search
date/time
Lancashire Times
Weekend Edition
frontpagebusinessartscarslifestylefamilytravelsportsscitechnaturefictionCartoons
10:20 AM 24th December 2024
lifestyle

The Six Best Mulled Wine Recipes For Christmas 2024

Image by ferencvc from Pixabay
Image by ferencvc from Pixabay
When it comes to the festive season, wine is big business. Figures from last Christmas reveal that wine saw a growth in sales of 7-8%, while over 75% of us planned to enjoy some wine with our Christmas dinner.

21% of Brits prefer a glass of Prosecco, with 20% opting for red wine, 18.8% choosing a crisp white and yet more of us enjoying a glass of Champagne or wine-based cocktail.

Mulled wine is another firm festive favourite, with the hashtag ‘#MulledWine’ featured in a staggering 833,000 posts on Instagram. However, it seems a new drink is set to shake up our Christmas drinking habits.

Most of us would agree that mulled wine should be red, but mulled white wine is now growing in popularity, thanks to the proliferation of German markets that we have seen serving the lighter drink in recent years.

So, with this new kid on the block soon to be a frequent request at festive dinner parties across the UK, how can you make sure you serve the best warming mulled wine options at your next Christmas soirée? Well, how about making your own?

Hannah Boyes and Gavin Mellor, Head of Marketing and Head of Purchasing at wine merchant House of Townend, are knowledgeable in all things wine. Not to mention, they're also staunch lovers of mulled wine - red or white! Take a look at their favourite mulled wine recipes to make sure your drinks are the talk of the town.

Image by freestocks-photos from Pixabay
Image by freestocks-photos from Pixabay
1.Classic mulled wine
Ingredients

A 750ml bottle of your favourite red wine.
A cinnamon stick.
2 star anise.
4 cloves.
2 strips of lemon zest.
4 tbsp of caster sugar.
Method
Step one: Place all the ingredients into a large pan and heat it gently on the hob for 10 minutes.
Step two: Once the wine is fully warmed through, remove the pan from the heat and leave it to cool for around half an hour. This will allow the beautiful flavours of the other ingredients to infuse into your wine.
Step three: When you are ready to serve your drinks, heat the wine gently to your desired temperature (be careful not to boil) and pour it into heatproof glasses.
Hannah says: “I love this classic warming recipe. My family have made our mulled wine in this way for generations and the smell and taste of this gorgeous winter drink always make me think instantly of Christmas.”


2.White mulled wine
Ingredients

2 bottles of your favourite white wine (Gavin recommends medium-dry).
500ml bottle of light cider.
150ml of elderflower cordial.
The zest of 2 lemons.
2 cinnamon sticks.
1 vanilla pod, split.
4-5 tbsp of caster sugar.
Method
Step one:
Pop all the ingredients into a large pan and heat on the hob until steaming, stirring occasionally. Take care not to boil.
Step two: Once the wine begins to steam, remove it from the heat and simply pour it straight into heatproof glasses.
Step three: Keep any leftover wine warming on a low heat, ready to serve immediately when your guests inevitably ask for seconds!

Gavin says: “White mulled wine is lighter and fruitier than its red counterpart and brings a beautiful little lift to this classic winter favourite. I pair my white mulled wine with classic salty snacks, such as pretzels and crisps – it also tastes brilliant alongside fondue cheese.”


3.Mulled rosé
Ingredients

750ml of your favourite rosé wine.
1 star anise.
1 ball of stem ginger, sliced.
½ tsp of black peppercorns.
5 allspice berries.
¼ of a pink grapefruit, sliced.
2 tbsp of crème de cassis.
Method
Step one
: Add all of the rosé wine into a large pan and mix with the rest of the ingredients, except the crème de cassis.
Step two: Heat gently until the wine is simmering, then slowly stir in the crème de cassis.
Step three: Remove from the heat and strain the wine using a sieve. Serve in heatproof glasses while still warm.
Hannah says: “This twist on the classic winter warmer is delightfully spicy. A softer, more contemporary take on mulled wine, this mulled rosé recipe is sure to kickstart your party!”


4.Cherry & Orange mulled wine
Ingredients

2 bottles of a fruity Cabernet.
250ml of brandy.
250ml of orange juice.
1 whole orange.
About 240g of pitted cherries.
10 cloves.
2 whole star anise.
3 cardamom pods, lightly bruised.
2 cinnamon sticks.
150g of brown sugar.
2 long slices of lemon peel.
Method
Step one:
Use a toothpick to carefully poke 10 holes in your orange and then stud it with the 10 cloves.
Step two: Put the clove-studded orange into a large pan and add all the spices, along with the brandy, cherries, sugar and lemon peel. Add enough Merlot to cover all of the ingredients in the pan.
Step three: Simmer the mixture until the sugar has fully dissolved, then boil for around 5 minutes. You should be left with a thick, delicious-smelling syrup.
Step four: Bring the wine mixture down from a boil to a simmer and add the rest of the Merlot, followed by the orange juice.
Step five: Serve in your preferred heatproof glasses while still warm.

Gavin says: “While this recipe is a little more involved than the others, the payoff is well worth it. The orange and cherry flavour gives the wine a lovely citrus kick, with the warmth of the brandy coming through just behind it.”


5.Pear & Vanilla mulled wine
Ingredients

1 bottle of dry white wine.
1 ripe pear.
At least 1 teaspoon of ginger (add more for extra kick!).
A splash of water.
1 vanilla bean (or vanilla bean paste).
A dash of whole allspice.
A few green cardamom pods.
A glug of Cointreau.
Honey, to taste.
Method
Step one:
Blend the chopped pear, chopped ginger and water together until smooth.
Step two:
Place the mixture into a large pan and add the vanilla bean, allspice and cardamom pods. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Step three: Once the mixture is simmering nicely, remove it from the heat and leave to cool and infuse for at least 10 minutes.
Step four: Strain the mixture and then add the wine and Cointreau. Taste the wine and sweeten to your taste with the honey.
Step five: Warm your wine through and serve immediately in your chosen heatproof glasses. Garnish with a slice of pear and some ginger.
Hannah says: “This is such an inventive recipe – a lovely winter treat that still feels decadent, with the white wine to give it a little lift. Perfect for those with a sweet tooth – like me!”


6.Mulled wine spritzer
Ingredients

1 bottle of your favourite red wine.
150ml of water.
4tbsp of brown sugar.
1 cinnamon stick.
4 cloves.
1 orange, quartered.
1 bottle of lemonade.
Ice and frozen raspberries, to serve.
Method
Step one:
Place all the ingredient into a pan, except for the lemonade, ice and raspberries. Heat gently – be careful not to boil.
Step two: Simmer for 10 minutes, remembering to stir occasionally.
Step three:
Strain the wine into a large bowl using a sieve and leave to cool completely.
Step four: Place the ice and frozen raspberries into a tall cocktail glass and fill halfway with the cooled mulled wine. Top with the lemonade and serve.

Hannah says: “This twist on mulled wine is brilliant if you fancy something a bit sparkly for your festive celebrations. It’s also wonderfully refreshing with a gorgeous citrus kick – one of my party-all-night favourites!”


So, there you have it, some of the best mulled wine recipes to try this festive season. Which one will you be making first?