Nitrate & Nitrite Free Mulled Wine (Glühwein)
Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this classic German-style 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 fresh orange and lemon rounds, building layers of flavor that no store-bought mix can replicate. The good news for anyone avoiding cured or processed ingredients is that this recipe is built entirely from whole spices, fresh citrus, wine, and a splash of brandy — nothing hidden, nothing processed, nothing to second-guess on a label. A gentle low-and-slow warm on the stovetop coaxes out every bit of fragrance without boiling off the character of the wine. A touch of sugar goes in early and can be adjusted at the end to suit your taste, so the final cup is exactly as sweet as you want it. Strained clean and ladled into mugs, it's the kind of drink you'll want to make again before the first batch is even finished.
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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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