The Christmas season has officially begun and when it's really cold outside, we're all looking forward to a warm, fragrant drink. In addition to all the delicious Christmas cookies and the classichot chocolateNow it's high season again: mulled wine. And like the presents under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, the classic alcoholic drink is simply part of Christmas in Germany. Full of aromas and winter spices, the mulled wine tastes like heaven and sweetens the wait until the holidays. In fact, according to a survey in Germany, around 50 million liters of it are drunk during the Christmas season alone. And just because the Christmas markets are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic doesn't mean we have to miss out on the classic. So how about making mulled wine yourself this year? Whether with red wine or white wine – here you will find the very best mulled wine recipes that taste even better than at the Christmas market!
Without a doubt, a Christmas-smelling and steaming mulled wine is an absolute hit in winter. Of course, you can also get mulled wine in liter bottles in the supermarket for around 2 euros. But let's be honest - this usually tastes way too sweet and is not made from the best red wine. Even at the Christmas market, the drink is usually made from cheap products. The solution is then – make mulled wine yourself! Using a high-quality wine makes the classic taste a thousand times better and, as a plus, our whole house smells incredibly aromatic and Christmassy. Whether you use red wine or make your own mulled wine with white wine depends on your own taste.
So that you can make the perfect mulled wine yourself, it is very important to find the perfect balance between acidity, sweetness, spice and fruitiness. In addition to the right spices and ingredients, the use of a good quality wine is also very important. Red wines with a low tannin content and low acidity, such as Merlot or barrique, are recommended for this. In order to really highlight the aromas, the wine should be fruity, strong and ideally medium-dry to dry. If you want to spice up your homemade mulled wine with a shot of rum or amaretto, you should opt for lighter versions with a low alcohol content. In addition to Merlot, Pinot Noir, Trollinger, Lemberger and Dornfelder are also among the best possible choices. If you want to make white mulled wine yourself, you should also choose a fruity to spicy and slightly dry white wine such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or Silvaner.
Make classic mulled wine yourself
Preparing it isn't exactly rocket science and with the right onesTipsEveryone can make their own delicious mulled wine. However, the classic is prepared differently in different regions and the recipe itself is always more of a guideline than a set of rules. So don't be afraid to experiment with the spices and ingredients to create your own masterpiece. The first and most important rule you should know is that the wine must not boil - otherwise the alcohol will evaporate and the drink will taste rather bland. And so that the spices can develop better, let the mulled wine steep for about 1 hour.
Mulled wine ingredients:
- 1 bottle of dry red wine
- 1 orange cut into thin slices
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 5-6 cloves
- 2-3 tablespoons sweetener such as sugar or honey. If you like it sweeter, you can use more.
- If desired, 1-2 capsules of cardamom
Preparing mulled wine: It's that easy!
- First, put the red wine in a large pot and heat slowly over medium heat. Be careful not to let it boil. As a rule of thumb, as soon as a light foam forms on the surface, you have reached the ideal temperature.
- Add the remaining ingredients and reduce the heat.
- Let the mulled wine rest with the lid closed for about 1 hour.
- Then pour the mulled wine through a fine sieve and pour into cups.
- Garnish with thin orange slices and enjoy!
Make your own white mulled wine
Admittedly, red wine has a somewhat strong taste and not everyone likes it. Making your own mulled wine with white wine is a super tasty and lighter alternative to the Christmas classic. Beautifully fruity and incredibly aromatic - this is itthe perfect winter punchfor the holidays!
Ingredients:
- a bottle of dry white wine, such as Riesling
- 1 orange, cut into thin slices
- 5-6 cloves
- 3-4 tbsp sugar or honey
- 50 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
- 30 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 lemon, cut into thin slices
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 6-7 Allspice seeds
- 3-4 cardamom pods
Make your own mulled wine with white wine:
- Pour the white wine into a large pot with the orange and lemon juice and heat slowly over low heat.
- Add the sugar and spices and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 40-50 minutes.
- Depending on your preference, you can add a little rum.
- Sieve through a fine sieve, garnish with apple slices and enjoy!
And something for the little guests: make your own non-alcoholic mulled wine
When we organize a Christmas party, we must of course not forget our little guests or the drivers. And that's why we'll show you how to make a delicious non-alcoholic mulled wine yourself! Here too you can vary and experiment with the ingredients. Instead of apple juice, you can also use grape juice or cranberry juice.
Ingredients:
- 1 liter of apple juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3-4 cloves
- Juice of one lemon
- an apple, cut into thin wedges
- 1 EL Honig
Preparation:
- Pour the apple juice into a large pot and slowly warm over low heat.
- Add the remaining ingredients and let it steep, covered, for about 30 minutes.
- Garnish with fresh apple slices and serve!
