Mulled Wine

This is not necessarily a type of wine, more like a serving suggestion, but this is one of my favorite fall/winter/holiday beverages. In fact, it was almost 90 degrees here today, but I was in the mood for mulled wine due to my sore throat.

I am sure there are many recipes for mulled wine. Here is just my experience and suggestions. I tend to use an inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon. You can use more expensive wine, but I wouldn't until you experiment a few times with cheaper wine. Also, more expensive wine tastes good by itself, I don't like to waste it in mulled wine, but perhaps I will try a bottle sometime. Tonight I stopped at Walgreens and just picked up a $3.50 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon.

I used premade mulling spices from Williams~Sonoma. The spices include cloves, allspice berries, cinnamon, orange rind. Some include nutmeg as well. I use a tea infuser to steep the spices in the wine. I like to add a splash of orange juice and sugar. I heat the wine on a low-medium setting (3-4 out of 10) and once warm enough to dissolve sugar, turn it down to warm or near lowest setting. You can add cranberry juice also and steep orange slices in the wine while it heats if you like.

If the wine is overheated, the alcohol will cook out. That is no fun! Keep it warm, but not hot. The cinnamon creates a warm holiday flavor in the wine and it is the perfect drink to accompany a great book, warm blanket, and a cool wintery day.

Cupcake Vineyards: Sauvignon Blanc

        Before I take a sip, I smell the wine several times to try to divine the essence of the bouquet. The wine smells like tart lemons with a slight undercurrent of lemon icing. The wine reminds me of a lemon zinger -  tastes tangy, citrusy. A drier white, less sweet but not too tart.

        The wine is bottled in Marlborough, New Zealand by Cupcake Vineyards and is13% Alcohol. The wine is self described as tasting reminiscent of a lemon chiffon cupcake. I can definitely understand that description. The wine is flavored with Meyer lemons and key limes and refreshing grapes grown in the Marlborough valley.


        This wine would definitely be excellent paired with lobster or oysters. I am not a big seafood fan, but the acidity of the wine would be wonderful with seafood. I personally might pair it with a garlicky, creamy Alfredo sauce or risotto.


        This wine is sharper and drier than most I have reviewed so far. Yet, it is something I will probably pick up again. I may also try more wine from this vineyard. This wine was about $9 and is a good value for the money. Some wines that are less expensive taste even less expensive than the cost, but this one tastes above its cost. I have savored this bottle over several days now and I really like it. Hopefully, you will too, if you like a Sauvignon Blanc or lemon cupcake.