Or Whip Some Up Yourself…..!
Brrrrr… it’s cold in here! Is there honestly anything better in winter than sitting by a fire and sipping on a hot drink?
We say YES… when you can have a hot alcoholic drink!
We went on a mission to find out where you can grab a deliciously warming grown-up tipple this winter [yes, dream jobs DO exist!].
Or, if you want to give making your own a try, scroll on down for a recipe to make mulled wine at home.
So really there’s no excuse to let those winter chills set in.
Bottoms up!
Briars
As if the cosy Throsby Bar at Briars and the surrounding nooks aren’t enough to give you the cosy, winter vibes, there is now a very enticing pot of mulled wine ready and waiting for you.
Order a glass, snuggle up in front of the fireplace and warm up from the inside AND outside.
Joadja Estate
Grab a steaming hot cup of mulled wine at Joadja Estate every weekend in winter.
It’s homemade with their own blend of spice, mmmmm.
Schmokin’
The great thing about mulled wine is that it can encompass so many flavours, which the guys over at Schmokin’ know all too well.
There’s a secret [and delicious] savoury ingredient in theirs – see if you can pick it!
Bundanoon Hotel
The pub’s manager, Mark whips up Bundanoon Hotel’s mulled wine.
It’s loaded with spices and bay leaves for maximum deliciousness – the perfect fireside accompaniment – but be quick, it’s for a limited time only this winter.
The Bowral Hotel
Made in house and right in the centre of Bowral, can’t get any better than that.
Perfect for a warm winter treat in front of their fireplace after shopping til’ you drop along Bong Bong Street.
Eden Brewery
Mulled Cider is a thing and the crew at Eden Brewery are running this delish concoction all winter, yay!
Using cloudy cider and Apple Pie Moonshine from Renegade Spirits this sounds like a total dream.
Mittagong Hotel
Running Mulled Wine specials at Mittagong Hotel throughout winter, it’s probably best to check they’ve got it available before you pop in.
And at $12 a cup they’re sure to sell out when it’s on so don’t miss it.
You can DIY too – it’s easy, fun and will make your whole house smell incredible.
Here’s how….!
Make it from scratch, or there are mixes you can buy from cooking shops.
You can also buy pre-spiced wines, but we find these a tad too sweet.
When you make it from scratch yourself, you can adjust the ingredients to make your perfect mulled wine.
INGREDIENTS
2 bottles red wine
2x 330ml bottles apple cider
1 orange, juiced
1 orange, sliced
10 cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
1 cup maple syrup (you can use sugar if you like, but I love the flavour of the maple and think it complements the spices deliciously)
Hot Tip :: You don’t need to use expensive wine for this. Cheap + cheerful all the way! A red wine that is naturally a little bit fruity and spicy is best, and not something too light [so not a pinot noir]. Go for something like a tempranillo or grenache [fruity] that’s blended with a cabernet sauvignon or shiraz [spicy and full-bodied].
METHOD
We use the slow cooker, but you can do this in a saucepan over the stove as well.
Turn the slow cooker on low to warm up. Juice and slice your oranges, and then put everything in the pot.
Give it a stir to combine, then pop on the lid and let all the spices seep into the wine.
After one hour, give it a taste and adjust the sweetness by adding more maple syrup if needed.
While it’s simmering for another hour, light the fire, get into your fluffiest pyjamas… and then sip your delicious, mulled wine and feel cosier than ever.
EDITORIAL NOTE :: This was written in 2021 by the amazing Alana and updated by The Fold Editorial Team in July 2023 and 2024.
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