Feeling down? Hot wine to the rescue! From a cold remedy to a winter warm-up, this hot wine recipe is a classic elixir for success.
If you want some other Spanish drinks, you'll love these recipes for non-alcoholic sangria mocktail and this amazing rosé sangria.
Introduction
There's nothing like a piping hot glass of mulled wine to beat the cold on a bitter December evening. This is basically the recipe for surviving the winter, dealing with homesickness, getting over a bad day… you name it!
Hot wine isn't super popular in Spain (probably because in much of the country our winters are mild), but you do find it at winter fairs.
I decided to try out a new hot wine recipe last week, and it paired perfectly with a batch of cookies I made. There is no better way to get comfort during the cold winter days! Based on Jamie Oliver's Recipe (but adapted to what I had in the house!).
Ingredients
Excited to try this Spanish hot wine? Here's the key ingredients that you need to get started!
- Red Wine: A nice, fruity red wine is a great choice for this recipe. Choose one that will blend nicely with the spices and citrus flavors.
- Sugar: This will sweeten the drink and bring out the flavors of the spices.
- Vanilla Bean: This will bring a wonderful vanilla flavor without adding extract.
- Rum or Brandy: Adding a splash of liqueur like these will add a little kick at the end! Feel free to leave out if you prefer.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Hot Wine
If you’d like to see the full ingredients and instructions, scroll to the bottom of the post for the printable recipe card.
- Squeeze the clementine juice into a saucepan, then add the citrus peels, vanilla bean, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, and sugar. (image 1)
- Bring to a simmer. (image 2)
- Add ½ cup of the red wine and simmer until the liquid has thickened into a caramel-like syrup. Add the remaining wine and heat through. (image 3)
- For a little extra boost, add a splash of rum or brandy. I used a shot of Brugal that I'd been infusing with vanilla beans. (image 4)
- Pour the hot wine into cups as soon as it's warm. (image 5)
- Garnish with an orange slice and enjoy right away! (image 6)
Recipe FAQs
This Spanish-style hot wine is made from a clementine, lemon peel, orange peel, sugar, cinnamon stick, vanilla bean, nutmeg, and red wine. The mixture is simmered until the wine is syrupy and the flavors are warm and cozy.
A red wine with a bright, fruity flavor is a great choice for mulled wine. Choose one that goes well with the spices and fruit flavors that you'll be infusing into the wine.
Mulled wine and hot wine are indeed the same thing; they're just called by different names.
Hot wine has been heated, but it's not considered 'non-alcoholic' unless you boil it down. For an extra tipple, splash in a little liqueur like rum or brandy before serving.
Serve
This hot wine is perfect by itself on a cold winter night! But I love serving this with a sweet munchie, like mantecados, polvorones, broas de mel, or buñuelos.
Expert Tips
- Choose a bright, fruity red wine that will go nicely with the spices and citrus peels.
- Be careful not to boil the hot wine, unless you want it to be without alcohol!
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Spanish Hot Wine Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 clementine juiced
- 4 strips lemon peel
- 4 strips clementine peel
- 6 heaping spoonfuls granulated sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 vanilla bean halved
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 bottle red wine
- 1 shot rum or brandy optional
Instructions
- Squeeze the clementine juice into a saucepan and add the sugar and citrus peels. Add the spices and bring the mixture to a boil, constantly stirring.
- As soon as it boils, add ½ cup of red wine. Allow it to simmer slowly until it is reduced to a caramel-like syrup.
- Add the rest of the bottle of wine, cover, and heat through. If you want, add an extra kick add a shot or rum or brandy. I added a shot of Brugal I'd been infusing with vanilla beans.
- Serve the drink as soon as the wine is heated through, and feel the warmth!
Notes
- Choose a bright, fruity red wine that will go nicely with the spices and citrus peels.
- Be careful not to boil the hot wine, unless you want it to be without alcohol!
Nutrition
Photography by Giulia Verdinelli
Jose
This is good but confusing, boil wine add honey stir drink hot get under blankets sleep sweat it out wake up feel better
Josh
Thanks for posting this recipe! I wanted to cook up a pot for my Spanish housemate's 30th this weekend as he's never tried it before and I thought it would be the perfect antidote for the chilly weather! I'm also having a spanish supermarket wine face-off in the near future and I need suggestions! Would be grateful for your contribution 🙂
http://spainforpleasure.com/2012/12/08/the-great-spanish-cheap-supermarket-wine-face-off-part-one/
Christine
Oh my gosh!! I will definitely have to try this, I fell seriously in love with mulled wine when I lived in France! Thanks for the recipe!
Lauren Aloise
Try it!It's easy and delicious... and a little dangerous lol! I'll bet it's amazing in France during the cold winter!
Mo
Wow! It seems to be the cure of all woes! I´ve never actually had hot wine - I was probably alway too impatient and just had it as was - but I´d love to try this. I´m afraid I´d need to omit the cinammon (cinnamon?) as it brings me out in blotches but the rest looks great. I´m sure it´s really comforting so I´ll follow your recipe - or Jamie´s - and snuggle up with los mÃos for Christmas!
Megan Flom
This sounds amazing (and easy - which is important for me haha)! I can't wait to try it over the cold winter break coming up 🙂