BEST wine MULLED WINE – which to use?
With literally 1,000’s of wines to choose from… How do you know which is the best wine for mulled wine?
This comprehensive guide can help you create the perfect mug of mulled wine to satisfy family & friends all year round.
Customisable Recipe for Mulled Wine
Recipes vary greatly around the world. So, what’s important to remember when trying to brew the best mulled wine?
- The type of wine
- The time allowed to brew the spices
- How alcoholic you want your mulled wine to be
- How much extra sugar you want to add
4 Things to Consider to Make the Best Mulled Wine
Types of Wine
Choosing the right type of wine is essential for making great mulled wine. There’s no need to splurge on expensive bottles; a mid to low-range wine works perfectly. You can even use cask wine or a mix of bottle and cask wine. Once heated with spices for a few hours, the flavours meld beautifully, transforming the taste into a satisfying beverage perfect for any gathering.
The best wines for mulled wine are robust reds like Merlot, Shiraz, or Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines hold up well during the heating and infusion process.
Time to Infuse
Properly brewing the spices is crucial for a flavoursome mulled wine. Some people prefer a mild spice, while others like a heavy spice. It’s important to consider who will be enjoying this mulled wine with you. A simple rule to remember is: the longer, the stronger. After 6–8 hours on low heat, you’ll have dark, strong, and heavy mulled wine.
How much Alcohol?- Adjusting the alcohol content of your mulled wine is simple. For a stronger brew, cook on low heat for a longer time, then add a splash of brandy, port, or spirits before serving. This will ensure your mulled wine has a warm kick that many enjoy.
- If you prefer lighter mulled wine, cook it on high heat. Boiling wine evaporates the alcohol, but be careful not to boil for too long, or you’ll have an empty pot. You can also choose a non-alcoholic wine, but your selection may be limited.
- Another option is to brew the mulled wine at full strength and dilute it with juice or soda water and ice. For a kid-friendly version, you could use straight juice, creating a festive, alcohol-free beverage that everyone can enjoy.
How Sweet?
- You can easily increase the sweetness of your mulled wine. Our DIY mulled wine kits contain a small amount of coconut sugar, which helps reduce the mouth-puckering taste of wine tannins. However, a drop of honey or maple syrup can add another level of flavour.
- To add more sweetness and complexity to your mulled wine, consider mixing in juice or alcoholic cider.
Are you looking forThe Best Recipe for Mulled Wine?
Combine our DIY Mulled Wine Kit with your choice of wine & brewing method to customise the flavour to suit your tastebuds. |
Why is Mulled Wine so Popular Around the World?
Mulled wine is popular worldwide for its warm, comforting properties, especially in colder climates. Its festive aroma and flavour are created by blending red wine with spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves and adding sweeteners.
It's commonly associated with Christmas festivities and ski lodges, making it a seasonal favourite in the northern hemisphere.
Best Red Wine for Mulled Wine
In Australia, mulled wine is largely underappreciated, considering the quality of red wine produced and the cold temperatures in the southern half of our continent.
Bottled mulled wine is available in bottle shops but the taste and smell cannot compare to brewing your own winter warming drop…
Why isn’t mulled wine more popular in Australia?
Mulled wine isn’t very popular in Australia primarily because of its warm climate, especially during the festive season, when hot beverages are less appealing.
Additionally, Australian cultural preferences lean towards chilled alcoholic drinks like beers and white wines. However, when brewed hot and served cold mulled wine, offers a unique & refreshing option to share with friends.
How to Make Mulled Wine in Summer?
Our Mulled Wine Kit Makes Mulled Wine Easy
- Put the mulled wine sachet in a slow cooker or rice cooker with your choice of wine & a splash of water or juice.
- Put the lid on, select the low heat setting, and allow the spice to infuse for 4 -5 hours.
- Once cooled, serve the mulled wine with ice and soda water. Adding fresh fruit, berries or vanilla has yet another level of deliciousness
Summer Recipe for Mulled Wine
This cold mulled wine variant offers a delightful blend of fruity and spicy flavours. It’s perfect for warm Christmases in the Southern Hemisphere and summer gatherings, providing a unique alternative to traditional summer beverages.
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Mulled Wine Made Easy |
Which is the Best Wine for Mulled Wine?
Australian Wines for Mulling Wine
Australian wines bring bold, fruity flavours to mulled wine. Varieties like Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon enhance the spiced beverage with rich berry notes and a full-bodied texture. They often blend well with spices, creating a warm, robust drink.
International Wines for Mulling Wine
French, Italian, and Californian wines each offer unique qualities. French wines, such as those from Bordeaux, add a sophisticated, layered flavour. Italian wines, particularly from Tuscany, bring balanced acidity and subtle earthiness. Californian wines contribute approachable, fruit-forward profiles, making the mulled wine smooth and aromatic. Each non-Australian wine type offers a distinct twist to the traditional mulled wine experience.
Why Australia has the BEST Wine for Mulled Wine...
4 Reasons to Buy Australian Wine – this winter ❄️ or summer ☀️
Australia grows a wide range of grape varieties, including Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and more. This diversity allows for a rich selection of wine styles and flavours.
Australia’s large landmass means there’s a broad spectrum of climates and soils. This geographical diversity supports unique terroirs, each imparting distinct characteristics to the wines.
Australian winemakers often embrace innovation and modern techniques. This results in consistent quality and the ability to experiment with new styles and blends.
Australian wines offer excellent quality at competitive prices, making them accessible and appealing to a wide range of consumers, both domestically and internationally.
Make Mulled Wine perfectly EVERY TIME
4 Step Easy Recipe for Mulled Wine
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Which is Australia's Best Red Wine for Mulled Wine?
Australian Mulled Wine
It’s time to explore the different varieties of grapes we grow down under and choose how we want our mulled wine to taste.
Australia has 65 wine-growing regions, each with unique climates and soils, producing a wide variety of wines. Renowned areas include the Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley, Margaret River, and Yarra Valley, each contributing distinct characteristics to the Australian wine industry.
Australia is renowned for its high-quality red wines. The chart below highlights the annual production of the country’s ten most common red wine grape varieties, showcasing their prominence and distinctive traits.
Shiraz is known for its bold, spicy flavours and rich texture. It thrives in warm climates like Barossa Valley, producing wines with intense berry, pepper, and chocolate notes. It’s Australia’s signature red.
Cabernet Sauvignon is popular for its deep colour, full body, and strong tannins. It often exhibits flavours of blackcurrant, mint, and eucalyptus, particularly from regions like Coonawarra, which has unique terra rossa soil.
Valued for its soft, velvety texture and fruity profile. Merlot typically offers flavours of plum, black cherry, and hints of chocolate. It’s a smoother, more approachable alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon.
Pinot Noir is appreciated for its light body, delicate flavours, and complexity. Grown in cooler regions like Yarra Valley, It features red fruit flavours, floral aromas, and earthy undertones, making it unique among Australian reds.
Grenache is known for its sweet berry flavours and spiciness. It thrives in warm regions like McLaren Vale, producing wines with red fruit, spice, and herbaceous notes. Grenache is often used in blends and single varietals.
Annual Production (tons) of Red Wine Grapes in Australia
Adds structure and depth to blends with earthy and spicy notes. Mourvèdre is often blended with Grenache and Shiraz to create the popular GSM blend, enhancing the wine’s complexity and age-worthiness.
Petit Verdot is typically used in blends to add colour, tannins, and floral notes. Its small, thick-skinned berries contribute intense colour and rich flavours of violet, dark fruit, and spice, making it ideal for enhancing blends.
Gaining popularity for its versatility and flavours of berries, plum, and tobacco. Originally from Spain, Tempranillo adapts well to Australia’s varied climates, offering a medium-bodied, food-friendly wine with a distinctive character.
Known for its high acidity and savoury flavours. Sangiovese produces wines with bright cherries, tomato leaves, and earthy notes. It’s the primary grape in Italian Chianti, now increasingly grown in Australia’s wine regions.
Valued for its jammy fruit flavours and peppery spice. Though less common, Zinfandel thrives in regions like Barossa Valley, producing robust wines with blackberry, raspberry, and black pepper notes, offering a bold alternative to Shiraz.
Impress Family & Friends with Home Made Mulled Wine
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Let's take a closer look at the top 5 Aussies vines & Discover the Best Wine for Mulled Wine
Here’s a comparison of the top 5 Australian red wines and their suitability for brewing into mulled wine. Each wine is evaluated for its flavour and aroma when brewed quickly (1-2 hours) and slowly (6-7 hours).
We've used a mulled wine kit to accurately and fairly evaluate each wine's suitability. The mulled wine kit contains red ginger, cinnamon, mango turmeric, dehydrated orange, clove, nutmeg, star anise, and coconut sugar.
SHIRAZ mulled wine
Suitability Ranking: 9/10
Fast Brew (1-2 hours)
- Flavour: Bold and fruity, with intense berry and chocolate notes. The quick brew captures the immediate richness and robustness of Shiraz.
- Aroma: Spicy and rich, with prominent pepper and cinnamon from the spices blending seamlessly with Shiraz’s natural profile.
Slow Brew (6-7 hours)
- Flavour: Deep and complex, with enhanced spice and chocolate undertones. The longer brew time allows the flavours to meld and develop a richer profile.
- Aroma: Strong and warming spices with a hint of smokiness, adding depth to the aromatic experience.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON mulled wine
Suitability Ranking: 8/10
Fast Brew (1-2 hours)
- Flavour: Rich, with blackcurrant and eucalyptus, slightly minty. The quick brew retains the vibrant fruitiness and herbal notes.
- Aroma: Fresh and herbal, with strong blackcurrant notes, providing a refreshing yet robust scent.
Slow Brew (6-7 hours)
- Flavour: Deep and full-bodied, with pronounced tannins and complex eucalyptus flavours. The slow brew enhances the depth and complexity.
- Aroma: Earthy, with intensified herbal and mint aromas, creating a grounding and sophisticated scent.
MERLOT mulled wine
Suitability Ranking: 7/10
Fast Brew (1-2 hours)
- Flavour: Soft and velvety, with plum and black cherry. The quick brew highlights Merlot’s smooth and approachable characteristics.
- Aroma: Fruity and inviting, with hints of chocolate, making it a comforting and accessible choice.
Slow Brew (6-7 hours)
- Flavour: Smooth, with mellow fruit and enhanced chocolate undertones. The extended brew time enriches the flavours, making them more cohesive.
- Aroma: Rich and sweet, with deeper chocolate notes, adding a luxurious touch to the aroma.
PINOT NOIR mulled wine
Suitability Ranking: 6/10
Fast Brew (1-2 hours)
- Flavour: Light and delicate, with red fruit and floral notes. The quick brew preserves the subtlety and freshness of Pinot Noir.
- Aroma: Subtle, with a mix of floral and red fruit, offering a refined and elegant scent.
Slow Brew (6-7 hours)
- Flavour: Complex, with earthy undertones and enhanced fruit flavours. The slow brew brings out deeper and more intricate flavours.
- Aroma: Richer, with intensified earthy and floral notes, creating a more robust aromatic profile.
GRENACHE mulled wine
Suitability Ranking: 7/10
Fast Brew (1-2 hours)
- Flavour: Sweet berry and spicy, with herbaceous notes. The quick brew captures Grenache’s natural sweetness and spice.
- Aroma: Fruity and aromatic, with prominent spice, offering an inviting and vibrant scent.
- Slow Brew (6-7 hours)
- Flavour: Rich and robust, with deep berry and spice flavours. The slow brew allows the flavours to fully integrate and deepen.
- Aroma: Intense, with a strong blend of fruit and spices, providing a powerful and captivating aroma.
Other Notable Wine Varieties
Lambrusco / Dolce Rosso – These Italian grape varieties are often sold in 4-litre casks and are popular among backpackers in Australia. Known for their natural sweetness, Lambrusco and Dolce Rosso are typically blended with other wines to enhance the sweetness of mulled wine without adding extra sugar.
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Note: Taste and smell are subjective experiences and can vary greatly between individuals. Additionally, the addition of water, juice, cider, port, or spirit can further refine the taste of brewed mulled wine, enhancing its complexity and richness. |
Top 3 Reasons to...
Use a Mulled Wine Kit
👉 Try Ready-to-Use Mulled Wine Kit Now
1. Convenience & Ease of Preparation
Mulled wine kits come with all the essential ingredients pre-measured and ready to use. This eliminates the need for shopping and measuring, making it incredibly convenient to prepare a delicious batch of mulled wine quickly and effortlessly.
2. Customise for your Taste Buds
While the kits provide a reliable base, they also allow for personal touches. You can add your favourite fruits, extra spices, or even a splash of brandy to customize the flavour to your liking, giving you the best of both worlds: convenience and personalization.
3. Great for Entertaining
A mulled wine kit is a fantastic addition to any party or holiday gathering. It allows you to serve a warm, festive drink with minimal effort, impressing your guests with its rich aroma and flavour. Plus, the delightful scent of mulling spices simmering on the stove adds to the cosy, inviting atmosphere of your home.
Using a mulled wine kit is a hassle-free way to enjoy this seasonal favourite with family and friends. Choose an appropriate then set and forget; when the house smells like spice, your mulled wine is ready to go! You can adjust the flavour after brewing by adding sweeteners & increase the alcohol by adding a nip of spirits.
