The following article is not meant for people under 18 years old for most European countries and 21 years old for USA and 25 years old for Sweden and certain other countries with the same age regulation for digital content about beverages containing alcohol. If you aren’t above the legal drinking age in your country please leave this post and read another post. :)
Mulled wine, or glühwein, is a popular warm spiced wine, that is traditionally cooked during the festive season. The irresistible smell of ginger bread, raclette and Glühwein will welcome you at any Christmas market in Switzerland. :)
Ingredients (4 small cups):
- Red wine (I use Chianti) – 1 bottle;
- Clementines – 2 pcs;
- Lemon – 1/2 pcs;
- Lime – 1/2 pcs;
- Caster Sugar – 100 g;
- Whole cloves – 3 pcs;
- Cinnamon stick – 1/2 pcs;
- Bay leaves – 2 pcs;
- Nutmeg (grated) – 1/3 tsp;
- Vanilla pod – 1/2 pcs;
- Star anise – 1 pcs;
NB! If you have a big party and need to cook more mulled wine, then take more ingredients depends on how much wine you use. For example, for two bottles of wine you just double all the ingredients.
COOKING METHOD:
- Wash all the fruits thoroughly with a brush before using. Peel big pieces of peel from the half of the lemon, the half of the lime and two clementines to a large saucepan (cooking pot).
- Add the sugar, cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, nutmeg and the juice from both pilled clementines to the pot. Cut the vanilla pod lengthways and add it to the saucepan as well.
- Put the pan over a medium heat, and stir in red wine as much as it’s needed to cover the sugar.
- When the sugar has completely dissolved into the red wine, bring it to boil. Keep boiling for about 5-7 min, or until you’ve got a nice thick syrup.
- When the syrup is ready, turn the heat down to low, add the star anise and the rest of the wine. Keep carefully heat the wine for around 5-7 minutes. NB! Don’t bring it to boil!
- Serve your mulled wine in heatproof glasses or cups. If you have some wine left in the pot, turn off the heat and close the saucepan with a lid in order to keep your mulled wine nice and warm.
- You can also put your delicious homemade mulled wine into a thermos and enjoy a winter picnic with friends and family.
Finally, if you are interested in how to organise a perfect winter picnic -> WINTER PICNIC, 5 SIMPLE STEPS.
BON APPÉTIT!
BE HEATHY AND WEALTHY! :)


