| Well it's finally getting cold; the leaves on | | | | honey or sugar and of course red wine. Some |
| the trees have started to change their | | | | like to add brandy, cognac or Grand Marnier |
| colours and have begun to tumble to the | | | | to fortify their mulled wines while others |
| ground in droves. To some people this is the | | | | give it a minty kick with a candy cane or |
| start to a very beautiful time of year, to | | | | two. The wine does not have to be an |
| others including myself this time of year is | | | | expensive bottle; most who make mulled wine |
| probably the most depressing. Why would | | | | themselves will actually suggest to anyone |
| someone think that the magnificent colour | | | | interesting in attempting their first batch |
| changing leaves be so disheartening? That is | | | | to begin by using an inexpensive bottle of |
| easy, it's a sign that summer is over and | | | | wine since you are adding so many other |
| winter is on its way. No more BBQs, no more | | | | flavours. Remember, the original reason for |
| lazy days spent beside the pool or the beach | | | | mulled wine was to mask the flavours of |
| sipping a lovely white wine or sangria (or | | | | spoiled wine so the original recipes did not |
| even a wine cooler if so inclined). So more | | | | use high quality vino. What recipe is the |
| driving around with the windows down and the | | | | best to use? Well that is always going to be |
| breeze in your hair, or picnics in the park, | | | | up for debate. As stated above there are |
| instead now it's raking the leaves, bundling | | | | pretty standard ingredients that make up the |
| up with scarves and sweaters and rethinking | | | | base for a mulled wine. What sort of |
| unnecessary trips out of the house because | | | | proportions you add of each and what else you |
| it's cold! But all is not lost I suppose! | | | | decide to add in addition is only limited to |
| Even though it might be time to trade in our | | | | imagination (and of course palatability, |
| bikini bathing suits for long underwear and | | | | don't want to create a mulled wine that |
| retire our BBQs for another year one can now | | | | doesn't taste good!). If you want to use |
| rejoice in the fact that the time of year for | | | | wine but do not want the alcohol content |
| hot mulled wine while snuggling in front of a | | | | simply boil the mulled wine for a few |
| fire is here! What exactly is mulled wine? | | | | moments, those who want to maintain the |
| Made from red wine, mulled wine (and its | | | | alcohol are suggested to not boil the wine at |
| various counterparts around the world such as | | | | all but rather simmer to infuse the flavours |
| vin chaud, Gluhwien, Forralt bor and vin | | | | of the spices added. If you find the whole |
| brulé) has various spices added to it and | | | | idea of combining all sorts of things |
| usually served hot. Sounds perfect for that | | | | together with wine a bit daunting and don't |
| cold winter evening doesn't it? A little | | | | want to worry about making a batch that is |
| known fact however is, that mulled wine was | | | | positively ghastly, try the little sachets or |
| not originally created as a warm and festive | | | | bottles of mulled wine syrups that are |
| alternative to regular red wine. Rather, | | | | available in retail outlets. Using these are |
| mulled wine was created as a way to make red | | | | quite simple and the guesswork is taken out |
| wine taste better at a time when it would | | | | for you but still give you a fantastic mulled |
| expire and go rancid rather quickly. The | | | | wine to enjoy with friends and family over |
| addition of a combination of honey and spices | | | | the holidays of simply while snuggling with |
| helped flavour and thus allowed wine that had | | | | your loved one on a cold winter evening. |
| turned slightly to be consumed again. There | | | | |
| are a plethora of recipes online and in cook | | | | Ken Finnigan is the CEO of Finest Wine Racks |
| books that suggest the perfect way to make | | | | a family owned and run website specializing |
| mulled wine. However, most mulled wines | | | | in quality decorative wine racks and durable |
| consist of the same basic ingredients: | | | | wine storage systems. |
| orange, nutmeg, clove a sweetener such as | | | | |