Mulled Wine Recipe

Winter is the perfect time to take advantage of our great priced wine.  This mulled wine is delicious and super easy. We suggest you match the warm spices in this brew with a chunk of Little River Estate Blue or Mount Eliza Blue Monkey, a sweet firmer cheese like Thorvald Curado or Meyer Goat Gouda and a soft fresh cheese such as Moody Cow soft smoked. 

This recipe is based on an Annabel Langbein recipe and a firm staff favourite.

Serves 8 – 10 and can easily be halved or doubled. 

Ingredients

• 10 whole cloves
• 2 whole star anise
• 2 cinnamon quills
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 orange, cut into rings (remove peel if desired as it can be bitter)
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 cup caster/superfine sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 bottles of red wine, such as merlot

Method

1. Remove the peel from the orange with a peeler, then squeeze the juice and reserve. 
2. Put spices, orange, sugar and juice in a large pot over a medium heat.  Bring to the boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved and a thick syrup begins to form. This allows the spices to really infuse without burning off the alcohol. 
3. Add wine, reduce heat to low and allow to warm through without boiling (5-10 minutes). Strain off fruit, spices and bay leaves if desired or leave them in the mix.
4. Serve hot. This is great kept warm in a crockpot. 

Alcohol-Free Mulled Juice

To make a delicious warming drink for children and drivers, use grape juice or apple juice instead of wine.