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Among the many holiday co*cktails out there, one drink that's particularly popular is mulled wine, full of aromatic spicesand best consumed by a fireplace or while watching snow fall outside. Mulled wine is enjoyed all around the world in various forms. There's vinho quente from Portugal, glühwein from Germany, andglögg from Sweden, to name a few. Something mostmulled wine recipeshave in common is that they're typically served hot. But what if you're looking for a bit more refreshment and you want to enjoy this drink cold instead? Is it not going to taste as good as it does when warm?
The answer is thatyou can absolutely serve mulled wine chilled,and there are quite a few recipes out there for cold versions of this iconic sipper. This can be great for those of us who live in warmer climates, but still want to give this festive beverage a try. It's easy to make cold mulled wine that's full of the same flavor and aroma as a traditional hot mug.
If you're going to make cold mulled wine, the first thing to think about is the ingredients. For starters, there's the type of wine to consider. Mulled wine is often made with red wine, preferably afull-bodied, dry variety. Drier wines keep your drink from being overly sweet, while the rich body helps prevent the flavor of the alcohol from being overpowered by the spices.Speaking of the spices, whole spices are the best choice for your drink,since they don't add a grainy texture like ground spices might. You can use a variety of different spices, but a few common ones include cloves, cardamom, star anise, and cinnamon.
Another important note is that you have to make your mulled wine in a hot preparation before chilling it. You'll still need to heat the wine, spices, dried fruits if you enjoy including them, and a sweetener if you desire. This will help the flavors to combine, creating a flavorful drink. Once the mixture has cooled and the spices have fully infused the wine, you can pop it in the fridge to chill. You'll want to refrigerate it for at least 2 hours, but you can leave it for longer than that. The mulled wine should keep for roughly 2 weeks in your fridge, so you can drink it slowly over time. When you're ready to serve the drink, pour it into glasses over ice to keep it cold and refreshing.
Other Variations On Mulled Wine
There are other variations on this holiday drink that you can try out, whether you serve the wine hot or cold. For one thing, you can swap out the standard red wine for a fortified wine instead. These drinks tend to be sweeter,often with fruity and botanical flavors, and have a higher alcohol content. A few examples include making a sherry mulled wine or a port variety. Another easy way to mix things up is to use a white wine instead. A dry white wine can make for a lighter twist on the classic drink and bring out different tasting notes. Just remember that a drier varietal will help prevent the beverage from ending up too sweet.
For chilled mulled wine specifically, try changing things up by serving the beverage as a spritzer. Combine your cold mulled wine with sparkling lemonade or apple cider to give it a bit of fizz before serving it up to your guests. The addition of bubbles even makes this beverage suitable for New Year's. With all these variations and more, there are plenty of ways to get creative and try a different take on this classic winter drink.
But what category does mulled wine fall into? Most do enjoy this festive drink as a winter warmer, but drinking it chilled is always an option too if that's your preference.
But what if you're looking for a bit more refreshment and you want to enjoy this drink cold instead? Is it not going to taste as good as it does when warm? The answer is that you can absolutely serve mulled wine chilled, and there are quite a few recipes out there for cold versions of this iconic sipper.
Mulled wine evaporates at 80 °C, so make sure to keep it below this temperature. We recommend heating and serving it at around 65 °C, using a Thermapen kitchen thermometer to monitor the temperature. Serve your festive drink in warmed glass mugs to help the wine maintain its optimal serving temperature whilst drinking.
TO STORE: Let your mulled wine cool completely, then pour it into an airtight storage container and place it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm mulled wine in a large pot on the stovetop over low heat, or pour leftovers into your slow cooker and reheat on LOW until warm.
Serve red wines slightly cooler than room temperature, between 62–68 degrees F (15–20 °C). Generally speaking, serve white wines slightly warmer than fridge temperature, between 49-55 degrees F (7–12 °C). Learn more about wine! Subscribe to Wine Folly's free newsletter and get the practical guide on wine.
Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm.
Right Temperature: Serve mulled wine warm, but not too hot. Aim for a temperature that's comfortable to sip, similar to a warm cup of tea. Appropriate Glassware: Use heat-resistant glasses or mugs. Traditional glass wine goblets might crack with the heat, so opt for thicker, sturdier glasses or even festive mugs.
However, a little hot spicy wine may make you feel much better while your immune system is taking out the cold. I recall once when I was very young, my dad giving me a glass of warm wine because I had such a bad cold. Needless to say, I only remember him handing me the glass!
You can reheat mulled wine by warming it over a low heat on the hob. Alternatively, pour the liquid into a heatproof bowl and microwave for 2 mins 30 seconds-3 mins until warm, but not boiling.
Once opened, mulled wine is known to only maintain its quality for 3 to 5 days. You will be able to determine whether your mulled wine has gone bad by assessing its appearance, aroma, and taste. Visually inspect the wine for any unusual changes, such as a cloudy or murky appearance, sedimentation, or discolouration.
But no matter what you start with, and no matter all the other variables, if you're really keeping mulled wine warm for 10 hours, it's very likely some—but definitely not all—of the alcohol will evaporate. But the flavors of the mulled wine will also start to fade and get muddier after hours and hours of heat exposure.
Cold mulled wine may be strained and chilled, then reheated very gently in a microwave. Much better is to strain it and either freeze it to add to your next batch, or to set it into one large or many small jellies that will brighten up ice creams and are good topped with clotted cream.
You can reheat mulled wine by warming it over a low heat on the hob. Alternatively, pour the liquid into a heatproof bowl and microwave for 2 mins 30 seconds-3 mins until warm, but not boiling.
While a cool, constant storage temperature is ideal for wine, it won't be damaged if it's chilled and then returns to room temperature (and is then chilled again, etc.), at least as long as those temperatures don't exceed the threshold for heat damage.
DO YOU SERVE MULLED WINE BEFORE OR AFTER DINNER? There are no rules when it comes to the best time to serve mulled wine. Enjoy a mug mid-afternoon on a cold winter's day, share it with friends around the barbeque while waiting for the sausages to sizzle, or dunk in a ginger snap for a warming late evening wind down.
Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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