Vin Chaud (French Mulled Wine with Orange and Spices)
Why this recipe works
- Layered spice and citrus: Orange zest, fresh ginger and whole spices infuse the wine gently, giving depth without muddying the flavour.
- Balanced sweetness: A small amount of sugar softens the tannins in the red wine while keeping the drink bright and aromatic.
- Simple heat control: The method relies on low, gentle warming rather than boiling, making it easy to prepare with just a saucepan and ladle.
Get the most out of this recipe
Timing notes
- Serve while steaming: Vin chaud is best served hot soon after infusing, while the citrus and spice aromas are still vivid.
- Short infusion matters: The brief rest off the heat lets the spices settle into the wine without making the drink taste overly strong or bitter.
Ingredient notes
- Choose a dry red wine: Use a dry, drinkable red rather than anything very sweet; the sugar and orange will round it out as it warms.
- Use whole spices: Whole cinnamon, cloves and star anise give a cleaner infusion than ground spices, which can make the wine cloudy and gritty.
- Avoid too much pith: Peel wide strips of orange zest lightly so you capture the citrus oils without adding excess bitter white pith.
Make-ahead tips
- Make ahead gently: The wine can be cooled and refrigerated, then reheated slowly over low heat until steaming.
- Do not boil when reheating: Keep the heat low so the wine stays aromatic and smooth rather than harsh.
Alcohol-free alternatives
- Alcohol-free version: Use a good alcohol-free red wine and warm it with the same citrus, ginger and spices for a similar mulled flavour.
- Keep the balance: If the alcohol-free wine is already sweet, reduce the added sweetener to taste so the drink stays bright rather than syrupy.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Using a vegetable peeler, peel 2 wide strips of zest from the orange. Slice the orange into 4 rounds and set them aside for serving.
- Slice the ginger into thin coins. Put the orange zest, ginger, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise and caster sugar into a saucepan.
- Pour in the red wine and set the pan over low heat. Warm gently for 12 to 15 minutes until steaming and fragrant, keeping it below a simmer and never letting it boil.
- Take off the heat and leave to infuse for 3 minutes. Ladle into heatproof glasses and add an orange slice to each glass.
Recipe notes
Tips
- Keep the heat low: if the wine boils, you will lose aroma and alcohol and the drink can taste harsh.
- For a clearer drink, lift out the spices with a spoon before serving, or ladle carefully so they stay in the pan.
Substitutions
- Replace caster sugar with honey for a rounder sweetness.
- Replace orange with clementine for a softer citrus note.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 2 days
- Cool, then refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 2 days. Reheat very gently in a saucepan over low heat until steaming, without boiling.
Ratings & reviews
Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.
Tried this recipe?
Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.
Stay inspired
Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.
Recipe overview
- Servings: 4 glasses
- Total time: 25min (10min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: French
Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.
Add to meal plannerGot ingredients left?
Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.
Find recipes with these ingredients →
Grzaniec (Polish Mulled Red Wine)
Polish mulled red wine warmed with honey, citrus and spices
Sangría (Spanish Fruit Wine Punch)
Chilled sangría with red wine, brandy, citrus and peach
Kompot z Suszu (Polish Dried Fruit Drink)
Polish dried fruit drink simmered with spices, served warm or chilled
Hwachae (Korean Fruit Punch)
Chilled Korean fruit punch with sparkling water and fresh fruit
British Punch Bowl Cocktail
Punch bowl cocktail with rum, brandy, tea and lemon
Spiced Winter Beer (Belgian Style)
Warm spiced beer with orange, clove and cinnamon
Thandai (Holi Spiced Milk Drink)
Chilled thandai made with spiced milk and blended almonds
Date Smoothie (Moroccan-Inspired)
Creamy date smoothie with milk, yoghurt, honey and cinnamon
Vietnamese-Style Jackfruit Milkshake
Jackfruit milkshake with condensed milk, vanilla and ice
Pimm’s Cup (Summer Fruit Cup) with Lemonade, Cucumber and Mint
Pimm’s Cup with lemonade, cucumber, fruit and fresh mint
Banana Soy Milk Smoothie
Banana and soy milk smoothie blended with ice.
Arabic Cardamom Coffee (Gahwa)
Arabic coffee gently brewed with green cardamom
Glühwein (German Mulled Wine with Orange and Spices)
German mulled wine with orange and warming spices
Kinderpunsch (Non-Alcoholic Mulled Apple Punch with Orange and Spices)
Mulled apple punch with orange and warming spices
Vin Brûlé (Italian Mulled Wine)
Mulled red wine warmed with orange, spices and sugar
Grzaniec (Polish Mulled Red Wine)
Polish mulled red wine warmed with honey, citrus and spices
Stoofperen (Dutch Spiced Stewed Pears in Red Wine)
Pears stewed in red wine with cinnamon and cloves
Sorrel Drink (Caribbean Hibiscus Drink)
Chilled hibiscus drink steeped with ginger, cloves and cinnamon
You might also like
Bulgogi (Marinated Beef)
Thinly sliced marinated beef quickly fried with onions
Ragù di Cinghiale (Wild Boar Ragù with Pappardelle)
Wild boar ragù tossed through pappardelle with rosemary and juniper
Ramadan Iftar Mezze Board with Hummus and Cacık
Iftar mezze board with hummus, cacık, olives and pita
Moroccan Kefta Skewers (Minced Lamb Kebabs)
Minced lamb kefta skewers with onion, garlic and spices
Chicken Cacciatore with Red Peppers
Chicken thighs braised with tomatoes, red peppers, herbs and olives
Moroccan-Style Cauliflower Couscous Bowl with Chickpeas and Tahini
Cauliflower couscous bowl with chickpeas, courgette and tahini dressing
Make this recipe easier next time
AdvertisementThese tools help you get better results with less effort.
WMF Mini Saucepan 16 cm with Lid
- High-quality stainless steel
- Even heat distribution
- Higher price point
T-fal Specialty Nonstick Handy Pot with Glass Lid 3 Quart
- Easy food release
- Dishwasher safe
- Not induction compatible
All-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Saucepan
- Excellent heat control
- Premium build quality
- Expensive
Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?
Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.
Add JustRecipes to GoogleEvery recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.
