This Easy Mulled Wine Recipe is a wonderfully aromatic holiday drink made with dry red wine, ruby port, apple cider, warming spices, and fresh fruit. Gently heated on the stovetop, this traditional spiced wine is perfect for Christmas celebrations, winter gatherings, and cozy evenings at home.
What makes this homemade mulled wine especially flavorful is the combination of whole spices and fruit. Cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and black peppercorns infuse the apple cider with a fragrant blend of sweet and gently spicy flavors. Clementines and apples add fresh citrus and fruit notes, while ruby port contributes richness and sweetness.
Unlike recipes that simmer everything together for a long time, this method begins by concentrating the spices in apple cider. The cider is brought to a boil, then simmered for approximately 10 minutes until reduced by one-third. This creates a flavorful base before the wine is added.
Once the spices have infused the cider, strain the mixture into a clean pot and discard the whole spices. Add two bottles of dry red wine, two cups of ruby port, and half the sliced apples and clementines.
A fine-mesh stainless steel strainer makes it easy to remove the cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns, and allspice berries before adding the wine.
Heat the mixture for approximately five to seven minutes, just until warmed through. Avoid boiling the wine, which can change its flavor and cause some alcohol to evaporate.
Reduce the heat to low to keep the mulled wine warm until you’re ready to serve. Ladle it into heatproof mugs and garnish with the reserved fresh apple and clementine slices.
This recipe makes eight servings, making it an excellent choice for entertaining. Serve it alongside holiday appetizers, cheese boards, or your favorite festive desserts.
With its fragrant spices, fresh fruit, and rich red wine flavor, this homemade mulled wine brings a classic seasonal touch to any winter celebration.
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Mulled Wine
We love a well-spiced, fragrant mulled wine and this one hits the spot.
- Total Time: :32
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
- 3 cups apple cider
- 5 whole cloves
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
- Two 750-milliliter bottles dry red wine
- 2 cups ruby port
- 2 clementines, thinly sliced, seeds removed
- 2 apples, thinly sliced, seeds removed
Instructions
- Add the cider, cloves, cinnamon, allspice and peppercorns to a medium pot. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until reduced by a third, about 10 minutes.
- Strain the cider through a sieve into a clean pot, then discard the spices. Add the red wine, port, half the clementines and half the apples. Cover and cook over medium-high heat until warmed through, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low to keep warm. Garnish cups of warm mulled wine with the remaining fresh apple and clementine slices. (Do not serve the steeped fruit from the pot.)
Notes
Tips for the Best Mulled Wine
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Choose a dry red wine: A fruity, medium-bodied red wine works well with the apple cider, port, and whole spices.
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Infuse the cider first: Simmer the whole spices in apple cider before adding the wine, as directed.
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Avoid boiling the wine: Once the red wine and port are added, heat gently until steaming and warmed through.
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Use fresh fruit for garnish: Reserve half the apple and clementine slices for serving, and discard the fruit that steeped in the pot.
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Keep warm on low: Use the lowest practical stovetop setting for serving, rather than repeatedly reheating the wine.
- Prep Time: :15
- Cook Time: :17
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stove Top