or cinnamon stick.
2-3 tbsp. l. Sahara.

Pour wine into a saucepan, add raspberries, sugar and vanilla there, stir and heat. After heating, the drink is filtered and then poured into ceramic or glass cups.

Important! It's worth cutting the vanilla pod if you want it to impart its full aroma to the drink.

Alcoholic mulled wine with egg yolks

To prepare it we will need:

A liter of white or red wine.
3-4 pcs. cloves, a pinch of cinnamon.
1 glass of water.
2-3 egg yolks.

Add cloves and water to the wine, then heat the mixture over low heat. While the wine is heating, beat the yolks with sugar, and then slowly add them into the wine, stirring constantly. This drink is most often served with a croissant or biscuit.

Important! Stir the drink constantly when adding the yolk. Otherwise, there will be lumps of boiled egg yolk in it.

Non-standard mulled wine for people who love chocolate

Dry red wine and chocolate go well together, so why don't we combine them in one recipe? For such a drink, take the following set of ingredients:

300 ml water.
2 tbsp. l. cocoa.
A liter of dry red wine.
3-4 tbsp. l. Sahara.
Seasonings to taste, cinnamon and nutmeg are most suitable.
Zest of 1 lemon or orange.
About 50-70 g of dark chocolate.

Pour cocoa, sugar into a saucepan, add water, add spices and zest, bring the mixture to a boil. After boiling, cool the mixture for 5 minutes, then add wine to it and heat the future mulled wine. After this, strain the drink and pour it into tall glasses.

Important! If you want to get a thick aroma, then use 1 cinnamon stick or 1-2 pinches of ground spice.

How to make non-alcoholic mulled wine?

If you can’t drink alcohol or drive tomorrow, but really want mulled wine, then we present to your attention a recipe for a non-alcoholic drink:

1 liter of good apple juice.
2-3 tablespoons of fresh orange or lemon zest.
Chopped pulp of 1 orange.
2 buds of cloves and the same number of cinnamon sticks.
A pinch of nutmeg.
100-150 ml of clean water.

To create such a drink, place all the ingredients in a saucepan and top with water and juice. Bring to a temperature of approximately 70 degrees, avoid boiling. After heating, let the liquid sit for 15-20 minutes, then strain it. If the drink has cooled down, reheat it. Garnish the glasses with citrus slices.

Another great recipe that doesn't contain alcohol.

You get simply excellent mulled wine if you make it from hibiscus. To prepare such a tasty and unusual drink, follow the instructions:

Pre-brew 1 liter of hibiscus tea.
Finely chop the orange, do not remove the peel.
Now add 2-3 tbsp to the saucepan. l. any honey, chopped orange, 2 buds of cloves and cinnamon, pour in pre-brewed tea.
Heat, let sit for 5-10 minutes, then strain.

This drink is not only very tasty, but also very healthy. It can be used safely by both children and pregnant women.

Important! Mulled wine gets most of its “warming effect” from seasonings, and not from red wine.

You can make a drink from either fruit juice or wine. The latter option will be tastier and healthier for an impending cold. When preparing the drink, do not skimp on aromatic seasonings, because they give mulled wine a very subtle and original taste.

Video recipes for mulled wine

Walking on a cool autumn or winter evening somewhere in Vienna, you are sure to come across many cafes offering a cup of mulled wine. This delicious old-fashioned red wine-based hot drink perfectly warms you up in cold weather, restores vitality, and saturates you with concentrated summer warmth and a thick spicy aroma. A cup of mulled wine in the company of old friends - what could be better for a pleasant conversation...

Mulled wine - German. gluhende wein - flaming wine, is just a modern designation for a drink with a rich history. The roots of this drink go back to ancient times, namely, to the time when the ancient Romans began to mix wine with seasonings to better preserve it and give the wine a “noble” taste. In a 2000-year-old cookbook written by the Roman citizen Alicits, one can find descriptions of preparing a drink from wine with the addition of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, coriander and bay leaves. At that time, spices were very expensive, and only a few residents of Rome could afford such wine. In cookbooks of the 16th century, recipes for making mulled wine based on Bordeaux and claret begin to appear. Honey, cinnamon, cardamom and galingal herb are mentioned as the main components. The last component is quite interesting for its invigorating properties. Robert May's book, published in 1660, suggests mixing a gallon of dry red wine, 3 ounces of cinnamon, 2 ounces of ginger, 14 ounces of cloves, 1 ounce of nutmeg husks, 20 black peppercorns, 3 pounds of sugar and 2 quarts of cream.

Over time, the basis of the mulled wine recipe crystallized and acquired exactly the framework in which a modern hot drink is now prepared. The basis of any mulled wine is dry red wine (preferably ordinary and inexpensive), water, sugar, nutmeg, and cloves. Of course, the masters of making mulled wine do not limit the list of spices, and often it includes: lemon, orange or their zest, dried fruits, cinnamon, star anise, pepper, anise, honey, apple pieces and various fruit juices.

The main beauty of making mulled wine is that if you follow just a few rules, you can endlessly experiment with additives, types of wine and methods of preparing it. Mulled wine encourages the most unexpected ideas, the main thing is that you feel the properties of the components and imagine them in the future drink. Of course, not every spice or combination of them will create an unsurpassed drink, but it makes it all the more interesting to prepare - because it’s impossible to make a mistake! Mulled wine is always the joy of improvisation, something that is sometimes so lacking in an orderly daily life and that so organically colors an early autumn or winter evening. Citrus fruits sometimes just ask to be added to a drink, as a memory of hot days, as a desire to see the sun and welcome spring. And sometimes you want to immerse yourself in the thick aroma of oriental spices, dream, or simply create the mood for a good evening.

Mulled wine is very easy to prepare, but does not tolerate haste or inattention. Just 10-15 minutes and the drink is ready. You can treat your friends or a casual acquaintance. Climb your feet up onto the sofa, cover yourself with a blanket, and quietly sip mulled wine, immerse yourself in pleasant memories. In cool and sunny weather in the Swiss Alps, where sporty Europeans and tourists simply wanting to get some fresh air ski all winter, you are sure to come across a stall offering aromatic, freshly prepared mulled wine. This combination is simply impossible to refuse: mountains, sun, clean air and the aroma of spicy wine.

But it’s good to move from poetics to practice. To prepare mulled wine, you will first need wine. Its quantity determines the number of persons or personal needs. Don't try to make too much mulled wine. Remember that 1-2 glasses will be good for you, they will warm you up and lift your spirits, but 3-4 glasses can already bring fatigue and a morning headache. The simplest table wine is best. If you are bored with its usual taste, try adding a little brandy, cognac or rum, but only just a little. Or, for a change, you can make mulled wine using good expensive wine.

Water is also important. It’s best if it’s spring water, but any bottled one will do, as long as it’s not “from the tap.” There should be little water - about a glass for every liter of wine.

Spices are selected individually in each specific case. There is a certain generally accepted set, without which no mulled wine can do. These are sugar, cloves and cinnamon. In addition to them, cardamom, anise, honey, red and black peppercorns, nutmeg, slices of dried orange, lemon or apple can be added to mulled wine (in general, you can add a variety of dried fruits). Some of these components are interchangeable, for example, cardamom can replace the citrus part, because the aroma of cardamom has a lemon-eucalyptus taste. Ginger has a warming effect, and it also adds some spice to the drink. Ginger can be replaced with peppers (in small quantities). It is allowed to add pieces of fresh fruit and citrus fruits to mulled wine. If you choose to add lime instead of lemon, remember that lime is more pungent and should be added with caution. If the wine is dry, add sugar or honey. It is better to mix the latter into the drink at the very end of preparation.

Spices in mulled wine act as substances that complement the aroma of wine, so it is important not to overpower the wine aroma, but to complement it, to create a certain composition from which nothing stands out and everything together “sounds” like a good jazz band.

The most important element in preparing mulled wine is the heating temperature, or rather the cooking temperature. The basic principle is to never let the drink boil or even just heat above the required temperature. The optimal temperature for mulled wine is 70°C, perhaps a little more. Do not over-expose the mulled wine, you should not bring it to the point of “pre-boiling”, it is better to under-expose it a little.

The basic procedure is as follows. Add cloves and nutmeg to the Turk, add a little water (a glass or less) and cook for about a minute. Then the broth should sit for about 10 minutes. At this time, pour wine into a fireproof glass or ceramic container (avoid metal) and put on fire. Pour the contents of the Turka into the already heated wine, making sure that no sediment gets in. Stir. Add sugar and stir again. Add remaining ingredients. It’s better to take cinnamon in sticks rather than ground, this will eliminate the cloudiness of the drink. Next, bring over low heat to the desired temperature (70°C) and pour hot into cups or glasses.

There are several variations on how to achieve a richer taste. Firstly, you can heat it over low heat for a very long time, secondly, heat it quickly enough and let it brew, while not allowing it to cool, thirdly, make a richer spice syrup by boiling and infusing it in a pot for a little longer. If you prefer quick heating and infusion, then keep in mind that the white part in citrus slices gives bitterness during prolonged infusion, so in this case it is wiser to use only the zest, separating it from the white parts and separately orange or lemon pulp.

After preparing the mulled wine, pour it and drink it immediately. Don't let it cool down. Cooled mulled wine will certainly disappoint you with its lack of taste and aroma. Do not reheat mulled wine - unfortunately, all the magic of a fresh drink completely disappears when reheated.

It is best to serve mulled wine in tall and narrow glass glasses or glasses, with pieces of fruit floating at the bottom. You can also pour it into ceramic cups, as they did in the old days, and even into mugs. Mulled wine is best tasted in transparent containers. It is possible, and sometimes even very good, to take mulled wine with you in a thermos. Use a thermos with a glass flask and do not forget to remove the lemon so that it does not become bitter when left in the thermos for a very long time. As a snack, you can serve dry cookies, a piece of charlotte or other pie, or fruit. In Holland it is customary to serve crumpets or donuts with mulled wine, in Germany - cakes. In general, appetizers provide as much freedom for improvisation as the drink itself.

Mulled wine recipes are like stars in the sky. I will give a few as guidelines - any of these recipes can be transformed and changed according to your tastes and preferences.

Mulled wine recipes

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 1)

Ingredients:
bottle of red wine (0.75 l),
400 g water,
100 g sugar,
5 g cinnamon,
10 g cloves,
100 g cognac,
a piece of lemon.

Preparation:
Pour wine into a fireproof glass container, heat it a little, add sugar. Stir. Add cinnamon and cloves. Bring to a temperature of 70°C. Let stand for a few minutes. Pour in cognac and pour into preheated glasses.

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 2)

Ingredients:
a bottle of semi-dry red wine,
3 tbsp. l. Sahara,
orange,
3 slices of lemon,
apple,
1 tbsp. l. honey,
5-6 cloves,
1/2 cinnamon stick,
3-4 peas of allspice,
5-6 spicy red peppers,
2/3 teaspoon nutmeg,
1 teaspoon cardamom,
1 tbsp. water.

Preparation:
Heat water in a glass fireproof bowl, add pepper, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom and cinnamon. Cook intensively for 5 minutes, then reduce the flame and pour in the wine. Add sugar and stir. Add chopped orange and lemon. Continue heating the mixture to 70°C or even a little more. Then remove from heat and let sit for a few minutes. Add a spoonful of honey, stir and pour into glasses. Make sure that everyone gets a slice of citrus fruit in their glass.

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 3)

Ingredients:
1 bottle of semi-sweet red wine,
6-7 carnation flowers,
4-5 peas of allspice,
1/2 teaspoon (or 18 whole nuts) nutmeg,
1 cinnamon stick,
12 oranges,
12 glasses of water.

Preparation:
Pour water over the cloves, nutmeg and pepper, bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for a few minutes. Turn off the flame and let sit for 10-15 minutes. At this time, pour the wine into the cooking container and gradually heat it. Then pour in the previously prepared mixture, add sugar, stir and bring to 70°C. Remove from heat and pour into glasses.

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 4)

Ingredients:
1/2 bottle of red wine,
2 cups of natural coffee,
150 g sugar,
100 g cognac.

Preparation:
Pour the wine into the bowl, heat it up, pour in 2 cups of strong coffee, add sugar, stir, bring the resulting temperature to 70°C, pour in the cognac. Let it sit for a couple of minutes. Pour into glasses.

Mulled wine (Recipe No. 5)

Ingredients:
1/2 liter of dry red wine,
80 g raisins,
100 g sugar,
10 carnation flowers,
4 star anise fruits,
1/2 cinnamon stick,
1 lemon,
1/2 apple.

Preparation:
Heat the wine in a heatproof glass container, add raisins, cloves, anise and cinnamon. Stir and add sugar. Stir again and add lemon and apple cut into small slices. Bring the mixture to 70°C and let sit for a couple of minutes. Pour into clear glasses, tall glasses or mugs. Don't forget the lemon and apple pieces in each glass!

Alexey Borodin

As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, it's always mulled wine season. For a long time, this spicy hot alcoholic drink has been considered a traditional companion for winter evenings, merry festivities, New Year and Christmas markets.

Mulled wine (Glühwein) translated from German means “flaming wine”. Its recipe as a cure for ailments was known back in the thirteenth century (Dr. Arnaldo de Vilanova recommended his patients make and consume this warming drink with spices). Over the centuries, this recipe has undergone changes. As a result, it has become the best remedy for colds and winter blues.

To prevent mulled wine from losing its taste, do not bring it to a boil (under any circumstances). The optimal heating temperature for it is 70-80 degrees.
Cook in small portions, as frequent heating will lose flavor and aroma.
According to many recipes, the ideal base for making mulled wine at home is red wine.
Use only whole spices. Ground spices will make your drink cloudy.
Let the drink brew for half an hour (minimum) after it is ready. This will help the aroma of the spices to develop in the best possible way.

Wine selection

Since “flaming wine” is a rather sweet drink due to the ingredients (sugar and honey), it is better to use dry, weak wines for its preparation. Since mulled wine is traditionally made from red wine, the following are best suited as a base:

dry red table wine (Saperavi, Merlot, Kindzmarauli, Cabernet);
red semi-dry wine (Khvanchkara);
inexpensive wine from a cardboard box (from Chile or Argentina).