Mulled Wine
Vin Chaud, Glögg
Ingredients
Instructions
Simmer 3 cups water with, sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and lemon peel in a stainless steel pot for 10 minutes. Add wine heat to a "coffee temperature" (DO NOT BOIL) then add the brandy.
Mulled Wine is a traditional warm festive drink made by heating red wine with brandy, sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and lemon peel, resulting in a richly spiced and aromatic beverage. Known as Vin Chaud in France and Glögg in Scandinavia, it is a staple of Christmas markets and winter gatherings across Europe and beyond. The blend of red wine and warm spices creates an intensely comforting seasonal drink.
History & Origins
Mulled wine has ancient roots dating back to the Romans, who heated wine with spices both for preservation and pleasure as they spread across cold northern Europe. By the medieval period it was widely consumed across the continent under various names, with Glögg becoming a Scandinavian Christmas tradition by the 18th century. The modern recipe has remained largely consistent for centuries, varying mainly in the choice of wine and the balance of spices.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: A warm and deeply inviting bouquet of cinnamon, cloves, and red wine with lemon zest and brandy warmth. Palate: Full-bodied with rich red fruit from the wine, warming spice from the cinnamon and cloves, bright citrus from the lemon peel, and a sweet brandy depth; the sugar rounds out the tannins. Finish: Long, warm, and spiced with a lingering cinnamon and clove echo.
Pro Tip
Heat the wine mixture gently to just below a simmer and never allow it to boil, as boiling will drive off the alcohol and diminish the wine's fruit character.
Embed on your site — CocktailFYI
Add the widget to any webpage using a script tag.
<div data-cocktailfyi="recipe" data-slug="mulled-wine"></div>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cocktailfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>Embed using a standard iframe — works in any CMS.
<iframe src="https://cocktailfyi.com/iframe/recipe/mulled-wine/" width="100%" height="480" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" title="CocktailFYI recipe widget"></iframe>Paste the URL into WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-aware editor.
https://cocktailfyi.com/recipes/mulled-wine/Add a badge linking back to CocktailFYI.
<a href="https://cocktailfyi.com/recipes/mulled-wine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<img src="https://cocktailfyi.com/badge/site.svg" alt="CocktailFYI" height="20">
</a>
Use the CocktailFYI WordPress plugin shortcode.
[drinkfyi-recipe site="cocktailfyi" slug="mulled-wine"]Use as a native HTML custom element in modern browsers.
<cocktailfyi-recipe slug="mulled-wine" theme="light"></cocktailfyi-recipe>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/cocktailfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>Powered by CocktailFYI
Docs →