Mulled white wine may be less popular than mulled red wine but it´s equally delicious or maybe even better. White wine is spiced with aromatic spices, vanilla bean, oranges, and lemon. It´s so good you´ll want to sip on it all winter long!
Ingredients
Below you will find information about the ingredients and how to prepare the recipe. For the measurements and detailed instructions scroll down to the printable recipe card.
Here´s what you need to make this easy recipe:
- White wine – you can use any white wine that you like to drink on its own, but it needs to be dry. I used Chardonnay for this recipe.
- An orange and 1/2 lemon – preferably organic since the wine will be infused by the citrus zest. Lemon really goes well with white wine.
- Vanilla bean – optional but it really adds something to the recipe! Substitute with vanilla extract or paste if you don´t have it.
- Brown sugar and honey – to sweeten your mulled wine. I prefer brown sugar for its caramel flavor with a hint of honey. I wouldn´t add more honey since its flavor is too pronounced but a small amount makes a lovely addition. You can also use white sugar but it will taste better with brown sugar.
- Aromatic spices – cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, cardamom pods. You need to use whole spices and not ground spices. They will infuse wine with amazing flavor and won´t make it cloudy or gritty. You could use ground spices in a pinch but be careful and don´t add too much.
- Brandy – is added to make the drink a little stronger, since a small amount of alcohol will evaporate during heating the wine, and the drink is diluted with the other ingredients. You can omit it. I don’t like to add too much because the flavor of brandy can overpower aromatic mulled wine. You could also use white or dark rum (I prefer brandy for this drink).
How to make mulled white wine step by step
STEP 1: Add white wine to a medium pot.
STEP 2: Squeeze out the juice from 1/2 orange, cut the other half into slices. Slice the lemon. Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds, reserve the remaining vanilla pod.
Add orange juice, orange and lemon slices, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves, vanilla beans and pod, sugar, and honey to a medium pot (all the ingredients except brandy).
STEP 3: Cover the pot and heat the wine over the lowest heat, for about 20-30 minutes, until very hot but not simmering or boiling (you can check the temperature with a thermometer, it should not exceed 167°F / 75°C).
STEP 4: Take the pot off the heat and add brandy (if using).
Ladle your mulled wine into heatproof glasses and serve warm.
Enjoy!
Storage
Strain the wine and keep it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. It tastes really good reheated. Don´t leave the spices for too long in the wine (not longer than overnight) or the wine may come out too spiced (or maybe that’s what you like!).
Tips for success
- You don’t have to use a pricey white wine for this recipe but it should taste good on its own.
- Adjust the sweetness to your liking: add more honey or sugar to the wine if it’s not sweet enough. If it came too sweet, you can add more wine or lemon juice. You could also add apple cider.
- Use whole spices and not ground spices. Whole spices will make your wine more aromatic while ground spices will make it gritty.
- Heat the wine slowly to let it infuse with the spices.
- Don’t boil the wine or the alcohol will evaporate.
- You can easily double or triple the recipe.
Best white wine for mulled wine
Fruity, dry white wines will be the best for this recipe. Dry wines are more sour than sweet. If your mulled wine is not sweet enough it’s easy to add additional sugar but if it comes too sweet, it’s more difficult to adjust it.
Try using such wines as Chardonnay, dry Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Grigio for this recipe.
More mulled wine recipes
- You may also like our traditional red wine German mulled wine (Glühwein)
- cranberry orange mulled wine (made with fresh cranberries)
- Polish mulled wine (with raspberry syrup)
- Nordic mulled wine (Glogg) – it’s served with almonds and raisins!
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Mulled White Wine
Ingredients
- 1 bottle (750ml) dry white wine
- 1 large orange
- 1/2 lemon
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 1 star anise
- 2 cardamom pods
- 5 cloves
- 1/2 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoons brandy
Instructions
- Squeeze out the juice from 1/2 orange and cut the other half into slices. Slice the lemon. Cut the vanilla bean in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds, reserve the remaining vanilla pod.1 large orange, 1/2 lemon, 1/2 vanilla bean
- Add orange juice, orange, and lemon slices, white wine, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves, vanilla beans and pod, sugar, and honey to a medium pot (all the ingredients except brandy).1 bottle (750ml) dry white wine, 2 sticks cinnamon, 1 star anise, 2 cardamom pods, 5 cloves, 3 tablespoons light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon honey
- Cover the pot and heat the wine over the lowest heat, for about 20-30 minutes, until very hot but not simmering or boiling (you can check the temperature with a thermometer, it should not exceed 167°F / 75°C).
- Take the pot off the heat and add brandy (if using).3 tablespoons brandy
- Ladle your mulled wine into heatproof glasses and serve warm.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- You can also warm up the wine really quickly (but still, shouldn’t get too hot or the alcohol will evaporate!) and then leave it for 1-2 hours or even overnight (in the fridge) for the flavors to meld.
- Brandy is added to make the drink a little stronger, since a small amount of alcohol will evaporate during heating the wine, and the drink is diluted with the other ingredients. You can omit it. I don’t like to add too much because the flavor of brandy can overpower aromatic mulled wine.
- Storage: Strain the wine and keep it in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. It tastes really good reheated. Don´t leave the spices for too long in the wine (not longer than overnight) or the wine may come out too spiced.
- Calories = 1 serving (1/4 of the recipe). This is only an estimate!
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