Christmas mulled wine is one of those holiday traditions that instantly makes your home feel warmer and more inviting. The moment you start heating red wine with citrus, spices, and a touch of sweetness, the smell alone sets the mood for the season.
This classic Christmas mulled wine recipe is simple, cozy, and easy to make for a crowd. It’s the kind of warm Christmas cocktail you can prepare ahead of time, keep gently simmering, and serve throughout the evening while you enjoy your guests instead of standing behind the bar.
Why Christmas Mulled Wine Is a Holiday Favorite
Christmas mulled wine has been around for centuries, and for good reason. It turns an everyday bottle of red wine into something festive and comforting with very little effort. Unlike cocktails that require shaking or precise measurements, mulled wine is forgiving. You can adjust the sweetness, spices, and citrus based on your taste and still end up with a delicious holiday drink.It’s also one of the best winter cocktails for entertaining because it stays warm, serves a crowd, and pairs beautifully with both savory appetizers and holiday desserts.
What Makes This a Classic Christmas Mulled Wine
This version sticks to traditional flavors that people expect when they think of holiday mulled wine. Red wine forms the base, while orange slices add brightness and balance. Cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise bring warmth and spice without overpowering the wine. A small amount of sweetener rounds everything out and helps soften the acidity.The result is a Christmas mulled wine that tastes familiar, cozy, and perfectly suited for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients You’ll Need for Christmas Mulled Wine
This holiday mulled wine recipe uses simple ingredients that are easy to find during the winter season.
You’ll need a dry red wine as the base. Oranges add citrus flavor and aroma, while warming spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise give the wine its signature holiday character. A bit of sugar, honey, or maple syrup adds just enough sweetness without making the drink heavy.
A splash of brandy is optional but traditional. It adds warmth and depth, especially for evening gatherings.
Best Wine for Christmas Mulled Wine
You don’t need an expensive bottle of wine for mulled wine. In fact, it’s better to use an affordable, dry red wine.
Look for wines like merlot, cabernet sauvignon, or a red blend. Avoid very sweet wines, as the spices and citrus already add plenty of flavor. The goal is a balanced, smooth winter wine drink that’s easy to sip.
How Christmas Mulled Wine Comes Together
Making Christmas mulled wine is more about patience than technique.
The wine is gently heated with spices and citrus until the flavors slowly infuse. It should never boil. Keeping the heat low allows the wine to warm without losing its character.
As it simmers, the spices release their aroma, the citrus softens, and everything blends into a rich, cozy holiday cocktail. The longer it sits, the deeper the flavor becomes.
Make-Ahead Tips for Holiday Mulled Wine
Christmas mulled wine is ideal for entertaining because it can be prepared ahead of time. You can make it earlier in the day and reheat it gently before guests arrive. It also holds well in a slow cooker on the warm setting, which makes it easy to serve throughout the evening. Just remember to remove the spices after a while if you’re keeping it warm for several hours. This prevents the flavors from becoming too strong or bitter.
Easy Variations on Classic Christmas Mulled Wine
Once you’ve mastered the classic version, there are plenty of ways to customize it.
- For a fruitier profile, add a splash of cranberry juice or a handful of fresh cranberries.
- For extra warmth, increase the cinnamon or add a strip of orange peel.
- If you prefer a lighter drink, reduce the sweetener and skip the brandy.
These small adjustments let you tailor the mulled wine to your gathering without changing its cozy, holiday feel.
When to Serve Christmas Mulled Wine
Christmas mulled wine works for so many occasions. It’s perfect for Christmas parties, holiday dinners, winter brunches, and even casual evenings by the fire. It also makes a welcoming drink for guests as soon as they walk through the door. Because it’s warm and comforting, it pairs especially well with cold winter nights and festive food spreads.
Garnishes That Make Mulled Wine Feel Special
A simple garnish can elevate your Christmas mulled wine without extra effort. Orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, or a few fresh cranberries all work beautifully. These garnishes reinforce the flavors already in the wine and make each mug feel intentional and festive.
Christmas Mulled Wine (A Classic Holiday Mulled Wine Recipe)
A classic Christmas mulled wine made with red wine, citrus, and warm spices. This cozy holiday cocktail is easy to make for a crowd and perfect for winter entertaining.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle dry red wine (750 ml)
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds
- 2 to 3 cinnamon sticks
- 5 whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar, honey, or maple syrup (to taste)
- 1/4 cup brandy (optional)
Instructions
- Add the red wine, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and sweetener to a large pot.
- Heat gently over low heat until the wine is hot but not boiling.
- Stir occasionally and let the flavors infuse for about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
- Stir in brandy if using, then remove from heat.
- Serve warm, garnished with orange slices or cinnamon sticks.
Notes
More Holiday Mulled Wine Recipes
If you enjoy this classic Christmas mulled wine, you might also like these festive variations that bring a different twist to warm holiday cocktails:
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Pear Mulled Wine
Pear mulled wine is a lighter, gently spiced option that uses white wine and fresh pear flavor. It’s perfect if you want a warm holiday drink that feels elegant and not too heavy.
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Cherry Mulled Wine
Cherry mulled wine adds a rich, fruity depth to the traditional recipe. The cherry flavor pairs beautifully with winter spices and makes this a great choice for evening gatherings.
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Pumpkin Spice Mulled Wine
Pumpkin spice mulled wine blends warm fall flavors with classic mulled wine spices. It’s ideal for Thanksgiving, early holiday parties, or anyone who loves cozy seasonal drinks.
Be sure to check out the full Winter Cocktails roundup for even more festive drinks, from warm holiday cocktails like the lemon hot toddy and hot buttered rum to make-ahead party favorites like my cranberry champagne punch.
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
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