Cocktail Hour: Mulled Wine

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A couple of years ago we had a Mulled Wine and Cheese Party to celebrate Valentine's Day. It was a great theme to use to set the table. My favorite part of the gathering, besides the people, was the mulled wine. Mulled wine is wine that has been slowly heated with spices. It is served warm and is usually very full of flavor. It is the perfect winter cocktail for a chilly night, and it is also a great cocktail for a party because you can make a big batch and leave it on low on the stove so that people can grab it as they please.

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Mulled Wine

Ingredients

1 bottle of red wine

4 cups of apple cider

¼ cup light brown sugar

6 cinnamon sticks

1 orange, zested and juiced

1 orange, peeled for garnish

1 tbsp whole cloves

Directions

Combine the cider, wine, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, orange zest, orange juice, and cloves in a saucepan.

Bring to a gentle simmer over low heat for 30 minutes and up to 1 hour. Do not let the mixture boil as this can cause the spices to turn bitter.

Pour into mugs; if desired, add an orange peel or cinnamon stick to each and serve.

{Recipe adapted from Unruly Things via Country Living}