Magical Christmas Mulled Wine Recipe

Mulled wine has long been an integral part of Christmas and New Year's walks through the evening city decorated with festive lights. That’s why we’re sharing the recipe for our favorite winter drink.   

So you will need:
- 1.5 liters of red wine;
- 500 ml of pomegranate juice;
- 50 ml of berry liqueur;
- 200 g. of apples;
- 200 g. oranges or any other citrus fruit;
- Greek thyme honey to taste;
- Spices and herbs (cinnamon, basil, cloves).

 

Are you ready? Well, let's start! 

1. Pour wine, pomegranate juice, and liqueur into a container, heating over medium heat.

2. Add chopped fruit, cinnamon sticks, a couple of grams of cloves, and basil to taste. If you love berries, remember that they will make the mulled wine more sour, and you’ll need more honey or sugar.

3. Once you notice the mixture begins to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes. Add honey or sugar to a cooling drink and leave the mulled wine to soak for 10-15 minutes. 

And, in case you didn't know...  

History of Mulled Wine 

They say (of course, no historical facts) that the ancient Romans invented mulled wine. With this drink, the Roman soldiers were saved from the cold in their extremely severe (don’t laugh: they served not only in Italy) winters. 

They heated the wine and warmed themselves with this drink in the cold season. Later, this tradition spread to the territories conquered by the Romans. 

In the Middle Ages, people began to heat wine, herbs, and spices. Thus, mulled wine has turned into a more refined and delicate drink. 

According to another (more plausible) version, mulled wine in ancient Rome was just wine with spices. This drink became hot much later, in the northern countries of Medieval Europe. 

After some time, the popularity of mulled wine reached Sweden, where it was reinvented and received a new ingredient, without which it is now difficult to imagine: honey. 

Moreover, in Sweden, mulled wine first became a Christmas drink and began to be sold in bottles with the image of Santa Claus. 

And here is how Mulled Wine sounds in other European languages:

• Gluhwein - German
• Vino Caliente - Spanish
• Grzane Wino - Polish
• Vin chaud - French
• Vin brule - Italian
• Svarene vino - Czech
• Forralt bor - Hungarian 

And here in Slovenia, we call it Kuhano vino.