Food
Pairing food with mulled wine
Alight with spices and fragrant aromas, mulled wine has been the classic warming drink since the days of Ancient Rome. Also known in Austria and Germany as Glühwein (“Glow wine”) and in Nordic countries as Glögg, it’s as enjoyable sipped slowly by the fire with a good book as it is shared at celebrations with good friends.
So, let’s delve deeper into this fabulously fragrant and wonderfully warming winter wine treat.
WHAT IS BEST TO SERVE MULLED WINE IN?
The best vessels to serve mulled wine in are ceramic or glass mugs. Make sure they have a handle as mulled wine is served hot. Serving mulled wine in a glass mug is visually very appealing – you can see the beautiful colours of the wine, plus the garnish of orange peel, cinnamon stick, and star anise.
DO YOU SERVE MULLED WINE BEFORE OR AFTER DINNER?
There are no rules when it comes to the best time to serve mulled wine. Enjoy a mug mid-afternoon on a cold winter’s day, share it with friends around the barbeque while waiting for the sausages to sizzle, or dunk in a ginger snap for a warming late evening wind down.
WHAT DO YOU SERVE MULLED WINE WITH?
You don’t necessarily need to serve food with mulled wine – the abundant flavours and fragrances almost make it a meal in its own right. That said, there are certainly plenty of foods that pair extremely well with this traditional beverage that is enjoyed by so many people right around the world.
If you’re serving mulled wine this winter, try some of for these delicious accompaniments for that suffusing fusion of spice and substance!
Swedish dishes
Want to whip up some Glögg? For those looking to sample the Swedish take on mulled wine, traditional Scandinavian fare like pickled fish and crackers, saffron buns or ginger biscuits are a great choice.
German and Austrian dishes
If it’s a Glühwein you’re going for, you can’t beat classic Teutonic pairings like salty blue cheese pastries, pork schnitzel with lemon cream sauce – the fatty salty sweet and spice combination is pure heaven – or apfelkuchen (German apple cake).
Fondue
When winter’s chill is at its most severe, few things are as inviting as a fondue party. The combination of rich, delicious cheeses and white wine make for a brilliant shared dinner course to accompany the juicy fire of a strong mulled wine.
Cheeses
While we’re talking about cheese, if you’re looking for the best varieties to pair with a sweet mulled wine we suggest opting for the saltier end of the spectrum.
What cheese goes well with mulled wine?
Blue cheese is ideal with a heavily spiced mulled wine, and we think you’ll also love it paired with Stilton, Gorgonzola, aged Cheddar, or the creamy, nutty and subtly sweet style of Gruyère or Emmental cheeses.
Sweet festive mince pies
If you’re a fan of BBC Christmas Specials and all things British, you simply cannot beat a classic English mulled wine paired with sweet mince pies. A Yuletide tradition dating back to at least the 16th century, their mix of dried fruits, sugar, spices and brandy are a bang on match with mulled wine.
Now that we’ve got all of that sorted, it’s time to make a batch of mulled wine with our easy, and delicious traditional mulled wine recipe.
TRADITIONAL MULLED WINE (GLÜHWEIN) RECIPE
So, what are you waiting for? Make the southern hemisphere winter a more festive affair with any of the above matches. Looking for other inspired pairings? Try our Essential Tapas and Wine Pairing Guide, for a hit of Spanish flavours. We’ve even got you covered with essential guides to wine and salad pairings, seafood and wine pairings, vino and veggie matches, as well as the top wines to pair with pizza or chocolate!