How To Make Mulled Wine

Thanks to the ancient Romans and their tendency to, well, roam, mulled wine is part of culture’s spanning across most of Europe and into North and South America. From the coast of Chile to the vast expanse of Russia, everyone can find something to love about this warm wintry concoction. The drink derives its name from mulling spices, which commonly feature star anise, cinnamon, cloves and ginger. By simmering the wine in the flavorful spices and adding a hint of orange, a spot of honey and a splash of bourbon (or brandy or vodka), these five or so ingredients meld into a drink that’s dangerous for many different reasons. It’s easy to drink too much because it’s just that good and then there’s the temperature factor that makes it difficult to resist chugging the entire thing while it’s scolding hot. Either way, we recommend putting on a pot of this and cozying up with a good book or inviting some friends over for a delicious way to spend at least one night of snow season.

Everyone needs a bit of this to get them through the stormy and gray winter months, no matter what country or continent they find themselves on. We’re showing you how to learn to cook a delicious mulled wine in this online cooking class. Whipping up a big batch of this stuff is a sure fire way to bring a little light back into your life during the dark season.

Mulled Wine Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 bottle red wine (cabernet or merlot work best)
1 orange, sliced and zested
¼ cup bourbon
¼ cup honey or sugar
8 whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
4 star anise

Directions:
1. In a non-aluminum sauce pan, combine all ingredients and let simmer for at least 20 minutes.

2. Strain and pour into mugs. Garnish with orange peel, one cinnamon stick and one star anise.

Special Thanks:

Talent: Lauren Nolan of Lake Shore Lady
Shot and edited by: Matt Rice

Royalty Free Music courtesy of Audio Network titled: “Ma Petite” by Jeremy Sherman