Vin Chaud: Warm up your winter with Mulled Wine (Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between mulled wine and vin chaud? ›

In Slovakia, mulled wine is called varené víno ("boiled wine"), and is usually served during the Christmas season. In France, vin chaud ('hot wine') typically consists of red wine mixed with honey, cinnamon, and orange. It must not be too sweet. Beverage noted in the Alps for winter sports.

Stir red wine, apple juice, honey, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, cloves, and anise together in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Simmer until flavors blend, at least 10 minutes.

For a chilly winter's evening, there's nothing like a mug of mulled wine to help you stay warm and toasty. The mixture of wine, spices, and fruit flavours drives back the cold, and it's a brilliant drink to enjoy all winter long.

The best red wine to use for mulled wine is Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache). These wines are dark, fruity and full bodied, which means they can support all of the flavors we'll be adding. Look for labels that describe the wine as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla.”

Most commonly “mulled wine” in English-speaking North America (more on “mulled” later), it is vin chaud or hot wine in French. In German-speaking countries, you would most likely encounter the popular winter beverage Glühwein, describing hot, spiced wine as glowing or smoldering.

When combined with cinnamon in particular, mulled wine becomes a powerhouse of goodness. Let us explain… Cinnamon, a key spice in mulled wine, is renowned for its antioxidant properties. It contains high levels of polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress, reducing the risk of chronic diseases.

The heat used in mulling encourages greater flavours from the citrus and the spices but also reduces the alcohol content, hence the common addition of a slug of spirit or liqueur just before serving.

This drink is consumed enormously in Scandinavian countries, particularly in Sweden and Denmark, where it is called Glögg and Gløgg respectively (terms meaning "mulled wine" in each language). In Germany, as in most Germanic countries, it is mainly consumed under the name Glühwein.

As its popularity continued to grow throughout the middle ages, Europeans would mix heated wine with spices because they believed it would promote health and avoid sickness. They would also use herbs and flowers as natural sweeteners to make unpalatable wines taste a lot nicer.

Yes. Even though the spiced wine is heated, most of the alcohol remains.

What are the side effects of mulled wine? ›

Although mulled wine has a lower alcohol content, when over-consumed, the natural and added sugars in mulled wine can spike your blood sugar levels rapidly, which can also cause headaches the next day. This is due to hyperglycemia, or reactive hypoglycemia, an over or under-compensation of glucose in your bloodstream.

The antioxidants in red wine and in cloves can also help reduce inflammation. The cloves in mulled wine are thought to help increase gut motility, as well as improving digestion. As a result, the cloves are thought to improve digestive problems, including indigestion, wind and constipation.

Leftover wine, boxed wine, $6 wine — that's all fine here. But if you're putting some thought into it, opt for a fuller-bodied, lower-tannin red. Mulled wine is not a delicate beverage, so I wouldn't choose a delicate wine like Pinot Noir or Gamay as the base.

The supermarkets pre-mixed options are going to be the cheapest, because a 75cl bottle ranges in price from just £3 to £6. The reason they are cheaper than a bottle of red wine is because there is far less red wine in them!

Cinnamon is probably the most popular spice but you could also use cloves, cardamom (lightly crush a few pods) ginger and nutmeg. Some recommend star anise but use sparingly if you don't want your mulled wine to taste of aniseed.

Mulled Wine Has Many Names

With mulled wine being popular all over Europe, it has come to be known by many names across the countries. In Germany where mulled wine is very popular it has become known as Glühwein. In Italy, it is known as vin brulé and in France, vin chaud meaning warm wine.

Glögg is typically made with a red wine base, along with spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, and sometimes also with added spirits such as aquavit or brandy. Mulled wine can be made with either red or white wine and has a similar spice mix, but without the addition of spirits.

This traditional homemade mulled wine recipe is incredibly easy to make and always SO cozy and delicious. Also known as glühwein, vino caliente, glögg, vin brulé, bisschopswijn, vin chaud, candola, vinho quente…or literally a hundred other names, depending on where in the world life may find you.

When the weather gets cold, that means it's the best time of year to make your favorite warm drinks! Mulled wine is a hot beverage that's made by mixing wine with various spices and letting it simmer before serving warm. Mulled cider is the same concept, just with cider instead of wine!