Mulled wine

The recent snowfall and cold winter nights bring to mind cups of mulled wine enjoyed by the warmth of a fireside.

Mulled wine is a modern reinvention of a pre-Roman practice. The Romans themselves would follow this tradition, and tended to heat and flavor their wines during the winter months, especially those living in the northern extremes of the Empire. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, flavoured infusions of herbs mixed with wine to treat ailments. Truth be told, spicing the wine was a necessity. Prolonged shelf life had yet to be worked out. In order to extend the drinkability, herbs, spices and honey were added.

The custom of spiced wine continued from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Middle Ages. Flavoured wine was referred to as Hippocras, and was considered to have many health benefits. Mulled wine was commonplace at winter solstice and Christmas celebrations during this time. Each northern kingdom seemed to have its own variation on mulled wine. One of the first vin chaud recipes comes from a mid-15th century French cookbook. Many of the ingredients listed are still commonly used today.

In England, Charles Dickens immortalized mulled wine in his novella, The Christmas Carol. Scrooge and Bob are portrayed enjoying a bowl of smoking bishop, a mulled wine made with port infused with spices and citrus fruit. Other variations are the smoking archbishop, made with Claret, or the smoking pope, made from Burgundy wine.

Many other countries enjoy heated winter beverages: Japan offers heated sake infused with ginger, Brazil serves heated wine in June. Germans heat gluhwein with hot fire irons and serve a little glass of schnapps on the side.

When I make mulled wine I use this recipe:
750ml bottle of cabernet franc or baco noir
1 pint water
3 cloves
1 large stick cinnamon
1/2 nutmeg, chopped
1/2 teaspoon allspice
Zest of one orange
Zest of half a lemon
1 orange, sliced
Sugar, maple syrup, or honey to taste

Add all ingredients to a medium saucepan, except wine, and bring to boil, reducing liquid to half. Add wine, remove from heat and serve.

Happy New Year!