Traditional Thanksgiving Mulled Wine

    Mulled wines have been warming people for centuries, now they are a festive holiday traditon.  Simply they are wines that have been sweetened, spiced and slightly heated - offering a delightful alternative at holiday gatherings or on a cold fall evening.

There are all sorts of red wines that are be good for making mulled wine.  A full-fruited red that costs around $10 will be your best bet for mulling.  Experiment to find your favorite.    

Making Mulled Wine

There are many variations of mulled wine. The basic recipe involves a bottle of wine, two or three cinnamon sticks, fruit slices, some cloves and about a cup of white or brown sugar. The sugar helps mellow out the tangy flavor the wine gets when heated. You can use less or omit it altogether if you like the taste without it.

The most important thing when making mulled wine is to never let the mixture boil. If it boils, it’s all over. The subtle combination of flavors is ruined by boiling, so keep an eye on the pot and leave it on low heat  -  the best way I have found is to use a crock on low to keep it at the perfect temperature all evening. 

Making mulled wine is actually very easy. Combine your wine with your fruit and spices -heat until the mixture is warm to the touch. Add your sugar, stir well, and simmer.  Pour into mugs.  Garnish the mugs (little glass mugs are traditional, but coffee cups work, too) with additional cinnamon sticks or orange slices for a traditional touch.

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Clarence’s Mulled Wine Recipe

    from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life

• 2 bottles red wine
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 sticks cinnamon
• 5 whole cloves
• 1 orange
• 1 lemon

Zest the fruit, avoiding the white pith. Put this, the sugar, cinnamon and cloves into the water. Bring this to a slow boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Now add the wine. Add in the actual orange and lemon fruit part, sliced up. Warm this on low heat for 40 minutes (do NOT boil). Enjoy!

 

Comments

[Jordan 1]

Moderate drinking good for you! Alcohol on the body is hurt more than big! We should take good care of your body! Thank you for your suggestions! You're a good person

[Melissa]

What a great recipe!