Warm Homemade Vin Chaud (Mulled Wine)
[Home Cooking] Make Your Own Vin Chaud: Transform Winter Wine into a Cozy Drink
Whip up a delightful homemade Vin Chaud with fragrant fruits and spices. This easy recipe is perfect for warming you up on chilly winter days, creating a special café-style beverage right in your kitchen.
Ingredients for Vin Chaud- 1 bottle red wine (750ml)
- 1/2 apple, washed and sliced
- 1/2 orange, washed and sliced
- 3 lemon chips (dried lemon slices)
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 whole peppercorns (optional)
- 1 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 tablespoons sugar or honey (adjust to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
If you have a bottle of red wine that has lost some of its vibrancy or flavor, don’t let it go to waste! You can transform it into a delicious Vin Chaud. While pre-made Vin Chaud kits are convenient, crafting your own with fresh fruits and spices will unlock a richer, more complex aroma and taste.
Step 2
Making Vin Chaud is surprisingly simple. Start by pouring one bottle of red wine into a saucepan. Add all your prepared aromatic ingredients: the sliced apple and orange, lemon chips, bay leaf, whole peppercorns (if using), star anise, and cinnamon stick. Finally, stir in 2 tablespoons of sugar or honey to sweeten it to your preference. Feel free to adjust the sweetness level to suit your palate.
Step 3
Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat and bring it to a gentle simmer. Once it starts to bubble, reduce the heat to low and let it infuse for about 30 minutes. This slow simmering allows the flavors of the fruits and spices to meld beautifully with the wine. After 30 minutes, turn off the heat and let it steep, covered, for another 10 minutes to deepen the flavors. Finally, strain the Vin Chaud through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the solids. Serve warm in mugs or heatproof glasses, and enjoy a wonderfully fragrant and comforting drink that’s perfect for cozy winter evenings!
