Looking to celebrate the holiday season with a hot drink to sip on? Mulled wine is the best drink to try! It’s traditionally made with red wine, honey, orange and just the right amount of festive spices like cinnamon, star anise and whole cloves. You will fall in love with this deliciously sweet and fragrant drink.
By Anna Janecka - @anna_janecka
Ingredients
2 small oranges
1 bottle of affordable Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache)
Pour the wine into the pot, followed by the brandy.
Add 1 tablespoon of the honey for now.
Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves.
Warm the mixture over medium heat until steaming (about 5 minutes). Don’t boil it.
Taste and add another tablespoon of honey if it’s not sweet enough for your liking.
If it’s not spicy enough to suit your preferences, continue cooking over very low heat for 5 to 10 more minutes.
Serve in glasses or mugs with your desired garnishes! If you’re adding cranberries as I did, you can add them to the pot to make it look extra festive.
You can rewarm the wine over low heat if necessary. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days, covered (pour it through a strainer if you don’t want it to become any spicier than it already is).