Delicious Mulled Wine - The Local Buzz - Warm, sweet and delicious

Delicious Mulled wine from John Gilchrist

John is a former UK Sommelier of the Year and winner of the Mondavi award for the best wine list in the world. A seeker of unknown wine gems, he now runs Les Caulins, a gîte and cookery school in SW France, with his wife (and chef) Emma. They have won many awards including the 50 best destination restaurants in the UK and Wine Pub of the Year. www.lescaulins.com

Emma and John

Delicious Mulled Wine Ingredients

1 bottle/750 ml Red wine that you would be happy to drink as a nice soft wine, Merlot is good.

2 ripe Clementine’s peeled and chopped. Plus one peeled and sliced. Keep the rind.

50ml Cognac or Armagnac

75ml Port

75ml Water

2/3 Cloves

1 Star anise

Enough sugar to make the wine sweet for your taste

3 Cinnamon sticks

Method

In a large enough pot combine the wine, sugar, cloves, star anise, water and start with 100gr sugar. It is very important that you do not heat the mulled wine quickly or boil the wine as it will make it bitter.
Gently heat and stir to dissolve the sugar and taste for sweetness and temperature.
Add more sugar if necessary. It should be sweet and smooth but not over sugary.
When the wine is sweet and warm enough to drink, turn off the heat and add the chopped Clementine and the rind from both.
Allow to cool to allow all the spices and flavours to develop. (About 1hr)
To serve remove the Clementine peel, flesh and spices and reheat the mulled wine gently. Do not boil.
When the correct temperature is reached add the Port and Cognac.
Place a slice of Clementine in a glass and pour over the sweet warm Mulled wine.
You can garnish with cinnamon sticks and fresh cranberries if you wish.

Bonne santé!

Perfect for the festive season