French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (2024)

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Rebecca Franklin

Rebecca Franklin

Rebecca Franklin is a freelance lifestyle writer and recipe developer. Her expertise is in French cuisine, which she writes about and teaches.

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Updated on 07/13/21

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French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (1)

Vin chaud is the French term for a fragrant and spiced mulled wine drink, similar to Swedish glögg and German glühwein. Although this warming winter tipple is often associated with Christmas markets and festive holiday occasions, vin chaud has also become a trendy seasonal beverage, perfect for fireside gatherings and après-ski.

Vin chaud is simple to prepare, and the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd. Be sure to choose a young and fruity red wine for best results, and avoid dry, acidic wines or older wines matured in oak, as they may have heavy tannins that will become bitter when heated. A general rule of thumb, as with cooking, is to select a wine that you would be happy to drink with your dinner—if it's not good enough to pour into your wine glass, then it won't be good when warmed.

Ingredients

  • 1 navel orange

  • 1 (750-milliliter) bottle red wine

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 5 whole cloves

  • 4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks

  • 2 cardamon pods

  • 1/4 cup cognac, divided

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (2)

  2. Cut or peel a strip of skin from the orange with a sharp paring knife or a vegetable peeler, approximately 1 x 5 inches in size. Save orange for another use.

    French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (3)

  3. Carefully remove as much of the white pith from the piece of zest as possible, since it will add bitterness to the wine.

    French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (4)

  4. Combine wine, sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, and peeled orange zest in a large saucepan over very low heat.

    French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (5)

  5. Heat mixture until it nearly reaches a simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Do not allow wine to come to a boil, or alcohol will evaporate and the flavor of the vin chaud will be affected.

    French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (6)

  6. The wine will be at its optimal temperature when the sugar has dissolved and steam rises when mixing spoon is lifted from wine.

    French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (7)

  7. Maintain this temperature to keep wine warm and let wine steep with spices to develop flavor. The longer it steeps, the stronger the flavor.

    French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (8)

  8. Strain wine through a fine-mesh sieve or a cheesecloth-lined colander into a clean saucepan. Discard spices.

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  9. Cover pan and let vin chaud stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

    French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (10)

  10. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of cognac to 4 individual warmed mugs or heatproof glasses before ladling in the mulled wine.

    French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (11)

For a Great Vin Chaud

Always remember to use a fruity, relatively young red wine. It should be of decent quality, but it doesn't need to be expensive. When preparing vin chaud:

  • Use a clean nonreactive pot.
  • Never let the wine boil.
  • Let the vin chaud rest 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
  • Serve with optional garnishes, such as 1 star anise, 1 whole cinnamon stick, an apple slice, or an orange slice.
  • Whiskey, amaretto, or Cointreau may be substituted for the cognac.

Mulled Wine: Ingredients, Methods, and Traditions

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
389Calories
1g Fat
60g Carbs
3g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories389
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g1%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 12mg1%
Total Carbohydrate 60g22%
Dietary Fiber 8g28%
Total Sugars 42g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 184mg918%
Calcium 157mg12%
Iron 2mg8%
Potassium 801mg17%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • green beans
  • beverage
  • french
  • christmas

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French Hot Spiced Wine Perfect For a Winter co*cktail Party (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep mulled wine warm at a party? ›

To keep the wine warm, leave the slow cooker on the “Keep Warm” setting. If your slow cooker does not have a warm setting, alternate between “Low” and “Off.” TO STORE: Let your mulled wine cool completely, then pour it into an airtight storage container and place it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

What is the difference between mulled wine and spiced wine? ›

Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas.

What is the difference between Glühwein and vin chaud? ›

In the Netherlands, Glühwein is called bisschopswijn (bishop's wine) and is made using oranges instead of lemons. Order Vin chaud (hot wine), a less sweet variety when in France. Bulgaria likes to add honey, peppercorns and apples and call it greyano vino (heated wine).

What is the difference between Glogg and Glühwein? ›

What is the difference between glögg and glühwein? Glögg is a popular winter drink in the Nordic countries, while glühwein is enjoyed in German-speaking countries. What connects these two drinks? Glögg is an essential part of the winter season in Sweden as well as the other Nordic countries.

How long can mulled wine be kept warm? ›

But no matter what you start with, and no matter all the other variables, if you're really keeping mulled wine warm for 10 hours, it's very likely some—but definitely not all—of the alcohol will evaporate. But the flavors of the mulled wine will also start to fade and get muddier after hours and hours of heat exposure.

How do you heat mulled wine without losing alcohol? ›

Heat until the wine almost reaches a simmer over medium-high heat. (Avoid letting it bubble in any way. Alcohol begins to vaporize at 172°F, so take care to ensure that the wine does not evaporate.) Reduce heat to low, cover completely, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.

Is gluhwein just mulled wine? ›

Gluhwein, or Mulled Wine, is a hot, spiced wine drink in which red wine is simmered with sugar, orange, and warming spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. The result is a warm and cozy drink that is fragrant, perfectly sweet, and full of flavor.

What is gluhwein in English? ›

noun. glüh·​wein ˈglü-ˌvīn. ˈglᵫ- variants or less commonly gluhwein. : mulled wine.

Why is glühwein so cheap? ›

Now, the thing with bulk produced Gluehwein is: for beverages above 1.2% alcohol there is no law requesting an ingredients list. That means open doors for the cheapest possible ingredients – stuff you would normally not want to drink.

Is Merlot or Pinot Noir better for mulled wine? ›

Ideally you want to use bigger and bolder red wines like Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, or Cabernet, but any fruity red wine your family members are leaving around will do. I've used Pinot Noir before to success. Honestly, whatever red wine that you're stuck with and you don't want to drink, they'll work.

Does Aldi sell gluhwein? ›

Glühwein Mulled Wine 1l | ALDI.

Does Trader Joes have glühwein? ›

Here in the States, they call it Hark and Holly Glühwein. And at Trader Joe's, we call it one of our favorite ways to keep warm during the holidays.

What is an alternative to glühwein? ›

Although it's a Christmas favourite there are a variety of delicious alternatives that are just as tasty.
  • Wassail. ...
  • Brandy Flip. ...
  • Glögg. ...
  • Cranberry Punch. ...
  • Mulled cider. ...
  • Egg Nog. ...
  • Coquito. ...
  • Gingerbread Coffee.
Dec 6, 2017

What wine to buy for glühwein? ›

The best red wines for mulled wines taste bright and fresh, such as Grenache, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, fruit-forward Pinot Noir. Inexpensive Bordeaux is another great choice for mulled wine; in fact, claret was a traditional choice for British mulled wine in William Shakespeare's day.

How do you serve warm mulled wine? ›

Right Temperature: Serve mulled wine warm, but not too hot. Aim for a temperature that's comfortable to sip, similar to a warm cup of tea. Appropriate Glassware: Use heat-resistant glasses or mugs. Traditional glass wine goblets might crack with the heat, so opt for thicker, sturdier glasses or even festive mugs.

Can you keep and reheat mulled wine? ›

You can reheat mulled wine as many times as you like, as long as it hasn't been overheated. Always use a thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature. If you plan to use your leftover mulled wine at a later date, keep it in the fridge for up to three days.

How do you make mulled wine last longer? ›

The use of wine coolers will ensure a longer shelf life for your mulled wine due to being stored in suitable conditions, allowing the beverage to maintain its quality over a long period of time.

How long will a bottle of mulled wine keep? ›

Bottled or freshly made Mulled wine will last 3-5 days after cooking / opening if stored in the fridge. What is this? While unopened mulled wine can last for years if stored in the correct conditions.

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