Mulled Wine (Gløgg)

Mulled Wine is a cozy way to warm up on a winter evening with friends! This festive recipe is spiced with cinnamon, cloves, citrus, and holiday cheer.

Note: This post first appeared on December 29, 2011. The recipe has been updated from the archives with updated content and photographs, as well as improved kitchen notes and recipe annotation. I hope you enjoy this favorite from my kitchen.

WINTER WEATHER

If it didn’t snow, it rained. And more often than naught, it rained. Which, I suppose, was a good thing if you were a college student who should be spending hours indoors studying.

As an undergrad in upstate New York, the brilliant foliage seemed short-lived, in comparison to the perpetually wet weather we seemed to endure. I adored the snow, welcomed it. The crisp crunch under my feet, the stillness as it insulated the earth. The world felt like mine when it snowed, silent and quiet. The woods were a wonderland. My apartment a haven.

But my little college town was infamous for its rain, and after a week on campus, even the newest freshman learned fast — umbrellas were a necessity.

The weather forced one to study, but on those rare days when the clouds called a ceasefire, it was an opportunity to explore.

WINTER EXPLORATIONS

Just a jaunt away from my college were the Finger Lakes. As my senior year approached, I realized that I still had not explored this region with its rustic wineries tucked along its windy shores. When a clear weekend free of pressing assignments presented itself, I finally had my chance.

New to wine and the practice of wine tasting, of course I relished it with a naïve tongue – nuances and technicalities flying over my head. There was not a Wine Tasting 101 course. I wish there had been.

In spite of all the overwhelming flavors that competed for my palate’s attention, there was one that was able to impress me.  The humble Mulled Wine was something I could understand.

In a full-bodied wine, steeped in fruit and sweetness, with the familiar winter spices found in holiday baking, I found something I could appreciate in mulled wine. Perhaps it was the familiarity. Or maybe its overall simplicity. It may have been the jovial ambiance and the rustic surroundings. All I know is that I have never forgotten that first sip of steaming mulled wine.

Much like its romantic and carefree cousin the summer sangria, mulled wine is meant to be enjoyed with friends, lots of them, warm glasses in hand, the heat from a fireplace nearby, and toasts to good health exchanged. I raise my glass to you. Here’s to a Happy New Year – may you be surrounded by the warmth of your friends and family. Cheers!

WHAT IS MULLED WINE?

Mulled wine can be referred to by several names. It’s popularlyis also known as spiced wine. I learned of it as Gløgg or Glühwein. A traditional mulled wine recipe is a red wine that has been sweetened and spiced with mulling spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Served warm, it is especially popular for Christmas and the holidays.

BEST WINE FOR MULLED WINE

Like sangria, mulled wine is a forgiving beverage that doesn’t require costly wine to be enjoyable. I favor a Pinot noir in my mulled wine, but a good Cabernet Sauvignon will also do very nicely.

CAN YOU MAKE MULLED WINE IN A CROCKPOT?

Yes, you can make mulled wine on the stovetop, crockpot, or slow cooker! If you use a crockpot or slow cooker to make mulled wine, then you can set it and forget it, and it keeps the beverage warm and cozy, perfect for entertaining.

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Mulled Wine (Gløgg)

Mulled Wine is a cozy way to warm up on a winter evening with friends! This festive recipe is spiced with cinnamon, cloves, all-spice, nutmeg, citrus, and holiday cheer.

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Course Beverages

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings 5 servings

Calories 215kcal

Author Liren Baker

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 750- ml bottle red wine
• ▢ 1 cup sugar
• ▢ 1 cup apple juice
• ▢ 2 lemons cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
• ▢ 2 clementines cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
• ▢ 3 cinnamon sticks
• ▢ 2 whole nutmeg
• ▢ 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• ▢ 1 teaspoon whole allspice

COOK MODEPrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• In a heavy saucepan or slow cooker, combine the wine, sugar, apple juice, fruit, and spices.
• Warm the beverage slowly over low heat without boiling and allow the flavors to come together for at least 1 hour on the stovetop, or for at least 2 hours on low heat in a slow cooker or crockpot.
• Strain before serving, if you wish. Enjoy warm!

Notes

Adapted from Mulled Wine with Citrus, Bon Appetit, 1998, via Epicurious.

Best wine for mulled wine: Like sangria, mulled wine is a forgiving beverage that doesn’t require costly wine to be enjoyable. I favor a Pinot noir in my mulled wine, but a good Cabernet Sauvignon will also do very nicely.

Nutrition

Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 233mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

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