Getting Into The Christmas Spirit – How To Make Mulled Wine

Christmas Is Coming

With Christmas well on the way I can’t help but to indulge in some of the many Christmas treats which seem to call to me from their display shelves as I try to carry out an innocent top-up shop for all things nutritious.

Rather than chowing down on chocolate coins, mince pies or pigs in blankets I opted to treat Paul and I to a little ‘festive spirit’, by which I am of course referring to wine, mulled wine that is.

Any Excuse For A Knees Up

It may only be November but it’s sodding cold out there and a hot drink is the ideal winter warmer. Should that hot drink contain alcohol then so be it, it’s almost Christmas right?

Whilst searching for the coffee in the drinks cupboard, I just so happened to stumble upon some Steenbergs Organic Mulled Wine Sachets and thought ‘Why the hell not?’

After nipping out to the Orchard Tescos to grab a lemon, orange and some crushed grapes  a bottle of red I was ready to rock and roll.

Mulling Wine

After carefully chopping, sprinkling, stirring and simmering my brew it turned out pretty darn good if I do say so myself. After drinking half a glass or so I realised that it could have done with some extra sugar which I will be sure to add next time because it’s only November and I have four sachets left, so there will definitely be a next time!

I thought you might fancy having a go at mulling your own wine, here’s the recipe if you want to give it a go.

You will need

• 1 x Medium Pan
• 1 x Wooden spoon
• 1 x Ladel
• 1 Bottle of Red Wine
• 1 x Mulled Wine Sachet I used Steenberg’s Organic sachets but there are plenty of brands out there which I am sure will do the same job
• 1 x Lemon chopped into slices
• 1 x Orange chopped into slices
• 5 – 6 tbsp Light Brown Sugar dependent upon how sweet you like it
• 1 tbsp Brandy
• 100ml Water

Heres how to Mull your Wine.

1. Put the mulled wine spice sachet. brown sugar and water into a pan.
2. Bring the pan contents to the boil stirring to help the sugar dissolve.
3. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
4. Add the wine, orange, lemon and brandy.
5. Heat up to just below boiling point and stir gently for 5 minutes make sure that your mulled wine does not boil.
6. Serve warm in mugs, glasses or those jam jar thingy-ma-jigs which seem to be all the rage or whatever other vessel you may fancy.

According to the packaging you can replace the vino with 750ml of red grape juice and the water with 250ml of orange juice for a non-alcoholic, boring alternative.

Sadly I forgot to take pictures of the wine in the glass, it did get there but as you can imagine it didn’t last long! I did however manage to take pictures whilst in the brewing process is it a brewing process? Who even cares?

 With the kids being away for the night and having the house to ourselves, we soon got into the Christmas spirit after a few glasses of this, I would definitely recommend giving it a go. Chin Chin!