As the chilly winter days settle in, there's nothing more comforting than a glass of Mulled Wine.

Not a traditional Italian hot drink you may think? But a warm wine drink originally dates back to the ancient Roman times, when it was consumed to keep warm during winter and we’ve shared this with our family in Italy and so this could well have a resurgence!

Mulled wine is perfect for festive evenings and social gatherings, it combines the warmth of red wine with a fragrant blend of spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and orange zest.

Ideal for warming up during the cold winters, Mulled Wine is a true ritual that brings the warmth and magic of the holidays to the table. Discover how to make it at home and turn every moment into a unique experience of flavour and tradition.

Ingredients

(750-mL.) bottle Terre Di San Vito red wine: TINTO

2 oranges, ½ sliced into rounds for serving,

½ for the juice

½ chopped into pieces

4 whole cloves

2-3 cinnamon sticks, (more for serving if you like)

2 star anise pods

150ml brandy

200g sugar or honey

Directions:

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the wine, orange zest, orange pieces, cloves, cinnamon,

star anise, sugar/honey to a simmer (do not boil).

Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the brandy. cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and slightly

reduced, about 10 minutes.

Pour into heat proof glasses/mugs and serve with a slice of orange

Salute!

Top tips:

Add chopped apple to the mixture

Do not let it boil or the alcohol with evaporate

Add more or less sugar and spices as you like!

Can be kept for days! Chill in airtight container but remove the fruit