If you like the warming effect of a glass (or mug)! of mulled wine during the autumn and winter months it really is worth making the effort to make your own mulled wine. Don't be tempted by the tea-bag style sachets of gunk which are somehow supposed to magically convert regular red plonk into delicious mulled wine, they don't. Here is our own mulled wine recipe (tried and tested by Mrs W and refined each year) it's easy to make and thoroughly rewarding. This mulled wine recipe is enough for 8 people.
Ingredients:
2 bottles of red wine
100ml of brandy (optional)
600ml red grapejuice
75g granulated sugar
2 oranges
1 lemon
6 cloves (whole)
1 cinnamon stick
Method:
Put the grape juice, sugar and cinnamon stick in a large saucepan and place over a gentle heat.
Remove all the rind (but no pith) from one of the oranges in small slithers using a paring tool or potato peeler and add this to the pan.
When the sugar has dissolved, heat for a further 5 minutes but do not let the mixture boil.
Remove the pan from the heat and leave to stand for 10 minutes while you slice the oranges and lemon, pressing the cloves into some of the slices.
When the mixture has stood for 10 minutes remove the cinnamon stick and add the fruit slices and red wine.
Gently heat the mixture until it is "steaming" and add the brandy.
Remove from the heat and serve.
This mulled wine recipe dilutes the wine with red grape juice and you can serve it at that strength without the brandy if you wish, but the brandy does provide the prefect finishing touch!
