Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (2024)

Published: by Emily Miller · This post may contain affiliate links · 22 Comments

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If you are looking for a delicious festive drink to serve at your holiday gatherings, look no further than Vin Chaud, the traditional French mulled wine!

This classic vin chaud recipe with winter spices will surely be a hit with your guests, making your holiday parties or New Year's Eve even more special.

Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (1)

Several years ago, my husband and I first enjoyed vin chaud (hot wine) in Alsace, France, while visiting the French Christmas markets.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Substitutions
  • Variations
  • How to make this Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter)
  • Storage
  • Expert tip
  • FAQ
  • More Festive Vegan Drinks
  • Recipe
  • Comments

This hot alcoholic drink is similar to German glühwein or gluhwein. We have fond memories of strolling the Christkindlmarkets in Germany and Switzerland while carrying a mug of this warm wine. And now, I'm excited to share this recipe with you so you can enjoy this comforting drink on cold winter nights!

One of the best things about the holiday season is spending time with family and loved ones and enjoying wonderful conversations over delicious food and drinks. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the festive aromas wafting from your kitchen!

Vin Chaud is an excellent option for entertaining because it can easily be made ahead of time and kept warm in a slow cooker or on the stovetop. In addition, you can add extra spices such as ginger or allspice for additional flavor. With this recipe at your fingertips, entertaining has never been more effortless!

Try this Blood Orange French 75, Pomegranate Gimlet, or Meyer Lemon French 75 for more holiday drinks. If you'd like to serve something non-alcoholic, check the variations below and this Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail.

Try this vegan Cranberry Orange Bread or these vegan Linzer cookies for a delicious homemade treat to accompany this drink!

Ingredients

To make this hot mulled wine recipe, you'll need these ingredients, including whole spices:

  • I recommend an inexpensive fruity red wine you enjoy drinking, such as Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and others. I recommend the site Barnivore to choose a vegan wine.
  • Apple cider - not to be confused with apple cider vinegar! I add apple cider because I enjoy the rich apple flavor, and it makes the vin chaud a little less alcoholic.
  • Orange juice - I used mandarin oranges to make fresh orange juice. Roll fresh oranges under your hand on the kitchen counter to get the most juice from them.
  • Organic cane sugar - to sweeten the vin chaud. You may need to adjust the amount depending on how sweet your oranges are.
  • Whole spices - cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and green cardamom pods.
Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (2)

Substitutions

You can easily adjust this Vin Chaud recipe to include what you have on hand.

  • Apple cider - use apple juice instead.
  • Orange juice - if you're short on orange juice, add some lemon juice or cranberry juice.
  • Organic cane sugar - use brown sugar or maple syrup.

Variations

Here are a couple of variations:

  • Kid-friendly - replace the wine with grape juice or apple cider.
  • Mocktail - replace the wine with alcohol-free red wine or pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, or a combination.
  • Deluxe - add a half cup of your favorite brandy, Grand Marnier, amaretto, or a combination.
  • Flavor - add fresh cranberries, orange zest, sliced fresh ginger, vanilla extract, or a halved vanilla bean.
  • Spices - add whole allspice.

How to make this Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter)

It's simple to make this delicious French mulled wine recipe!

  1. Add the apple cider, orange juice, organic cane sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and cardamom pods to a large saucepan on medium heat. Occasionally stir to dissolve the sugar.
  2. Add wine once the sugar has dissolved. Reduce the heat to low, keeping the mixture at a simmer for 20 minutes. You should see steam rising and occasional bubbling.
  3. Strain the vin chaud through a fine mesh strainer and serve warm in mugs or glasses with handles, garnished with orange slices, star anise, or cinnamon sticks.

Cheers! As they say in France, Santé (or À votre santé), which means, to your health!

Hint: Do not boil the vin chaud; this will affect the flavor. If you see vigorous bubbling, reduce the heat.

Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (3)

Storage

Store the leftover vin chaud in the refrigerator in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, for two to three days.

Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (4)

Expert tip

Choose a bottle of young, fruity red wine that you enjoy drinking. I used a Beaujolais that costs less than $15 for a bottle.

FAQ

What does vin chaud mean?

It means mulled wine in French. It is also known as Swedish glögg, German gluhwein, or spiced wine, with many regional variations of the type of alcohol used, additions, and spices used.

Does vin chaud contain alcohol?

Yes, it contains alcohol because the wine is not boiled but simmered for about twenty minutes. This is not long enough for the alcohol to be boiled off.

More Festive Vegan Drinks

Looking for other holiday drinks like this? Try these:

  • Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail Recipe
  • Lavender Elderflower Gin Sour co*cktail Recipe
  • Elderflower Rose Pomegranate Gimlet
  • Refreshing Blood Orange Pomegranate Margarita co*cktail

Did you make this recipe?

If you make this recipe, please take a moment to ★★★★★ star-rate it and leave a comment below. Also, follow me onInstagramandFacebook, and share your creation with me! Tag me@resplendentkitchenand hashtag#resplendentkitchenrecipes.

Recipe

Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (9)

Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter)

Emily Miller

Looking for a delicious festive drink to serve at your holiday gatherings? Try this Vin Chaud, a traditional French mulled wine! This classic vin chaud recipe will surely be a hit with your guests, making your holiday parties even more special.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine French

Servings 6 people

Calories 193.5 kcal

Equipment

  • citrus squeezer or citrus reamer

  • Large pot or Dutch oven

  • Fine-meshed strainer

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat a large saucepan on medium heat. Add apple cider, orange juice, organic cane sugar, cardamom pods, cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks. Occasionally stir to dissolve the sugar.

    ¾ cup apple cider, ½ cup fresh orange juice, ½ cup organic cane sugar, 5 green cardamom pods, 4 whole cloves, 3 star anise, 2 cinnamon sticks

  • Once the sugar has dissolved, add the red wine and reduce the heat to low or low-medium heat. Simmer for 20 minutes. You should see steam rising and occasional gentle bubbling. It should not boil.

    1 bottle red wine

  • Strain the vin chaud in a fine-meshed strainer. Serve warm in mugs or glasses with handles, garnished with orange slices, star anise, or cinnamon sticks. Enjoy!

    Orange slices

Notes

  • Refrigerate any leftover vin chaud; strain first. Reheat before serving, on low to medium heat on the range.
  • Do not boil the vin chaud.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 193.5kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.1gSodium: 6.6mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 20.8g

Keyword entertaining, holiday, mulled wine

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Resplendent Kitchen offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy. Although resplendentkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information from online calculators, these figures are estimates.

More Vegan Drink Recipes

  • Tinto de Verano Recipe (Summer Red Wine Spritzer)
  • Rossini co*cktail (Strawberry Bellini)
  • How to Make a Simple Hugo Spritz co*cktail
  • Adaptogenic 5-Minute Vegan Mushroom Latte Recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Sue

    Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (14)
    These flavors are so perfect for a holiday gathering!

    Reply

  2. Lora

    Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (15)
    So lovely to enjoy on a cold winter's night! So full of flavor!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Thank you so much, Lora. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  3. Helen

    Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (16)
    What a perfect festive drink - so delicious!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Thank you so much, Helen! I appreciate your feedback!

      Reply

  4. Katherine

    Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (17)
    I love this French version of mulled wine! Such a perfect holiday drink.

    Reply

    • Emily

      Thank you, Katherine, I am happy to hear it!

      Reply

  5. Kushi

    Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (18)
    Gorgeous festive drink. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

    • Emily

      Thank you so much, Kushi!

      Reply

  6. Tara

    Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (19)
    Served this at a small holiday gathering and it was completely beloved by all!

    Reply

    • Emily

      I'm glad to hear it, Tara! Thank you for your review!

      Reply

  7. Alexandra

    Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (20)
    The perfect drink to enjoy over the festive season - we love the delicious flavours and warming spices. Ideal for entertaining - your guests will love it!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Thank you for your feedback, Alexandra; I really appreciate it!

      Reply

  8. Bernice

    You're right. This is really similar to gluhwein and you have just reminded me how much I love it. I am hosting Christmas morning brunch and I will be serving vin chaud!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Thank you, Bernice! I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

  9. Nora

    Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (21)
    Yes, this sounds like a mulled wine that the crowd will love! Will make it for our Christmas party! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Thank you, Nora! I'm glad to hear it!

      Reply

  10. Giangi

    Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (22)
    My favorite recipe. So full of flavor and so perfect for the holiday season.
    Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

    • Emily

      Thank you, Giangi! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate your taking the time to share your experience with us!

      Reply

  11. Marcellina

    Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (23)
    The combination of spices in this vin chaud recipe is wonderful. I particularly like the addition of cardamom pods - one of my fav spices! My friends are going to love this!

    Reply

    • Emily

      Thank you for your kind words, Marcellina. The combination of spices is a crowd-pleaser! Thank you for sharing it with your friends - I'm sure they will love it!

      Reply

Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter) (2024)

FAQs

Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter)? ›

Vin chaud (French mulled wine) is an iconic Christmas drink.

What does vin chaud mean in English? ›

Vin chaud (French mulled wine) is an iconic Christmas drink.

What is the difference between gluhwein and vin chaud? ›

In the Netherlands, Glühwein is called bisschopswijn (bishop's wine) and is made using oranges instead of lemons. Order Vin chaud (hot wine), a less sweet variety when in France. Bulgaria likes to add honey, peppercorns and apples and call it greyano vino (heated wine).

How long does homemade mulled wine keep? ›

Just follow the directions for your favorite recipe and let the wine simmer with spices until it's deeply infused. Then let the mulled wine cool at room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge — it will keep well there for up to three days.

What is the best wine for mulled wine? ›

The best red wines for mulled wines taste bright and fresh, such as Grenache, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, fruit-forward Pinot Noir. Inexpensive Bordeaux is another great choice for mulled wine; in fact, claret was a traditional choice for British mulled wine in William Shakespeare's day.

Does vin chaud contain alcohol? ›

Everything you need to know about vin chaud

Yes, this mulled wine will have the alcohol content of whatever wine you choose. The wine, when warmed for mulling, does not reach a high enough temperature to significantly reduce the alcohol content.

What do you call mulled wine in English? ›

Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm.

Is mulled wine more alcoholic than wine? ›

The heat used in mulling encourages greater flavours from the citrus and the spices but also reduces the alcohol content, hence the common addition of a slug of spirit or liqueur just before serving.

Is mulled wine stronger than wine? ›

Not much. Mulled wine is warmed, not boiled. Usually with added spices. Whether in a still or in boeuf bourguignon, the higher the heat, the more alcohol is released.

Why is mulled wine so good? ›

Mulled wine is essentially red wine simmered with various cozy spices like cinnamon, cloves and star anise that give it a delicious, spiced flavor. You can make it with brandy or another dark liquor for an extra kick!

Can mulled wine go bad? ›

Once opened, mulled wine is known to only maintain its quality for 3 to 5 days. You will be able to determine whether your mulled wine has gone bad by assessing its appearance, aroma, and taste. Visually inspect the wine for any unusual changes, such as a cloudy or murky appearance, sedimentation, or discolouration.

Can you overheat mulled wine? ›

The key to successfully heating up mulled wine is to take it up to a nice warm temperature without boiling it. Wine has a lower boiling point than water, and overheating it will cook off some of the alcohol, resulting in an unpleasant bitter flavour.

Can you drink mulled wine straight from the bottle? ›

Yes. Even though the spiced wine is heated, most of the alcohol remains.

What is the most expensive mulled wine? ›

It's the festive tipple that gets the nation feeling merry at Christmas, but you might sober right up if you had to pay £60 for a glass. That's the price of a new mulled wine on sale at Searcys bar in St Pancras station in London.

Can you use cheap wine for mulled wine? ›

Just like with the best wines for sangria, the wines you choose for mulled wine don't need to be fancy (you'll be adding other ingredients to it anyway so there's no need to break the bank on an expensive bottle).

What is the best cheap red wine for mulled wine? ›

“For mulled wine, I'd use an inexpensive cabernet sauvignon or merlot from Chile, as these wines show lots of fruit and not so many tannins.

What is a vin chaud in Paris? ›

“C'est quoi?” I asked, as I took a sip, finding the beverage slightly sweet and tantalizingly warming. “Vin chaud,” I was told. Hot wine. Mulled wine in Paris not only tastes delicious, it keeps you warm.

What is the origin of the word vin chaud? ›

Etymology. From French vin (“wine”) + chaud (“hot”).

What is the meaning of the word chaud? ›

Translation of "Chaud" in English. Adjective Noun. hot. warm. warmer.

What did the Romans call mulled wine? ›

The first record of mulled wine was called 'conditum paradoxum', which roughly translates to 'surprise spiced wine'. The drink was described in the Apicius' De re coquinaria (one of the oldest Roman cookbooks) as a combination of wine, honey, pepper, laurel, saffron, and dates.

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