Who doesn't love a glass of warm, spiced wine in the winter? 


The Christmas lights have been switched on and the shops are playing Mariah on repeat, which can only mean one thing: it's time for mulled wine. 


Whether you want to wander through Christmas markets with a cup of something warm between your mittens, or you're looking for a snuggly accompaniment to your annual re-watch of Love, Actually, mulled wine is the bev of the season. It's also a drink with a long and illustrious history: the Ancient Greeks and Romans used to warm up their wine in the winter and add spices to keep in good health (and good spirits) during the colder months. 


It was only right that we followed in the footsteps of our ancient and innovative forefathers, creating our own mulled wine for the winter season!


The Top Cuvée mulled wine is, quite frankly, a masterpiece (even if we do say so ourselves). Made using a slow infusion process to retain the wine's freshness, our mulled wine recipe combines young Rioja and Sicilian White Wine for a festive bottle that is light and delicious. We then add spices, honey, orange, and lemon peel, topping it all off with a healthy dash of Xmas joy. All you need to do is uncork and warm up, adding a slice of orange as a final flourish.



Festive DIY: Make Your Own Mulled Wine 🎅


Whilst it's going to be tricky to beat our beautiful mulled wine recipe, sometimes you want a fun festive activity to while away an hour or so. 

When it comes to making your own mulled wine, there are a few consistent elements: red wine, spices, citrus. But from there on out, it's a matter of taste! Some people swear by adding vanilla for an extra boost of creaminess, some suggest bay leaves for a more savoury finish, and others insist on a splash of brandy or Cointreau - although technically speaking, if you're going to add spirits you're making a punch, not a mulled wine 🤓

We've pulled together what we think is a great starter recipe: try it, modify it, and create a personal mulled wine recipe that you can hand down through generations. 


🍇 Mulled Wine Recipe: The Basics 🍇


The most important ingredient of your mulled wine is... surprise, surprise, the wine itself. Stay away from anything too sweet, especially if you're adding a dash of sugar or honey. Your best bet is a dry, fruity red table wine (aka, not a fortifed wine like a port or sherry). Good grapes to look out for would be Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.


Bottle of red wine

2 tablespoons of honey 

One large cinnamon stick 

3 whole star anise 

8 whole cloves

2 whole oranges - one for flavour and one for garnish


1. Pour your red wine into a pan and add the spices, honey, and one orange thinly sliced. 


2. Gently heat for fifteen to twenty minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not let your wine boil! If you do, you'll cook off all the alcohol and end up with a spiced grape soup #NotTheGoal


3. Set aside for at least 40 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse. When serving, reheat gently (again, no boiling) and garnish with a slice of orange or a twist of peel. 



Five Mulled Wine Facts To Blow Your Mind 🤯


So, we've already told you that mulled wine goes back to Ancient times. But did you know that drinking mulled wine can actually be good for your health? Or that the first bottles of mulled wine actually changed wine-making law? Read on for some fascinating and festive mulled wine facts to share over a glass of glühwein. 


One: Judge Freshness By Colour
You can tell how fresh your mulled wine is based on the colour. If it's glowing red, that boy is fresh. If it's looking brownish in colour, that means your mug of mull has been kept warm for a long time.
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Two: Mulled Wine Changed The Law
In 1956, an entrepreneurial lad called Rudolf (not the reindeer) Kunzman decided to bottle his mulled wine recipe and sell it. He put his mixture of wine, sugar and spices up for sale - however, at that time, sugar was prohibited as an ingredient in wine, and Rudolf received a fine. Later, wine law was changed to accommodate the sale of bottled mulled wine. 
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Three: Speaking Of Sugar...
Lots of people don't enjoy mulled wine because they claim it is too sweet. Not to be rude about their wine choices (...👀) but if a mulled wine is super sweet that usually means it's been made with lower quality wine, as the sugar hides the crappiness, to use industry terminology. High quality mulled wine doesn't need any added sugar, just some spices to round out the flavours already in the wine. 
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Four: Drinking Hot Wine Can Make You Cold
Snuggsing up with that cup of toasty glühwein might make you feel like you're getting warmer, but actually the effect only works in the short term. This is because alcohol dilates the blood vessels, causing the body to cool down faster than it otherwise would. Turns out you can't replace your central heating with mulled wine after all.
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Five: Mulled Wine Is Legit Actually Good For You
Tannins, it turns out, have antiviral properties. That means that mulled wine in moderation might actually help to promote general good health, fighting off pesky coughs and sneezes. Honestly, we're not making this up - it's science, baby. 
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