December 12, 2024

Mulled Wine

While some wine purists may not agree with mixing wine with, well anything, we disagree. As the temperatures drop and the festive season approaches, there's nothing better than cozying up with a glass of mulled wine to warm the body and soul.

There’s nothing quite like a warm mug of mulled wine to embrace the holiday spirit. The key to a truly memorable mulled wine? Choosing the right base wine to complement those cozy spice notes of cinnamon, clove, and orange peel. At Vinalia, we recommend using wines that enhance these flavors, like our Chambourcin or Norton . These varietals offer just the right balance of bold fruitiness and earthy depth, making them perfect companions for your favorite mulling spices.

For those who want to experiment, Susumaniello, a grape reminiscent of Zinfandel, also works beautifully. Its vibrant red fruit and subtle spice elevate your mulled wine to the next level. Whether you're hosting a holiday gathering or curling up by the fire, these wines will add warmth and character to every sip.

INGREDIENTS

1 bottle of Vinalia Norton, Chambourcin or Susumaniello wine
2 large oranges
1 cup of brandy
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
3 cardamon pods (slightly crushed)

Pot of mulled wine with oranges and spices

DIRECTIONS

Slice 1 orange into rounds and set aside for garnish. Using a peeler, remove the peel from the remaining orange in large strips. Then, juice the orange.

In a saucepan, combine orange peel, juice and the rest of the ingredients. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Increase the heat to high, bring mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Simmer gently until flavors combine, about 30 minutes. Strain the mixture into mugs or glasses, discarding the solids.

Serve warm with reserved orange slices. Enjoy!

MAKE WITH...

Vintage: 2019

Grape Variety: 100% Norton (nor-ton)

Region: Augusta AVA, Missouri

Drink If You Like: Zinfandel, Merlot, Malbec

Alcohol: 13%

Coming from the very first American Viticultural Area, the Augusta AVA, this Norton demonstrates that exceptional US wine can come from anywhere, and, specifically, Missouri. Made from the region’s signature grape variety, the wine is spicy, opulently fruited with flavors of black cherry compote and raspberry coulis, and the perfect accompaniment to late summer grilling. A joy to drink today, this Norton can also age several years.

Vintage: 2021

Grape Variety: 100% Chambourcin (shahm-boor-san)

Region: Augusta AVA, Missouri

Drink If You Like: Zinfandel, Côtes du Rhône, Merlot, Malbec, Norton

Alcohol: 13%

Born in one of the United States’s oldest and most surprising wine countries, this Chambourcin from Missouri’s Augusta AVA shows the complexity of classic American hybrid grapes. A local specialty, this deeply colored Chambourcin seduces with its pillowy tannin and ripe cherry and plum flavors. Finding complexity in its soft baking spice and licorice notes, it’s a quintessentially American red wine perfectly paired with summer grilling and fall tailgates.

Vintage: 2021

Grape Variety: 100% Susumaniello (soo-soo-mahn-ee-yellow)

Region: Puglia IGP, Italy

Drink If You Like: Zinfandel, Amarone, Côtes du Rhône

Alcohol: 14.5%

Cultivated by the Zullo family at their organic Puglia estate Tenuta Viglione, this Susumaniello illustrates the rich and rustic charm of this rare Italian grape variety. Hearty and palate-coating, but with soft and suave tannins, the wine carries notes of raspberry liqueur, sun-soaked raisins, roasted plums, wilted rosemary, and blackberry jam. A kiss of sweetness on the long finish brings you straight to the shining summer days of Southern Italy.