This delightful discovery happened quite by chance. Somehow, red wine ended up mixing with honey in my cup, and I couldn’t be happier that it did!
Delighted by the combination, I decided to create a mulled wine using this duo.
Add the Honey, Tame the Spices
While traditional mulled wines are rich with spices like cloves, nutmeg, and orange slices, their intensity can overshadow the honey.
The key issue is all these spices can overpower the honey’s flavor, which perfectly complements the wine.
So, in this simplified mulled wine, we’re easing up on the spices. I’m opting for a cinnamon stick, a few peppercorns, and perhaps a star anise. The goal is to accentuate the wine and honey’s flavors without overshadowing them.
Mulled Wine Ingredients
Choose a robust red wine, such as Zinfandel or Pinot Noir. Select a wine you’d enjoy on its own—flavorful, yet not necessarily pricey.
For every 750 ml bottle of wine, mix in roughly 3/4 cup of honey and 3/4 cup of water to achieve a sweet mulled wine. Prefer less sweetness? Reduce the honey to half a cup.
Include a 3-inch cinnamon stick and some whole black peppercorns. Feel free to customize; I personally enjoy a subtle hint of star anise.
Excellent spices for mulled wine are:
- Cinnamon
- Black peppercorns
- Whole allspice berries
- Cloves
- Whole cardamom pods
- Star Anise
- Orange zest strips
You can also incorporate fruits like orange slices, cranberries, or apple slices. Add whatever spices or fruits you desire, but taste along the way as a reminder that the more you add, the more emphasis shifts from honey and wine to the spices.
Mulled Wine by the Glass
Unsure if you’ll enjoy this recipe? Start with just half a glass of wine and a touch of honey to test the blend before committing to a full batch.
Try These Other Warm Winter Drinks
Always choose a wine that you enjoy drinking! If it tastes bad when cold, it won’t improve when warm.
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1 (750ml) bottle of Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, or another robust red wine you like
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3/4 cup water
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3/4 cup honey
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15 whole black peppercorns
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1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
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1 star anise (or cardamom pods or allspice berries)
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Thin lemon zest peels for garnish
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Combine the ingredients:
Mix the wine, water, honey, peppercorns, cinnamon stick, and any other spices in a saucepan.
If uncertain about the sweetness, start with less honey and adjust accordingly.
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Warm over medium-low heat:
Heat until it begins to steam and simmer gently.
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Serve:
Strain into glass mugs. Garnish with lemon zest and a hint of cinnamon stick.
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 248 | Calories |
| 0g | Fat |
| 42g | Carbs |
| 1g | Protein |
×
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 5 to 6 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 248 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| 0g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| 0mg | 0% |
| 4mg | 0% |
| 42g | 15% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 7% |
| Total Sugars 35g | |
| 1g | |
| Vitamin C 2mg | 8% |
| Calcium 35mg | 3% |
| Iron 1mg | 5% |
| Potassium 111mg | 2% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) indicates how much a nutrient in a portion of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is typically used for overall nutritional guidance. | |
Nutrition details are approximations, calculated using an ingredient database. Garnishes and optional components are not factored in.
