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, made with red wine, apple cider, orange juice, and winter spices, will surely be a hit with your guests, making your holiday parties or New Year's Eve even more special.
Several years ago, my husband and I first enjoyed vin chaud (hot wine) in Alsace, France, while visiting the French Christmas markets.
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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!
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!
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 mulling 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:
- A bottle of red wine - I recommend an inexpensive, young, and fruity red wine you enjoy drinking, such as Merlot, Côtes du Rhône, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Beaujolais. My favorite is Beaujolais since the vin chaud resembles the one I enjoyed in Alsace. The point is to choose a wine that you enjoy drinking. 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. You can add orange zest if you like.
- 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.
A complete ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
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:
- Alcohol-free - replace the wine with grape juice or apple cider, or replace the wine with alcohol-free red wine or pomegranate juice, cranberry juice, or a combination. Reduce the amount of sugar if using juice.
- Deluxe and Stronger - add a half cup (or whatever amount you like) of your favorite brandy or cognac, increasing the alcohol content. Or add Grand Marnier or Cointreau for additional orange flavor.
- Flavor - add fresh cranberries, orange zest, sliced fresh ginger, vanilla extract, or a halved vanilla bean.
- Spices - add whole allspice, nutmeg, or ginger.
How to Make This Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter)
It's simple to make this delicious French mulled wine recipe!
- Step 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.
- Step 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.
- Step 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!
Note: Do not boil the vin chaud; this will affect the flavor. If you see vigorous bubbling, reduce the heat. Another option is to use a slow cooker to avoid boiling.
Storage
Store the leftover vin chaud in the refrigerator in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, for two to three days.
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.
Recipe FAQs
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.
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
If you try this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Recipe
Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Wine for Winter)
EQUIPMENT
- citrus squeezer or citrus reamer
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Fine-meshed strainer
INGREDIENTS
- ¾ cup apple cider
- ½ cup fresh orange juice or 2 large or 8 small oranges, juiced
- ½ cup organic cane sugar
- 5 green cardamom pods slightly crushed
- 4 whole cloves
- 3 star anise
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 bottle red wine young and fruity
- Orange slices garnish, or cinnamon sticks
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
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.
Stephen says
I live in France and not sure why you would use Beaujolais. I would suggest a wine with Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. You could pop in some Cointreau or Grand Mariner to add an orange flavor or some bold Cognac.
Warning - they do up the alcohol content.
How do I make it - We make it in a slow cooker so that the wine doesn’t boil.
Emily Miller says
Thank you for your comment, Stephen. I chose Beaujolais because it is a fruity red wine I enjoy that has the structure and aroma to complement the spices. It is delicious in this vin chaud and resembles the ones we tried in Alsace. The great thing about vin chaud is that you can modify it to suit your taste! A slow cooker is a great choice to make this recipe, although I have never owned one.
Sue says
These flavors are so perfect for a holiday gathering!
Emily says
Thank you so much, Sue, we love this vin chaud over the holidays!
Lora says
So lovely to enjoy on a cold winter's night! So full of flavor!
Emily says
Thank you so much, Lora. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Helen says
What a perfect festive drink - so delicious!
Emily says
Thank you so much, Helen! I appreciate your feedback!
Katherine says
I love this French version of mulled wine! Such a perfect holiday drink.
Emily says
Thank you, Katherine, I am happy to hear it!
Kushi says
Gorgeous festive drink. Thanks for the recipe.
Emily says
Thank you so much, Kushi!
Tara says
Served this at a small holiday gathering and it was completely beloved by all!
Emily says
I'm glad to hear it, Tara! Thank you for your review!
Alexandra says
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!
Emily says
Thank you for your feedback, Alexandra; I really appreciate it!
Bernice says
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!
Emily says
Thank you, Bernice! I hope you enjoy it!
Nora says
Yes, this sounds like a mulled wine that the crowd will love! Will make it for our Christmas party! Thanks for the recipe!
Emily says
Thank you, Nora! I'm glad to hear it!
Giangi says
My favorite recipe. So full of flavor and so perfect for the holiday season.
Thank you for sharing.
Emily says
Thank you, Giangi! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate your taking the time to share your experience with us!
Marcellina says
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!
Emily says
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!