There’s nothing quite like the cozy aroma and warming sensation of sipping on homemade Mulled Wine, especially during the chilly holiday season! This recipe for the Best DIY Mulled Wine is incredibly easy to make, featuring red wine gently simmered with brandy, orange juice, honey or sugar, and fragrant whole spices like cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. While we’re enjoying lovely spring weather here on this Sunday evening, April 27th, 2025, I always find myself thinking ahead to festive gatherings. This is the perfect recipe to bookmark for those colder months and holiday parties later in the year – it’s guaranteed to warm you up and fill your home with the most wonderful festive scent!
Why You’ll Love This DIY Mulled Wine
- Ultimate Cozy Drink: The perfect warm beverage for cold weather, holidays, or just a cozy night in.
- Incredibly Easy: Simple ingredients and gentle simmering make it foolproof.
- Festive Aromas: Fills your home with the quintessential scents of Christmas – cinnamon, cloves, orange.
- Customizable: Easily adjust the sweetness, brandy amount, and spices to your liking.
- Crowd-Pleasing: Always a hit at holiday parties and gatherings.
Ingredients for The Best DIY Mulled Wine
Here’s what you’ll need to create this warming and festive beverage. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Wine, Spirits & Juice
- Bottle of red wine (Dry, fruity recommended) (Wine)
- Brandy (Liquor)
- Fresh orange juice (Juice)
Sweetener & Spices
- Honey or sugar (Sweetener)
- Whole cloves (Spice)
- Star anise (Spice)
- Cinnamon sticks (Spice)
Garnish
- Dried or fresh oranges (Fruit)
- Cinnamon stick (Spice)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love the classic spice blend in this DIY Mulled Wine, but feel free to make it your own:
- Add Apple Cider: Replace some of the water (mentioned in instructions of similar recipes, though not explicitly here – I’ll assume base is just wine/OJ/brandy) or add a cup of apple cider for a fruitier flavor.
- Different Spices: Add cardamom pods, fresh ginger slices, or allspice berries to the simmering pot.
- Different Citrus: Use lemon juice instead of orange juice, or add strips of lemon peel along with the orange garnish.
- Stronger Kick: Increase the amount of brandy or substitute some of it with port wine or Cointreau.
- Non-Alcoholic Version: Use a base of cranberry juice, pomegranate juice, or apple cider instead of red wine and omit the brandy. Simmer gently with the same spices and fruit.
How to Make The Best DIY Mulled Wine
Making this cozy Mulled Wine couldn’t be simpler:
Combine and Simmer Gently
- In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, I add all the ingredients except the garnishes: the bottle of red wine, brandy (starting with ¼ cup, I can add more later if I like), fresh orange juice, honey or sugar (adjusting to taste), whole cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks.
- I give everything a gentle stir to combine.
- I place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture just to a gentle simmer.
- As soon as it starts simmering, I immediately reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting.
- I let it simmer very gently for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The absolute key here is not to boil the mulled wine! Boiling evaporates the alcohol and can make the flavor harsh. We just want to warm it through and let those lovely spices infuse.
Strain and Serve
- After simmering, I carefully strain the Mulled Wine through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the whole cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise.
- I pour the warm mulled wine into heatproof mugs or glasses (pre-warming the mugs with hot water first is a nice touch!).
- Garnish and serve
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Mulled Wine
Here are my secrets for making perfect DIY Mulled Wine:
- Low and Slow: Gentle heat is essential. Never boil your mulled wine! Simmering allows flavors to meld without losing alcohol or developing bitterness.
- Choose the Right Wine: Use a dry, fruity, inexpensive red wine you’d be happy to drink plain. Merlot, Zinfandel, Garnacha work well. Avoid heavy tannins or oaky flavors.
- Whole Spices Rule: Stick to whole spices for clear, beautifully infused wine. Ground spices create sediment.
- Taste and Adjust: Sweetness is personal! Start with the lower amount of honey/sugar and add more after tasting the warm wine if needed. Same goes for brandy – add more if you like it stronger.
- Strain Before Long Warming: If keeping the wine warm for a party (like in a slow cooker on low/warm), strain out the spices after the initial simmer (20-30 mins) to prevent them from making the wine bitter over time.
How to Serve
This Best DIY Mulled Wine is meant to be served warm! Enjoy it:
- In Mugs: Serve in heatproof mugs or glasses that are comfortable to hold.
- Garnished: Add a fresh or dried orange slice and a cinnamon stick to each mug for that classic festive look and aroma.
- At Holiday Parties: The perfect welcoming drink for Christmas gatherings or winter parties. Keep it warm in a slow cooker (see tips).
- Cozy Evenings: Ideal for sipping by the fireplace on a cold night.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead: You can prepare the mulled wine completely, strain out the spices, let it cool, and store it covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop over very low heat until just warmed through. Do not boil when reheating.
FAQs about The Best DIY Mulled Wine
- What red wine is best for mulled wine?
- A dry, fruity, medium-bodied red wine is ideal. Think Merlot, Zinfandel, Garnacha, or Pinot Noir. Avoid expensive wines or those with very strong oak or tannins.
- Can I use ground spices instead of whole?
- It’s highly recommended to use whole spices (cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise) for Mulled Wine. Ground spices will make the wine cloudy and potentially gritty.
- How long will mulled wine last?
- Once prepared and strained, store leftover mulled wine covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently.
Enjoy this warm, fragrant, cozy, and incredibly easy Best DIY Mulled Wine recipe! It’s the perfect drink to plan for the holiday season.
Print
The Best DIY Mulled Wine
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Drinks, Cocktails, Holiday, Winter
- Cuisine: European, American
Description
The Best DIY Mulled Wine! It is incredibly easy to make and always SO cozy and delicious. Red wine gently simmered with brandy, orange juice, honey or sugar, and whole spices. Add as much, or as little, brandy and sugar as you like!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (750mL) bottle dry red wine (such as Merlot, Zinfandel, or Cabernet Sauvignon)
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup brandy (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/4 cup honey or granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 10 whole cloves
- 6 whole star anise
- 2 whole cinnamon sticks
Optional for Serving & Garnish:
- Sugar (for rimming mugs)
- Dried or fresh orange slices
- Extra cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large saucepan or pot, combine the red wine, brandy (start with 1/4 cup), fresh orange juice, honey or sugar (start with 1/4 cup), whole cloves, star anise, and 2 cinnamon sticks. Stir gently to combine.
- Heat Gently: Place the saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat the mixture gently, stirring occasionally, until it reaches a simmer (steaming, with small bubbles around the edge). Do NOT allow the mixture to boil, as this will evaporate the alcohol and can affect the flavor.
- Simmer & Infuse: Once simmering, immediately reduce the heat to the lowest setting possible just to keep it warm. Let the wine simmer very gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the spices to infuse.
- Strain: Carefully strain the mulled wine through a fine-mesh sieve into another pot or directly into mugs to remove the whole spices (cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks). Discard the spices.
- Prepare Mugs (Optional): If desired, rim heatproof mugs by moistening the rim with an orange wedge and dipping it into a shallow plate of sugar.
- Serve: Pour the warm, strained mulled wine into the prepared mugs. Garnish with fresh or dried orange slices and an extra cinnamon stick, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Wine Choice: Use a dry, fruity red wine you enjoy. No need for expensive wine. Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Garnacha are good choices.
- Brandy & Sweetener: Adjust the amount of brandy and honey/sugar to your personal preference. Start with the lower amounts and add more after tasting the warm wine (before straining).
- Whole Spices: Using whole spices provides the best flavor and makes straining easy. Avoid ground spices, which can make the wine cloudy.
- Gentle Heat: Keeping the wine at a gentle simmer below boiling is crucial to preserve the alcohol and prevent bitterness.
- Make-Ahead: You can make mulled wine ahead. Follow steps 1-4, let cool completely, then store strained wine in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat without boiling before serving.
- Storage: Store leftover strained mulled wine in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.