Mulled wine - recipes & history
Mulled wine - recipes & history
Mulled wine - 4 recipes for the winter favorite
What could be better than a large cup of mulled wine on a cold winter evening? The following mulled wine recipes are ideal for cozy winter evenings and offer variety depending on your taste, whether classic, fruity or non-alcoholic!
#1. Classic mulled wine
Mulled wine is one of the most popular drinks in winter for good reason. The combination of red wine, citrus fruits and warming spices not only tastes good, but also fills every room in which it is prepared or drunk with its aroma. It's sure to get you in the Christmas spirit!
Ingredients (for approx. 4 cups):
- 1 liter red wine
- 1 orange
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3-4 cloves
- 2 star anise
- 2-3 tbsp sugar or honey
- 1 vanilla pod (optional)
- 100 ml rum (optional)
How it works:
- pour the red wine into a saucepan and heat over a low heat (do not boil).
- wash the orange, cut into slices and add to the wine together with the cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and the sliced vanilla pod into the wine.
- add the sugar or honey and heat slowly.
- leave to infuse for approx. 10 to 15 minutes.
- if you like it stronger, you can add the rum at the end.
- pour through a sieve and serve hot.
#2. White mulled wine
White mulled wine is a delicious alternative to classic mulled wine and is just as easy to prepare.
Ingredients (for approx. 4 cups):
- 1 liter white wine
- 1 lemon
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3-4 cloves
- 1 star anise
- 1 piece of ginger (approx. 2 cm)
- 2-3 tbsp sugar or honey
- 100 ml orange liqueur (optional)
How it works:
- heat the white wine in a saucepan over a low heat.
- peel the ginger and wash the lemon. Cut both into thin slices.
- add the ginger, lemon and spices to the wine.
- add the sugar or honey and leave the wine to infuse for approx. 10-15 minutes (do not boil).
- optionally add the orange liqueur at the end.
- pour the mulled wine through a sieve and serve hot.
#3. Hot stag
This drink is a variant of mulled wine with a special twist: it is prepared with red wine and cherry liqueur cherry liqueur, which gives it a particularly fruity note. Ingredients (for approx. 4 cups):
- 1 liter red wine
- 200 ml cherry liqueur
- 1 orange
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4-5 cloves
- 1 star anise
- 3-4 tbsp brown sugar or honey
- 1 handful of cherries (fresh or from a jar, optional)
How it works:
- pour the red wine into a saucepan and heat (do not allow to boil).
- slice the orange and add to the wine along with the spices.
- add the sugar or honey and heat everything slowly until the aromas develop (approx. 10 minutes).
- add the cherry liqueur and the cherries, then leave to infuse for a further 5 minutes on a low heat.
- pour the hot venison through a sieve and enjoy hot.
#4. Alcohol-free mulled wine
This non-alcoholic version is a great alternative for anyone who wants to avoid alcohol.
Ingredients (for approx. 4 cups):
- 1 liter red grape juice
- 1 apple
- 1 orange
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4-5 cloves
- 1 star anise
- 1 piece of ginger
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or sugar
- 200 ml water
How it works:
- heat the grape juice with the water in a pan.
- slice the orange, apple and ginger and add to the juice with the cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise. star anise into the juice.
- add honey or sugar to taste and heat everything slowly, but do not allow to boil.
- leave the non-alcoholic mulled wine to stand for about 15 minutes so that the spices infuse well.
- pour the mulled wine through a sieve and serve hot.
Origin and history of mulled wine
Today, mulled wine is firmly associated with Christmas and the cold season. However, the origin of the hot drink can be traced back to Ancient Rome. Even the Romans prepared a drink from spiced and sweetened wine, which they called “Conditum Paradoxum”. With the expansion of the Roman Empire, spiced wine also spread throughout Europe.
The tradition of the drink was continued in the Middle Ages. The spices refined the taste of the wine and also helped to preserve it. Ingredients such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg were valuable commodities at the time, meaning that spiced wines were also often used as a remedy. The name “mulled wine” then developed in the 16th or 17th century, as the wine was originally heated over red-hot iron.
Over the years, the popularity of the Christmas drink steadily increased until it became an integral part of the Christmas markets that emerged at that time in the 19th century. The Christmas market in Dresden, one of the oldest Christmas markets, which has existed since the 15th century, contributed significantly to the spread of mulled wine as a Christmas drink.
Today, mulled wine is not only popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but also in many European countries such as France, Sweden and the UK. Even away from Christmas markets, mulled wine has become a symbol of coziness and the festive season worldwide.
Prepare and serve mulled wine
Making mulled wine yourself is part of winter and is easier than you might think. If you prepare the hot drink in large quantities, it can be difficult to keep the mulled wine warm in the pot without reducing its quality. This is where practical mulled wine pots come into play.
These are special cooking pots that usually have heating elements built into the base. This makes them perfect for slowly heating mulled wine to the optimum temperature and keeping it warm until it is served. If the mulled wine is to be served particularly quickly and efficiently, for example at the Christmas market, mulled wine dispensers are used.
Enjoy mulled wine with LUSINI
Enjoy the Christmas season with friends, family and guests! A nice cup of mulled wine, with or without with or without alcohol, creates a festive atmosphere. With practical mulled wine pots and beautiful cups, preparing and serving the Christmas hot drink becomes a highlight. Merry Christmas!
