Virginia wine country, renowned for its picturesque vineyards and diverse selection of award-winning wines, provides an excellent base for crafting mulled wine. The state’s wineries offer bold reds like Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which pair beautifully with the traditional spices used in this drink. During the holiday season, many Virginia wineries embrace the festive spirit by hosting events featuring mulled wine, often served in cozy tasting rooms or by roaring fireplaces. Whether you’re exploring historic Northern Virginia or visiting vineyards along the Monticello Wine Trail, enjoying a cup of mulled wine made with local Virginia wine is an experience that combines tradition, flavor, and the charm of this vibrant wine region.
The History of Mulled Wine
While the Romans first wrote about the making of mulled wine in the 2nd century BC, we now know that wine making and likely the custom of heating and spicing wine during the cold winter months likely goes back much further. While the evidence of wine fermentation goes back as far as 7000 BC, the oldest complete winery known to archaeologists was found in modern day Armenia estimated to be c. 4100 BC. It contained all the necessary equipment of a press, fermentation vats, jars and even cups to drink from. While we can speculate that mulled wines were likely made during those early days of the Middle East and Greek regions, we can mostly credit the Romans for introducing wine, mulled or otherwise, throughout Europe from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe and Britain.
Even today, all across Europe, each country and culture embraces some version of mulled wine during the cold winter months. Mulled wines are especially enjoyed during the Christmas season, but they are enjoyed all winter long as well. Made by gently heating red wine with a mix of aromatic spices like cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and nutmeg, it often includes additional flavors from citrus fruits and a touch of sweetness from honey or sugar. This festive drink is a staple at holiday markets and gatherings, evoking a sense of warmth and togetherness. While mulled wine has found its way into celebrations worldwide, each region and culture has adding its unique twist to the recipe and here in Virginia Wine Country we enjoy a variety of recipes.
Mulled Wine in Virginia Wine Country
Several award-winning Virginia vineyards offer the opportunity to try their house-made mulled wine in their tasting rooms, and some of our favorites have offered their own recipes for us to share with you here. This delicious, fragrant beverage is perfect for chilly holiday nights and is sure to imbue your home with the comforting scent of warm holiday spices and fruits.
Hospitality manager and Sommelier Allison Whaley of Cana Vineyards & Winery of Middleburg in Northern Virginia told us about their special house-made mulled wine, available during the winter season in their tasting room. “We have a delicious mulled red wine that we start serving as soon as it gets chilly out, and we keep it going all through the winter,” she said. They use their Chambourcin wine for its natural fruitiness and lower tannin, add a touch of sugar, and steep it with whole spices: cinnamon sticks, whole star anise, whole cloves, whole nutmeg, and a bit of candied ginger. “The key ingredient that I think makes all the difference is dried orange peel,” she remarked. “It rounds out the flavors and helps balance the spiciness we’re adding in, and we end up with a really comforting drink that warms you from the inside out. Guests can order it in a souvenir mug too.”
Mulled Wine Recipes from Virginia Winemakers
Festive Pear Mulled Wine from Horton Vineyards
Ingredients
- 4 bottles Pear Dessert Wine
- 1 gallon Apple Cider
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Mulled Wine Spices
Instructions
- Heat all ingredients in a pot on the stove for an hour and serve warm.4 bottles Pear Dessert Wine, 1 gallon Apple Cider, Cinnamon Sticks, Mulled Wine Spices
Mulled Wine from Barrel Oak Winery
Ingredients
Wines
- 1 liter apple cider
- 1 liter cranberry juice
- 2 bottles red wine Light/medium body: most table red wine blends work well for this. Barrek Oak's Bowhaus Red blend works great.
- 1 bottle white wine Fruit forward wines work great: Vidal Blanc, Petit Manseng or a nice white table blend.
Additives
- 2 apples
- 3-4 oz blended spice mix Dried orange peel, allspice, clove, cinnamon and star anise
Garnishes
- cinnamon sticks
- orange peel
Instructions
- Cut the 2 fresh apples into chunks.2 apples
- Heat wine, cranberry juice and cider in a large pot on the stove.1 liter apple cider, 1 liter cranberry juice, 2 bottles red wine, 1 bottle white wine
- Put 3-4 ounces of the spice mix in a mesh spice bag and steep in the mulled wine mix for 1 hour before serving.3-4 oz blended spice mix
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and orange peel.cinnamon sticks, orange peel
“Mulled wine is a fun late fall/winter drink that helps keep us warm during the cold months,” Barrel Oak Winery’s Head Winemaker Jeremy Ligon told us. “Mulled wine is the perfect drink for sitting out by the fire, a fun alternative to hot chocolate when roasting marshmallows with friends and family. There are many different variations on how to make mulled wine, depending on your preferences. I typically like to use cranberry juice and apple cider in my mulled wine mix. I use red and white wines for my mulled wine recipe, typically more red than white.”
Spiced Cranberry Orange Mulled Wine from Horton Vineyards
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Cranberry Wine
- 64 oz Orange Juice 1 bottle
- Star Anise
- Mulled Wine Spices
- Fresh Oranges
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients but the oranges in a pot on the stove and heat for an hour.1 bottle Cranberry Wine, 64 oz Orange Juice, Star Anise, Mulled Wine Spices
- Serve warm with orange slices.Fresh Oranges
Asian 5 Spice Blackberry Mulled Wine from Horton Vineyards
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Blackberry Wine
- 64 oz Berry Juice (1 bottle)
- 1 tbsp Asian 5 Spice Blend
- Sugar (to taste)
- Limes
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients but the limes in a pot and heat on the stove for an hour.1 bottle Blackberry Wine, 64 oz Berry Juice, 1 tbsp Asian 5 Spice Blend, Sugar
- Serve warm with sliced limes as a garnish.Limes
