About Hot Spiced Wine
Hot spiced wine, also called mulled wine, is a favorite at holiday parties. It's made by heating wine and adding the spices as it cooks. It is popular in America, especially in the states with colder climates but even more popular in Europe. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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In the medieval era, people drank spiced wines to stay healthy during long, cold winters. They discovered that the drink had benefits over plain water. In fact, they called the wine Hipocris after Hippocrates, the famed physician of the time. Spiced wine maintained its popularity throughout the centuries. Mulling was common during the Renaissance as way to keep improperly stored wine from spoiling, and hot wine was a popular holiday drink in the age of Chaucer. Hot spiced wine became a staple at celebrations in the Victorian era too, including at children's parties.
Significance
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Spiced wine as a holiday drink is best exemplified in Germany. Major cities in Bavaria hold lavish outdoor Christmas markets where the wine is served in mugs. The locals call it Glühwein and are free to drink it in public.
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Alcohols to use
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The only constant in hot spiced wine is that it contains some type of red wine---white wine does not go well with the strong flavor of the spices. The red wine can be a cheap wine, like Carlos Rossi, or the finest Shiraz. Some people add additional alcohol, such as bourbon or hard cider. However, putting in too much liquor can mar the taste and make it a bit too strong.
Mulling spices
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Most wine shops sell bags of mulling spices, especially in the winter. The cloth sacks are usually about 2 inches by 1 inch. Each contains a mixture of spices, such as cinnamon and cloves. Once sealed the bag is soaked in the heated wine, the wine absorbs the spices through the cloth. Each bag can be used for several batches: A little bit goes a long way.
Recipes
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Instead of using a bag of mulling spices, many people choose to add ingredients individually. Popular ingredients other than cinnamon and cloves are sugar, orange and lemon peels, honey, cardamom seeds and peppercorn. Often, people serving the wine at dinner or cocktail parties offer cinnamon sticks as stir sticks to further enhance the flavors.
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