Most alcoholic beverages have certain rules for their use: what to drink, what temperature, what to eat. Despite the fact that mulled wine has a long history, it remains a democratic drink, which, according to etiquette, you can drink as you like. However, lovers of hot wine share secrets of how to drink mulled wine in order to get the maximum benefit and enjoyment from its use.
General recommendations on the use of mulled wine
It is proved that mulled wine, prepared from hot wine with the addition of fruits and spices, not only brings pleasure to your taste, but also helps to resist a cold. However, not knowing how best to drink this drink, you can feel neither pleasure nor health benefits.
- Mulled wine is served hot. Its optimum temperature is 60-70 degrees. This is enough to warm up and taste the drink, but not burn yourself. They do not drink cold mulled wine, as it loses its aroma, cooling down, and, moreover, the wine in it acquires a sour taste. Reheating the cooled drink is meaningless - this is no longer save it. If you want to treat guests to mulled wine, but you are not ready to cook with them, you can pour a hot drink in a thermos or leave it in a slow cooker in the heating mode. If you drink mulled wine often, there will not be a special kettle in your house or a jug with a candle - drinks keep the temperature in it for a long time.
- You should not keep mulled wine in a thermos or a slow cooker for more than two hours - the drink “suffocates”, becomes unappetizing.
- Prepared mulled wine must be filtered before serving to the table so that no pieces of fruit and spices get into the glass. It is advisable to filter the drink immediately after preparation, otherwise, having stood together with the zest, it will acquire a bitter taste.
- Drink mulled wine from glass glasses made of thick glass on a small stem, with a handle. They are also called irish glasses. It would not be a mistake to offer a hot wine in ceramic mugs, which also keep warm pretty well. If you are enjoying mulled wine on the street or in the family circle, you can use thermocup.
- Drink mulled wine taken in small sips. Taking a sip, be sure to inhale the aroma of the drink emanating from the steam from the cup. Quickly mulled wine is not drunk in order to better enjoy it and not burn yourself. But it is better not to stretch the process of drinking the drink for a long time, so that it does not have time to cool.
Alcoholic mulled wine should be consumed in moderation. It is contraindicated in children, pregnant women and in a number of diseases. It is not recommended to drink it at a high body temperature and before going out of a warm room to the cold.
What to eat mulled wine
Mulled wine can be served without a snack, but it is not prohibited to have a snack. You can offer guests hot dishes, cold snacks, desserts. You can focus on the type of wine that underlies mulled wine, and the spices that dominate its flavor.
- Meat snacks are suitable for mulled wine based on red wine. If the drink is sweet, it will make a wonderful union with meat grilled, shashlik, steak. If cardamom notes are clearly distinguishable in the bouquet, dishes made of lamb and goose will suit the drink. Nutmeg in a bouquet of mulled wine harmonizes with baked meat and vegetables. Carnation "friends" with the bird, especially with game. A good snack for red mulled wine will be cheeses of hard varieties, especially those with nutty notes.
- Cheese with blue mold and soft varieties will suit the drink made on the basis of white wine. Fish and seafood will be appropriate.
- Goat cheese is suitable for mulled wine made from fruit wines.
- Various desserts are served to any type of hot wine: cakes, cookies, chocolate.
Divergent snacks to mulled wine are popular in different countries.
- In Germany, mulled wine loves to eat meringues (meringues), shortbread, cookies, chocolate candies.
- In Sweden, canapes with spicy cheese and smoked fish are served with hot wine.
- In Russia, a popular snack for mulled wine is pancakes and pancakes, including stuffed ones.
- In Austria, this drink can be served with pies, braised cabbage.
- The Dutch eat mulled wine donuts.
- The French prefer cheese sticks, fruits, crackers to mulled wine.
Mulled wine is one of the most democratic drinks. There are no bans on submitting one or another product to it. You can focus on your taste and the culinary traditions of your people.
How to drink mulled wine in bottles
On sale you can find mulled wine in bottles or even in cardboard boxes, and at a very low price. It should be understood that it is very different from real mulled wine prepared at home from good wine and natural fruits and spices. This product is not of the highest quality, but if you intend to drink it, then this drink can be reheated. This can be done in a water bath in a bottle, removing a cork from it, or already in glasses, placing them in a microwave. But a much better idea would be to cook mulled wine personally.
Mulled Red Wine
Composition:
- dry red wine - 0, 75 l;
- water - 0, 25 l;
- orange - 0, 2 kg;
- lemon - 1/4 pcs .;
- carnation - 5 pcs .;
- allspice peas - 5 pcs .;
- cinnamon - 1 stick;
- nutmeg - a pinch;
- sugar - 150 g.
Method of preparation:
- Wash fruits thoroughly, wipe them with a towel, cut into small pieces.
- Fill the spices with water, bring it to a boil, but do not boil it.
- Pour in a glass of wine, put fruit, sugar. Heat for 2-3 minutes until sugar dissolves.
- Add the remaining wine. Wait until it starts to boil, and then immediately remove from heat.
- Leave for 10 minutes. Pour through a sieve into a jug.
Spilling mulled wine in glasses, each can be put on a fresh orange slice and cinnamon stick.
Mulled White Wine
Composition:
- dry white wine - 0, 75 l;
- lemon - 0, 5 pcs .;
- apple juice - 0, 5 l;
- raisins - 40 g;
- ginger root - 20 g;
- honey - 40 ml;
- sugar - 40 g;
- cinnamon - 4 sticks;
- carnation - 5 pcs .;
- almonds - 4 pcs.
Method of preparation:
- Squeeze out the juice from half a lemon, cut off the zest.
- Mix lemon juice with apple. Add the zest, cloves, sliced ginger into thin slices.
- Put on the fire, bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes on low heat.
- Add sugar. Boil until dissolved.
- Pour in the wine. Wait until it starts to boil. Turn off the fire.
- Add honey and stir the drink so that the sweet product dissolves completely in it.
- Strain mulled wine.
- Arrange the raisins and almonds in glasses.
- Pour the mulled wine.
Put cinnamon sticks in each glass and serve it to the table.
Non-alcoholic mulled wine
Composition:
- currants (fresh or frozen) - 0, 25 kg;
- water - 1 l;
- sugar - to taste;
- ginger - 20 g;
- cinnamon - 4 sticks;
- badyan - 1 pc .;
- Carnation - 4 pcs.
Method of preparation:
- Make compote from currants, sugar and water. Strain.
- Add ginger, star anise and cloves, cut into small pieces.
- Return to fire, bring to a boil.
- Remove from heat. Insist 10 minutes.
- Strain again.
Serve by putting cinnamon in each cup. They serve and drink non-alcoholic mulled wine in the same way as alcoholic.
Mulled wine is pleasant to drink in the winter in a warm friendly company or family circle. He warms the soul and body. Enjoying the taste of this drink, you simultaneously strengthen the immune system. However, do not forget that in large quantities it will harm your body.
