It is that time of year again! The weather is becoming increasingly colder and more often we find ourselves craving a bold glass of red wine to keep us toasty. Thankfully, the team at Holland Marsh Wineries is excited to help. We have decided to bring back a family favorite to enjoy by our vineyard or on our tasting patio! Now serving our Mulled wine in our wine shop, I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening with friends. Unable to make it out to the winery? Check below for our delicious recipe that you can try at home!
What is Mulled Wine?
Mulled wine or the word “Mull” refers to the process in which this delicious drink is made; by heating up wine with a variety of spices and sugars! Our special trick is to keep the temperature warm but not at a boil, anything above 60⁰ C will cause the alcohol content to burn off.
This year, we have decided on a Cinnamon Orange Cranberry blend mixed with our sweet Gamay Noir that is sure to excite your senses. Mulled wine can be compared to some of our delicious vintages, particularly our Cabernet Baco (Spice, leather, and plum notes) or Reserve Merlot 2016 (Vanilla, black pepper, and baked fig). However, this seasonal drink is unique. The added sugars from the fruit blended with a variety of spices, supports a more robust red wine experience!
Fun Fact – The sweetness of wine is not greatly affected when heated, rather most palates detect sourness and astringency to be more pronounced over sweetness. Therefore, many mulled wine recipes focus heavily on a powerful spice to bring a relaxing balance back.
Where did mulled wine come from?
Dating back to the Ancient Greeks it’s said that the father of medicine, Hippocrates; used old wine mixed with spices and sweetened with honey as a medicinal tonic to heal the body. During the 2nd century, the consumption of mulled wine spread to Europe where the Romans used it to fight against the bitterly cold winters. Today it’s a well-known holiday beverage that’s sure to bring a smile to your face!
Fun Fact #2 – The oldest mulled wine recipe was found in a recipe collection from Dresden, Germany in 1834
Want to try and make your own Mulled Wine?
Follow this recipe!
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes Yields: 7- 8 Servings
- Cook Time: 20 Minuets Total Time: 25 Minuets
Ingredients:
1 (750 ml) Bottle of Gamay Noir
4 Cup of Cranberry Juice
1 Orange Sliced
2-4 Cinnamon Sticks
1 Cup of Cranberries
2 Tbls of locally made Honey
Instructions:
- Combine ingredients. Add wine, orange slices, cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of honey to a large saucepan. Stir briefly to combine.
- Simmer. Cook the mulled wine in a crockpot on medium or on the stovetop on low- medium with a thermometer. Heat until it just barely reaches a simmer (Avoid letting it bubble — you don’t want to boil off the alcohol, not above 60 degrees C) Reduce heat, cover, and let the wine simmer for up to 3 hours.
- Serve. Serve warm in a festive tumbler.
Enjoy!
