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The Spicy History of Mulled Wine
The perfect cure for a cold, rainy day
It’s finally November. The weather is getting chillier and I’m swapping out my favorite fresh blackberry margarita recipe for something a little more comforting: mulled wine.
Not only does the drink smell just like a crisp, fall evening, it’s also loaded with booze and a fascinating history that stretches back thousands of years.
The History of Mulled Wine
Most people know of mulled wine as a winter tradition, but it actually dates back to the 2nd century. In an effort to avoid dumping old, leftover, or spoiled wine, mulled wine was created by using heat, sugar, and spices to mask the bad taste. This is why most recipes you’ll see today recommend using a cheap red wine. The nuances of pricey bottles will be lost in the sugar and spice.
Ancient Romans had a version they called “Conditum Paradoxum” that consisted of wine and honey boiled with pepper, bay leaves, and saffron. Many of the spices the Romans used in mulled wine were the types traded on the Silk Road.
Mulled wine continued to grow in popularity through the Middle Ages and Renaissance. According to British Food History, a British cookbook from 1596 titled The Good Housewife’s Jewel contained a recipe for mulled wine that…
