Hi! I’m Cassandre, and today on Caramel Loafing, we’re making a cozy, festive classic that’s just as soothing as it is fragrant—Mulled Wine, also known as Vin chaud.
This beloved European winter drink has a long, storied history—dating all the way back to ancient Rome—and is especially popular during the Christmas season. In fact, Charles Dickens frequently noted it in his timeless classic, A Christmas Carol, describing how fond the English were of sipping warm, spiced wine. He even included a version of the recipe using port, which was more accessible at the time.
Made by gently heating red wine with spices and fresh citrus, this comforting drink fills your home with a deeply aromatic scent—and the flavor is absolutely irresistible. Even if you’re not usually into alcohol, this one might pleasantly surprise you. One sip and we were both stunned: “Wow, how is this so good?!” Spices like star anise and cloves, which we usually associate with savory Asian stews, take on a whole new character here when paired with wine. The result is rich, layered, and utterly magical.
Best of all, mulled wine is incredibly easy to make. Everything goes into one pot, and the prep is simple. If you’ve never tried it before, now’s the perfect time.
A quick note: the longer you simmer it, the more the alcohol content will reduce—so you can easily tailor it to your taste. However, even after simmering, this is still an alcoholic beverage, so please drink responsibly and never drive afterward.
If you love the warm, wonderfully aromatic flavors of Mulled Wine, you might also enjoy these crowd-pleasing recipes:
Fluffy and irresistibly eye-catching Dutch Baby Pancake Recipe that’s perfect for brunch or dessert
Crispy, light, and ideal for breakfast or afternoon tea: Crispy Waffles Recipe
Rich, buttery, and full of roasted peanut flavor: Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Cool, refreshing, and a must-have for summer gatherings: Virgin Mojito Recipe
Buttery and nut-studded, perfect for the holiday season: Snowball Cookies Recipe
A social media sensation that’s fun, simple, and delicious: Dalgona Coffee Recipe
Mulled Wine Recipe
Ingredients
Yields: 2 servings
- 500ml (about 17 fl oz) red wine
- 1 orange
- 1 lemon (use juice from half; reserve the peel)
- 3 cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 3 small slices of ginger
- 1 whole nutmeg, grated lightly
- 60g (2.1 oz) granulated sugar
- 1g (0.04 oz) black pepper
- 10g (0.35 oz) honey
Instructions
- Pour 500ml of red wine into a measuring cup. If it’s a newly opened bottle, let it breathe for a bit.
- Slice off both ends of the orange and cut the peel into long strips.
- Repeat the same process with the lemon.
- Collect the orange and lemon peels and set them aside in a small bowl.
- Remove the white pith from the orange and lemon segments to reduce bitterness, then set the fruit aside.
- To make the spice syrup: In a saucepan, add the sugar, cloves, star anise, ginger, black pepper, and cinnamon. Grate a little nutmeg on top and dry-toast over medium-low heat for about a minute to release the aromas.
- Twist the citrus peels by hand to extract their oils, then toss them into the pot and stir to combine.
- Squeeze the juice from one orange and half a lemon directly into the pot, and add the citrus pulp as well. Stir gently and bring to a simmer.
- Once simmering, pour in the red wine and heat until it just begins to bubble. Then reduce to low heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and strain out the solids using a fine mesh sieve.
- Optional: Rub a lime wedge around the rim of your serving glass, dip the rim in salt, and gently tap to remove excess. Pour in the hot mulled wine and serve immediately.
Watch the full step-by-step tutorial here: Mulled Wine Recipe Video