Nothing says Christmas like a warming glass of mulled wine. As soon as the temperatures start to dip in the autumn, you can’t help craving a glass of the ultimate Christmas drink. There’s nothing better than heating up a glass in the comfort of your own home in front of the fire with a Christmas film. 

Hot wine has a long history. It was first popular among the Romans, who would drink hot spiced wine in the winter. As the Roman Empire spread across Europe, so did its love for hot red wine. People added different herbs and spices for sweetness, to make bad quality wine taste better, and because they believed the drink had health benefits.

Recreating Christmas market quality mulled wine at home couldn’t be easier …. 

Ingredients

• 750ml bottle red wine.
• 1 large cinnamon stick, or 2 small ones
• 2 star anise
• 4 cloves
• 2 strips of Lemon Zest  
• 4 tbsp caster sugar
• 100ml of Sloe Gin – Optional (If you are feeling festive then the perfect seasonal addition is in 100ml of sloe Gin in the final step of warming) 

Method

• STEP 1

Put the red wine, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lemon zest and sugar in a large pan. Cook on a low heat for 10 mins.

• STEP 2

Remove from the heat and cool, leaving to infuse for about 30 mins.

• STEP 3

To serve, heat without boiling, stir in the sloe gin and pour into mugs or heatproof glasses.