Winter is a rough time, and the cold is bone-chilling. That is why we do what we can to get through the months until it’s time to run out into the sun again. One way to make the days more bearable is to have a handy list of hot beverages to switch between when you need to drink something hot. Mulled wine is a perfect beverage for such times. It is served hot and spiced. The beverage is made from a combination of dry red wine, sweetener, spices and any other aromatic additions you can think of such as citrus peel.
We have put together a list of wines you can use for your mulled wine recipes this cold season. Read on for some pleasant suggestions for wines to use when making mulled wine.
Why Does It Matter What Wine You Use?
There are ways to make bad mulled wine, and this has to do mostly with the type of wine you choose. Generally, mulled wine is best made using a dry or semidry variety of red wine. You should avoid any alcoholic, tannic, acidic, sweet-flavored or Brett wine. These often become too concentrated as you go through the mulling process. You should also watch out for wines with a high sulfite content as these often develop off-flavors.
1. Broc Cellars Vine Starr Zinfandel 2017 vintage
This is one of those reds that come highly recommended if we are talking wine candidates for mulled wine. The Californian Zinfandel is the product of Broc Cellars from Sonoma County. The area is famous for some of the smoothest Zinfandel varieties you can find in stores. The wine has a nose composed of black cherry, raspberry, jam-like strawberry, blueberry with some light oxidative notes and vanilla oak. A dry red of this kind is perfect due to the light tannins. It also has the right flavor profile to rise above what spices you choose to use. Making mulled wine with this wine takes very little in the way of additives as you will only need citrus and orange peels for simple preparation.
2. Shiraz
This is one of the most respected wines in Australia and the rest of the world. It comes from the Syrah grape, which is the dominant grape in vineyards in Australia. The winemaking style for Shiraz wines is focused mainly on bright and fruity flavors such as blackcurrants, black cherries, and blueberries. Underlying notes include spice, pepper, and chocolate, which blend well with the full-bodied texture of the wine. This too is a prime choice when it comes to mulled wine. Add some cloves, cinnamon and orange slices and you have a recipe for your mulled wine. Take a look at what kind of grapes go into these bottles of wine in “Best Grapes for Making Wine“.
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3. Beaujolais
The wine gets its name from the small French region it comes from. It is made from Gamay grapes. The region is close to the Burgundy region, which is the more prominent name. You can choose from ten varieties of wine that come with different flavor characteristics according to the region. Generally, the wine has fruity notes of tart cherry, raspberry, and cranberry. These are followed by underlying flavors of banana bubblegum, forest floor, and mushroom with a smoky finish. Make your mulled wine with a little of the wine and you will love how well the flavors lend themselves to the rest of the spices you use. You will not need to add a lot of alcohol as the bottle itself comes with 10-13% ABV, which is quite sufficient for alcohol content.
For more sweet tasting wines, check out “The Most Popular Sweet Wines” for a list of wines out there with lighter and sweeter flavors.
4. Bordeaux
This is one of those French wines that you leave for special occasions, but who says you can’t make some delectable mulled wine with it? There is plenty you can do with a good bottle of Bordeaux, and mulled wine is not such a bad idea. The wine’s spicy and fruity notes give character to your drink and will not overshadow the spices you choose to use. The earthy notes are most welcome as they blend well with spices such as cinnamon sticks and cloves.
5. Nero D’Avola
This is one of the Italian wine varieties known to make good mulled wine. The wine hails from the vineyards of Sicily and is among the inexpensive selections on the list. Though it comes at a pocket-friendly price, make no mistake; the quality is right up there with the best dry reds you can think of. You will love this particular bottle for the leathery and black cherry notes. The wine has an opulent flavor profile that is fruity with a smooth finish. Oak aging allows the flavors to blend well, and you should have no problem tasting your spices and herbs when you use this wine. Find some exciting recipes for mulled wine and make yourself something warm this winter. For more Italian options, take a look at “List of Four Best Italian Table Wines” for a list of the best options out of Italy.
6. Malbec
Malbec is one of the pros when it comes to mulled wine recipes. The wine has a high level of acidity since the grapes are grown in high-altitude regions. It can be hard to get your mulled wine just like you want it if you don’t know how to remedy the acidity. In terms of flavor profile, the wine has a soft, fruity nose of vanilla and blueberry. Use as few spices as you can and focus more on the citrus flavors, which can be achieved by adding orange slices.
Take a look at “Most Common Fruity Wines” for more options on fruity tasting wines and find out with fruity wines aren’t all considered sweet wines.
If you are making mulled wine this winter, then you are better off focusing more on the recipe than the wine as long as it is red, dry and low in tannins. This is because the spices and flavorings you use for your mulled wine will probably overshadow the underlying notes of the wine. The floral notes, however, will give the drink an aroma that will keep you seeping from your glass more often than you plan to. If you plan to make mulled wine, one of the main drinks to warm your cold days, then you better have some spiced syrup in a bottle for when you want to fix yourself a drink quick.
Thanks for reading! Let us know in the comments below if you have ever tried making mulled wine before. Be sure to check out other wine mixing options like “Can You Mix Red and White Wine?“, “How to Make Peach Wine“, or even “Beginner Wines that You Need to Try“.
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