December 2021
It's the most WINE-derful time of the year!
Closed December 24th & 25th and December 31st & January 1st
We will be doing a Christmas draw for a gift basket valued at over $100. Two entries for every batch purchased by December 20th. Draw will occur on December 21st. Good luck to all!!
As we prepare to finally enjoy the holiday season with our loved ones, it is a perfect time to reflect on what we are thankful for and seek out ways to make lives better for those around us.
As if the devastation of the summer fires weren't enough... Our thoughts are prayers go out to those who have been affected by the floods in our province. We wish them comfort and strength to push through these difficult times. If you would like to assist your friends and neighbors who are in need at this time, you can donate to the Red Cross at:
Our hope and wish as 2021 comes to a close, is for a safe and joyful season for all of our family, friends and customers. May 2022 bring you all a happy and healthy new year!
Janice & Jason
PINOT NOIR SHIRAZ MURRAY DARLING, AUSTRALIA
1ST RELEASE AVAILABLE NOW!** Contact us to book your slot!
Coming Soon!!!! 2ND RELEASE! MACABEO SAUVIGNON BLANC MANCHUELA, SPAIN
Don't forget to add the Winexpert™ or the 'Handcrafted With Care' 4L bag and boxes to your next order.
Last chance for the 2021 holiday label pack!
SAVE 10% ON THESE WINE KITS IN DECEMBER
Winexpert Classic™
Winexpert Reserve™
Classic Mulled Wine
Mulled Wine Ingredients
Keep in mind that these ingredients are very easily multiplied. One bottle of wine will yield five drinks (enough for two to four people), two bottles yield 10 drinks, and so on.
Red Wine
Wine forms the backbone of this recipe, so naturally, your wine selection is important. Some red wines that you might enjoy at room temperature will not taste so nice when heated. Do not use expensive wine for mulled wine, since we’re adding so much to it. Just choose a quality wine (say, 10 to 20 dollars per bottle) and select the varietal carefully.
The best red wine to use for mulled wine is Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache). These wines are dark, fruity and full bodied, which means they can support all of the flavors we’ll be adding. Look for labels that describe the wine as “jammy” or with “notes of vanilla.”
Avoid red wines that are high in tannins or super oaky in flavor, like Cabernet Sauvignon (I say this as someone who generally enjoys Cabernet Sauvignon). Also avoid very light red wines, like Pinot Noir, because they don’t offer enough body to carry the spices.
Brandy
Brandy amps up the alcohol content a bit, though we aren’t using much. It’s more for warming flavor and a little bite than anything else. You can omit the brandy if you don’t want to buy it, though you may want to keep a bottle around for sangria.
Fresh Oranges
We’re going to squeeze some of the fresh orange juice into the mixture, then slice the rest to make rounds. Oranges are in season during the cold months, so you should be able to find nice, juicy oranges at the grocery store.
Buy two small oranges if you can, just because smaller rounds fit better into mugs. Or, one large will do—you just might need to slice your rounds into half-moons to fit.
Whole Spices
We’ll need whole cinnamon, star anise, and cloves. Whole spices, rather than ground, are absolutely key to mulled wine. The good news is that whole spices keep longer than ground spices (a few years, even). .
Maple Syrup or Honey
Alcohol flavor becomes more harsh when heated, so we’ll balance out the flavors which just a tablespoon or two of real maple syrup or honey. Wine lovers will love this naturally sweetened mulled wine recipe because it is not too sweet.
Garnishes
To make mulled wine look even more festive, throw a handful of fresh cranberries into the pot before serving. You might also like to serve individual servings with additional orange rounds or half-moons, cinnamon sticks and/or star anise.
Ingredients
2 small oranges or 1 large
1 bottle of Merlot, Zinfandel or Garnacha (also called Grenache)
¼ cup brandy
1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey, to taste
2 whole cinnamon sticks
3 star anise
4 whole cloves
Optional garnishes: Fresh whole cranberries (about ¼ cup), cinnamon sticks, additional orange rounds or half moons
PREPARATION
To prepare the oranges, if using 2 small, slice one orange into rounds and slice the other in half. If using 1 large orange, slice it in half through the round middle, then slice one of the halves into rounds. Place the rounds into a medium heavy-bottomed pot or small Dutch oven. Squeeze the juice from the remaining oranges into the pot.
Pour the wine into the pot, followed by the brandy. Add 1 tablespoon of the sweetener for now. Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves.
Warm the mixture over medium heat until steaming (about 5 minutes), and keep an eye on it. When you start seeing the tiniest of bubbles at the surface, reduce the heat to the lowest of low.
Carefully taste, and add another tablespoon of sweetener if it’s not sweet enough for your liking. If it’s not spicy enough to suit your preferences, continue cooking over very low heat for 5 to 10 more minutes.
Serve in mugs with your desired garnishes! If you’re adding cranberries as I did, you can add them to the pot to make it look extra festive.
If you expect to polish off the mulled wine within 20 minutes or so, you can keep it on the stove over extra-low heat (it will become more spicy with time). Otherwise, remove it from the heat, cover, and rewarm over low heat if necessary. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days, covered (pour it through a strainer if you don’t want it to become any more spicy than it already is).
SLOW COOKER OPTION:
Combine the mixture in your slow cooker, cover, and cook over low heat until steaming, about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
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