Mulled wine is a very special kind of wine that is usually served warm, in combination with a variety of herbs and spices. This type of wine is very popular during the cold winter months, especially during the Christmas season. Mulled wine has also become an increasingly popular gift idea for Christmas. They can now be easily availed through various wine gift delivery services or they can be made right at home.
Making home-made mulled wine is very easy and you do not have to be an expert in the kitchen to pull off a good tasting batch. There are actually many different versions of mulled wine available today but the traditional recipe usually makes use of 2 bottles red and not white wine (using any brand will do), 2 oranges, 1 lemon peel, 1 lime peel, 250 grams of caster sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, 6 whole cloves, 1 whole nutmeg, 3 fresh bay leaves, 2 star anise and 1 whole vanilla pod (sliced into half).
To start off, pour your wine into a sauce pan and place it over medium heat. Peel out large portions of orange skins from your fruit and toss them into the pan together with the lemon and lime peels. Squeeze out the juice from the previously peeled oranges and add this into the mixture as well. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, bay leaves and around 12-15 nutmeg gratings. After this, put in all of the remaining ingredients while stirring constantly.
Keep a close eye on your sauce pan and never allow your mixture to boil as this can cause the spices to turn bitter. Once the mixture begins to steam, take it off the heat and filter the liquid of all debris and impurities.
Try not to make use of very expensive wines as the added spice and heat will eventually take out the wine's distinctiveness and taste. Pick a good and average-priced wine instead. When it comes to choice in cookware, always make use of a stainless steel, non-stick, glass or ceramic saucepan during heating. Aluminium cooking products can easily react with the wine, giving it a very undesirable, metallic aftertaste.
However, for those who do not have the time to make home-made mulled wine, you can always turn to wine delivery services instead. Most of the wine delivery services will let you choose between readymade or normal red wine for your mulled wine. The red wine, Zinfandel, is a very popular choice but there are many other choices available.
For those who want to avail of the delivery service, it's highly recommended that you do not pay too much for a single bottle. As mentioned before, you really do not need to use an expensive bottle when making mulled wines. Choose bottles ranging from 20 to 50 - which are already very good in mulled wine standards.
So whether you are giving out fresh, home-made mulled wine or if you simply bought your bottle getting your family and friends mulled wine for Christmas is definitely one of the best gift ideas to give for the Christmas season.
Making home-made mulled wine is very easy and you do not have to be an expert in the kitchen to pull off a good tasting batch. There are actually many different versions of mulled wine available today but the traditional recipe usually makes use of 2 bottles red and not white wine (using any brand will do), 2 oranges, 1 lemon peel, 1 lime peel, 250 grams of caster sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, 6 whole cloves, 1 whole nutmeg, 3 fresh bay leaves, 2 star anise and 1 whole vanilla pod (sliced into half).
To start off, pour your wine into a sauce pan and place it over medium heat. Peel out large portions of orange skins from your fruit and toss them into the pan together with the lemon and lime peels. Squeeze out the juice from the previously peeled oranges and add this into the mixture as well. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, bay leaves and around 12-15 nutmeg gratings. After this, put in all of the remaining ingredients while stirring constantly.
Keep a close eye on your sauce pan and never allow your mixture to boil as this can cause the spices to turn bitter. Once the mixture begins to steam, take it off the heat and filter the liquid of all debris and impurities.
Try not to make use of very expensive wines as the added spice and heat will eventually take out the wine's distinctiveness and taste. Pick a good and average-priced wine instead. When it comes to choice in cookware, always make use of a stainless steel, non-stick, glass or ceramic saucepan during heating. Aluminium cooking products can easily react with the wine, giving it a very undesirable, metallic aftertaste.
However, for those who do not have the time to make home-made mulled wine, you can always turn to wine delivery services instead. Most of the wine delivery services will let you choose between readymade or normal red wine for your mulled wine. The red wine, Zinfandel, is a very popular choice but there are many other choices available.
For those who want to avail of the delivery service, it's highly recommended that you do not pay too much for a single bottle. As mentioned before, you really do not need to use an expensive bottle when making mulled wines. Choose bottles ranging from 20 to 50 - which are already very good in mulled wine standards.
So whether you are giving out fresh, home-made mulled wine or if you simply bought your bottle getting your family and friends mulled wine for Christmas is definitely one of the best gift ideas to give for the Christmas season.
About the Author:
Find out more about our sauvignon blanc selection or even our prosecco bottle for gift inspiration!