Happy holidays! I’m celebrating at my first holiday party of the season and decided to bring the European tastes of mulled wine to the party. A few years ago I decided to travel around Europe in the winter time, which means I visited quite a few Christmas markets. My favorite part was getting a mug of mulled wine (also called glug, spiced wine, and a lot of other fun names) to keep me warm on the inside and outside while wandering through the villages. 

This recipe was given to me by a little lady in Belgium, who did some rough estimates on the back of my receipt because she typically does it all by taste. It doesn’t really matter the quality of this merlot since you put so many ingredients in, so I opted for this Two Vines sub-$10 bottle. The recipe below is a double batch and it was enough for 15 people to have a glass or two. 

Recipe:

2 bottle red wine (something fruity but not too sweet)
4 cups apple cider
1/2 cup honey
2 orange, zested and juiced
10 whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
2 whole star anise
1/2 cup brandy

• Wine: Two Vines Merlot

• Year: 2014

• Region: Columbia Crest, WA

• Cost: $8.00

• Where to Buy: QFC

Happy holidays and happy sipping!!

Chelsey