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.

Several years ago, my husband and I first enjoyed vin chaud (hot wine) in Alsace, France, while visiting the French Christmas markets.
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!
For more holiday drinks, try this Blood Orange French 75 or Meyer Lemon French 75. If you'd like to serve something non-alcoholic, check the variations below and this Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail.
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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.
- Organic cane sugar - to sweeten the vin chaud.
- Whole spices - cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and green cardamom pods.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to make this Vin Chaud
It's simple to make this delicious French mulled wine recipe!
- Begin by adding 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
Equipment
To make vin chaud, you need the following:
- a large pot or large saucepan
- a spatula
- a citrus squeezer
- a fine-meshed strainer
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.
FAQ
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; it is simmered for about twenty minutes. This is not long enough for the alcohol to be boiled off.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did! If you make this recipe, please take a moment to ★★★★★ star-rate it and leave a comment below. Also, follow me on Instagram and Facebook, and share your creation with me! Tag me @resplendentkitchen and hashtag #resplendentkitchenrecipes.
Recipe
Vin Chaud Recipe
Equipment
- citrus squeezer or citrus reamer
- Large pot or Dutch oven
- Spatula
- Fine-meshed strainer
Ingredients
- ¾ cup apple cider
- ½ cup fresh orange juice 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 fruity red wine such as Beaujolais
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
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.
Marcellina
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
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!
Giangi Townsend
My favorite recipe. So full of flavor and so perfect for the holiday season.
Thank you for sharing.
Emily
Thank you, Giangi! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate your taking the time to share your experience with us!
Nora
Yes, this sounds like a mulled wine that the crowd will love! Will make it for our Christmas party! Thanks for the recipe!
Emily
Thank you, Nora! I'm glad to hear it!
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!
Emily
Thank you, Bernice! I hope you enjoy it!
Alexandra
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
Thank you for your feedback, Alexandra; I really appreciate it!
Dannii
The flavours in this sound so christmasy. I can't wait to try it.
Emily
Thank you, Dannii! It's a favorite around this time of year!
Tara
Served this at a small holiday gathering and it was completely beloved by all!
Emily
I'm glad to hear it, Tara! Thank you for your review!
Kushi
Gorgeous festive drink. Thanks for the recipe.
Emily
Thank you so much, Kushi!
Katherine
I love this French version of mulled wine! Such a perfect holiday drink.
Emily
Thank you, Katherine, I am happy to hear it!
Helen
What a perfect festive drink - so delicious!
Emily
Thank you so much, Helen! I appreciate your feedback!
Lora
So lovely to enjoy on a cold winter's night! So full of flavor!
Emily
Thank you so much, Lora. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Sue
These flavors are so perfect for a holiday gathering!
Emily
Thank you so much, Sue, we love this vin chaud over the holidays!