Chicken Free Mulled Wine (Glühwein)
Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this mulled wine is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel like a celebration. Whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and crushed cardamom pods slowly infuse into a bottle of dry red wine alongside bright rounds of orange and lemon, creating a depth of flavor that no store-bought mix can touch. A splash of brandy or dark rum rounds everything out with a gentle kick, while a little sugar lets you dial in the sweetness exactly to your taste. The key is patience — keeping the heat low so the wine never boils means all that spiced complexity stays intact and nothing turns harsh or bitter. After a gentle simmer, you strain it clean and ladle it straight into mugs, optionally garnished with a fresh orange slice or a cinnamon stick for that classic, cozy presentation. It's naturally free from any meat-based ingredients, so there's nothing to swap or substitute — just pure, plant-forward warmth in a glass. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a quiet night in when you want something that feels genuinely special.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine (such as merlot, pinot noir, or dornfelder)
- ¼ cup brandy or dark rum
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar, plus more to taste
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds
- 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
- 6 whole cloves
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole star anise
- 4 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- ¼ tsp whole black peppercorns (optional)
For serving
- orange slices or cinnamon sticks, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the red wine, brandy, sugar, orange rounds, lemon rounds, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cardamom pods in a medium saucepan. Add the peppercorns, if using.
- 2
Warm the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar, until steam rises steadily and small bubbles appear around the edges — about 10 minutes. Do not let the wine boil; reduce the heat to low as soon as it approaches a simmer.
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