If you've followed us long enough, you know that we delight in cooking with spices. They connect us with cultures and places that we love and admire. But they also journal the passage of time. The summer brought us bright and fiery peppers and spring promises subtle herbs and verdant aromatics. But the fall, in all its bronzed glory, brings us spices filled with the warmth of home and hearth. Our Slow Cooker Spiced Mulled Wine welcomes the season like a cozy throw by a fireplace.
We used the slow cooker setting on our new Instant Pot (oh my, what a revelation that handy appliance is), but first I let our spices heat for several minutes. The kitchen smelled like spice bazaar in Morocco with cinnamon, star anise, clove and nutmeg melding together.
A robust Cabernet Sauvignon stood up nicely to the strong spices as the mixture warmed for a few hours.
Right before serving, each glass was adorned with slices of orange and a scoop of fresh pomegranate seeds. There's something quite luscious in the combining of spices with fresh fruits. Plus pomegranate seeds are a delight to eat.
How to Pick the Best Wine for Mulled Wine
- A strong, fruity wine is best and can stand up the infusion of spices and fruit.
- No need to go for expensive brands. Most bottles under $15 will work just fine.
- Choose a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Bordeaux.
- The Best Cabernet Sauvignon Under $20
Do's and Don'ts for Spiced Mulled Wine
- Don't use old spices. Fresher spices blend better.
- Don't overheat your wine. You'll scorch it and create odd flavors. Keep the temperature below 170 degrees.
- Do experiment with your spice chest. Try black pepper or cardamom.
Try our other cocktails:
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Spiced Mulled Wine with Pomegranates.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Cabernet Sauvignon
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 6 cinnamon, sticks
- 5 star anise, pods
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg, ground
- 5 cloves
- 1 whole orange, slice
- 1 whole pomegranate, seeds
Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to medium heat and add spices.
- Gently heat spices for 2 minutes.
- Add 1 bottle of wine to Instant Pot and stir until the ground spices are incorporated.
- Warm for about 1 hour
- Serve with fresh orange slices and pomegranate seeds.
mcihele says
Our local market just got in a big shipment of fresh pommagranete seeds.... I can't wait to make this not only because its going to taste amazing... but how wonderful the aroma is going to be when its cooking! LOVE it!
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
Oh my goodness, I feel as though I can *almost* smell this through the screen! It just looks so inviting, and those spices would be incredible simmering away. I also love that you can set the Instant Pot to a slow cooker setting - I did not realize you could do that! I've resisted buying one, but I'm finally starting to reconsider, ha!
Amelie says
I never thought of making hot wine in my slow cooker. This recipe looks so good and is so perfect for this time of the year!
Dominique | Perchance to Cook says
I'm pinning this recipe! I bet it makes the house smell like Christmas. I love a nice warm glass of mulled wine in the Fall and Winter. 🙂
Katherine says
Thanks, Donna. Our house smelled like baking cinnamon buns. Made me want to run out and get a tree.
Donna says
Ooh this sounds amazing!! I made a delicious sangria on the weekend for the adults at our Halloween party, and have been keen to find a nice recipe for Thanksgiving. This fits the bill! Pinning 🙂
Katherine says
Thank you! Let me know how it turns out.
Veena Azmanov says
Oh I love the aroma you have from this recipe. I love mulled wine but I have not made some in ages. My mom would make some for Christmas. Yum!
Debs says
Love mulled wine and can't wait for the season it to come around again. Will definitely be using this recipe!
Carol Borchardt says
Getting to be that time of year! We love to do mulled wine during the holidays. Adding the flavor of pomegranate is downright genius!
Amanda says
This spiced mulled wine is so perfect for holiday entertaining. I love that it uses the slow cooker; so convenient! The spices must make the kitchen smell amazing as the wine warms.
Monica Le says
A slow cooked drink? This sounds absolutely dreamy!
Jessica Pinney says
I *LOVE* pomegranate but have never thought of incorporating it into mulled wine. What a genius idea! I'm having a little holiday get together with my friends and I will definitely be serving this. Thanks for sharing.
Julie says
This looks so good! I make mulled cider every Halloween to enjoy with the neighbors while we hand out candy to trick or treaters, but I've never thought about doing mulled wine!
Katherine says
It's especially good when relatives are over 😉