Food
Alight with spices and fragrant aromas, mulled wine has been the classic warming drink since the days of Ancient Rome. Also known in Austria and Germany as Glühwein (“Glow wine”) and in Nordic countries as Glögg, it’s as enjoyable sipped slowly by the fire with a good book as it is shared at celebrations with good friends.
So, let’s delve deeper into this fabulously fragrant and wonderfully warming winter wine treat.
WHAT IS BEST TO SERVE MULLED WINE IN?
The best vessels to serve mulled wine in are ceramic or glass mugs. Make sure they have a handle as mulled wine is served hot. Serving mulled wine in a glass mug is visually very appealing – you can see the beautiful colours of the wine, plus the garnish of orange peel, cinnamon stick, and star anise.
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.
WHAT DO YOU SERVE MULLED WINE WITH?
You don’t necessarily need to serve food with mulled wine – the abundant flavours and fragrances almost make it a meal in its own right. That said, there are certainly plenty of foods that pair extremely well with this traditional beverage that is enjoyed by so many people right around the world.
If you’re serving mulled wine this winter, try some of for these delicious accompaniments for that suffusing fusion of spice and substance!
Swedish dishes
Want to whip up some Glögg? For those looking to sample the Swedish take on mulled wine, traditional Scandinavian fare like pickled fish and crackers, saffron buns or ginger biscuits are a great choice.
German and Austrian dishes
If it’s a Glühwein you’re going for, you can’t beat classic Teutonic pairings like salty blue cheese pastries, pork schnitzel with lemon cream sauce – the fatty salty sweet and spice combination is pure heaven – or apfelkuchen (German apple cake).
Fondue
When winter’s chill is at its most severe, few things are as inviting as a fondue party. The combination of rich, delicious cheeses and white wine make for a brilliant shared dinner course to accompany the juicy fire of a strong mulled wine.
Cheeses
While we’re talking about cheese, if you’re looking for the best varieties to pair with a sweet mulled wine we suggest opting for the saltier end of the spectrum.
What cheese goes well with mulled wine?
Blue cheese is ideal with a heavily spiced mulled wine, and we think you’ll also love it paired with Stilton, Gorgonzola, aged Cheddar, or the creamy, nutty and subtly sweet style of Gruyère or Emmental cheeses.
Sweet festive mince pies
If you’re a fan of BBC Christmas Specials and all things British, you simply cannot beat a classic English mulled wine paired with sweet mince pies. A Yuletide tradition dating back to at least the 16th century, their mix of dried fruits, sugar, spices and brandy are a bang on match with mulled wine.
Now that we’ve got all of that sorted, it’s time to make a batch of mulled wine with our easy, and delicious traditional mulled wine recipe.
TRADITIONAL MULLED WINE (GLÜHWEIN) RECIPE
So, what are you waiting for? Make the southern hemisphere winter a more festive affair with any of the above matches. Looking for other inspired pairings? Try our Essential Tapas and Wine Pairing Guide, for a hit of Spanish flavours. We’ve even got you covered with essential guides to wine and salad pairings, seafood and wine pairings, vino and veggie matches, as well as the top wines to pair with pizza or chocolate!
FAQs
Festive Sweets: Traditional Christmas treats like gingerbread, mince pies, or stollen are an excellent pairing. Their spices harmonise with the wine's own blend of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Savoury Snacks: Try a glass with some pigs in blankets, sausage rolls, or even a simple bruschetta.
What is the rule #1 when matching food with wine? ›
The general rule of thumb is to serve a wine at least as sweet or sweeter than the food being served. Sweet foods make dry wines seem over-acidic and tart. Sweet wines with a good level of acidity, such as Sauternes, are a perfect match for rich foods like pâté.
What are the points to be considered while pairing food with wine? ›
7 tips for the perfect food and wine pairing
- Choose one element of the dish to pair with. ...
- Focus on taste. ...
- Acidity levels impact wine pairings. ...
- Cheese doesn't have to be paired with red wine. ...
- Keep temperature in mind. ...
- If in doubt, pair food and wine from the same region. ...
- Remember, these are guidelines, not rules.
A good rule of thumb is to pair red wines with red meats and fatty, hearty dishes. White wines are best with lighter flavors, perfect for fish and poultry.
How is mulled wine traditionally served? ›
Mulled wine is often served in small (200 ml) porcelain or glass mugs, sometimes with an orange slice garnish studded with cloves. Mulled wine and ales infused with mulling spices are available in the UK in the winter months. Wassail punch is a warm mulled beer or cider drunk in winter in Victorian times.
Do you serve mulled wine before or after dinner? ›
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.
What is the most difficult food to pair with wine? ›
Especially tricky to match with wine are artichokes, asparagus, fennel and spinach. Artichokes may make wines taste metallic or sweet, due to a chemical known as cynarin.
What are the biggest mistakes beginners make when pairing wine? ›
Pairing a bold wine like cabernet sauvignon or syrah with delicate dishes like white fish is a major no-no. Save those wines for hearty fare, rich meat sauces and grilled or smoked meats. The same is true for cheese. Strong cheeses call for robust wines—like pairing Stilton with port.
What snacks pair well with wine? ›
Beaujolais, Chianti or Sangiovese with mixed nuts and nuts with dried fruit. Pinot Gris/Grigio will balance the oil and salt of chips. Merlot can pair well with onion-flavored chips, or with chips and sour cream dip. Try Zinfandel with barbecue chips.
What is the single most important aspect in pairing wine with food? ›
There are, however, some very simple guidelines for getting the most out of particular foods and bottles. The single most important aspect of a wine for food matching is not colour but body or weight (which corresponds closely with alcoholic strength).
Matching the power of the wine and the food is crucial. A heavy, flavourful dish can overwhelm a light-bodied wine, while a full-bodied grape overpowers a delicate dish. Pair a spicy dish with a sweeter wine to balance the heat. Similarly, a rich, full-bodied wine may pair well with a heavy, meaty dish.
What is one of the main rules for food and wine matching? ›
One of the first things to consider when pairing food and wine is the intensity and weight of both the food and the wine. In simple terms, you want the weight of the wine to match the weight of the dish. This means pairing lighter wines with lighter dishes and heavier wines with richer, more substantial dishes.
What are the traditional rules for food and wine pairing? ›
The aroma and taste of the wine should be as intense and powerful as the food. Red wines are better combined with fatty aromatic meats (for example, red meat). White wines are better combined with low-fat and dietary varieties of meat (for example, fish or chicken). Sweet wines are best with less sweet desserts.
What is the ideal wine pairing? ›
The wine should have the same flavor intensity as the food. Red wines pair best with bold flavored meats (e.g. red meat). White wines pair best with light-intensity meats (e.g. fish or chicken). Bitter wines (e.g. red wines) are best balanced with fat.
Is mulled wine always served warm? ›
Most do enjoy this festive drink as a winter warmer, but drinking it chilled is always an option too if that's your preference. Or you can even use your mulled wine to make a mulled wine co*cktail … which is said to be a great party drink (here's a simple recipe for a mulled wine co*cktail from BBC Good Food).
What is mulled wine good for? ›
The red wine base in mulled wine brings its own set of health benefits. Resveratrol is associated with heart health benefits and may help protect the lining of blood vessels, lower bad cholesterol levels, and prevent blood clots. When consumed in moderation, red wine has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
What food pairs well with high acidity wine? ›
Acidity is an essential factor in wine pairing. Wines with high acidity cut through fatty foods, fitting nicely with grilled meats, creamy pasta, or fatty fish. A low-acid wine, on the other hand, complements more delicate foods, such as salads or seafood.
