When the winter chill sets in, it’s time to find a crackling fireplace and listen to music no matter where you are. Just off the slopes and ready for apres-ski? Wrapped up in comfy clothes and still on the sofa as you watch the ice storm? Children are in the house after sledding in the snow? You’re more than ready for the Grape Experiences |Winter Happy Hour Playlist and a glass of vin chaud!
Of course, everyone needs a wine for pairing, but have you thought about vin chaud, also known as mulled wine? Not just for the holidays, this deliciously soothing wine boasts plenty of spices, aromas, and all the feels of a cozy wrap. Extra points are given if you add a dash of cognac or crème de cassis!
Spiced wine dates back to ancient Roman times, when wine was often heated and mixed with spices to preserve it and make it more palatable during colder months. As trade routes expanded and spices became more accessible, variations of mulled wine spread throughout Europe.
In Alsace, vin chaud became especially popular thanks to the region’s cold winters and its unique cultural blend of French and German traditions. Today, it’s inseparable from the area’s famous Christmas markets. Cosette In France
Red wine is most often used for mulled wine, but I have seen white wine in vin chaud, too. If you make the red wine version, don’t use the best red you have! Choose one that is good but inexpensive. In particular, consider a medium bodied wine that is fruit forward so that the primary aromas of the wine are showcased after spices and fruit are added. Personally, I love Syrah, Grenache, or Tempranillo in my mulled wine.
Incredibly easy to make, a Vin Chaud recipe from BBC Travel follows.
1 bottle of red wine (like a Côte du Rhône)
1 star anise pod
1 orange, peeled and juiced (peel reserved)
100g sugar
2 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon grated ginger
Slice of fresh orange, star anise pod and cinnamon stick, for garnish
Method:
In a pot (a crockpot works, too), warm the wine and star anise without bringing it to boil. Add all the other ingredients, lower the heat and let it infuse for 20 minutes.
Serve in a glass and garnish with the orange and spices.
To make White Vin Chaud, follow these steps as written in La Table de Glantine.
Ingredients:
1 bottle of white wine
1 organic mandarin
1 organic lemon
1 organic orange
3 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. cane sugar
2 sticks whole cinnamon
3 pieces star anise
4 cloves.
Instructions:
In a thick bottomed saucepan, pour the wine and add honey and cane sugar. Peel the outer skin of the oranges and lemons, then add them to the wine along with the spices.
Let the wine simmer lightly for about 10 minutes. If you made it the day before, warm it lightly to just below boiling point.
Serve in thick glasses, garnished with a slice of mandarin, and enjoy steaming hot.
Don’t forget to listen to the Grape Experiences | Winter Happy Hour Playlist, too, as you savor. Happy Winter!
Cheers! ~ Cindy
