Authentic Vin Chaud Recipe From Paris [Hot French Mulled Wine] (2024)

I’d never thought about getting a vin chaud recipe until that day.

We were just playing tourists, walking the streets of Paris near the Sacre Coeur, in the chill of winter.

We were hungry, we were cold, so when we saw a sign, in English, for homemade hot wine, with a huge enticingly decorated pot sitting in the front window, we just had to stop.

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It was exactly what we needed.

The little restaurant Grenouille was just delightful. The sandwiches were delicious, the service was almost unusually friendly. The microscopic bathroom was hilarious. We chatted up the waitress, and out of pure curiosity, I asked what was in the hot wine …

And she told me!

She even told me proportions!

She even went back to ask the cook to make sure she had gotten it right!

You have to understand, this is France, where customer service is often not a priority.

I was flabbergasted.

But elated just the same. Maybe she thought I was an American with a really good French accent and she wanted to be kind. I may be a French native but when I travel with my family I usually speak English with them so I may have sounded like a tourist.

After our warm drink, we left the place satisfied and much happier, now ready again to continue exploring Paris.

That was some time ago but Grenouille is still going strong, making cold tourists warm and delighted in the heart of Paris.

This easy mulled wine recipe sure has made my guests happy at our Christmas Eve party each year. It’s one of our favorite Christmas traditions.

Plus, it makes my home smell delicious!

So now I’m sharing it with you.

But What is Mulled Wine or Vin Chaud?

My best description of this festive drink is that it’s a hot sangria with Christmas spices. It’s just the perfect drink for the winter months.

Starting at the first sip, you’ll begin to feel warm from the inside.You don’t need to serve it with the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, or whole star anise in the cup. That’s just for pretty pictures.

You can, of course, prep some mugs and sliced oranges ahead of time. You can even warm mugs.

Fresh cranberries are also a good addition.

But it’s OK to just serve it naked …. No no no! Not that way! You can fill the glass or mug with just the spiced wine and leave all the colorful additions in the pot. It’s a little easier to drink without the optional garnishes anyway.

Mulled Wine Ingredients Substitutions:

The French vin chaud recipe called for a bottle of red wine, specifically a dry red wine and a distinctive kind of French brandy called Armagnac produced in the Armagnac region in France.

If you have some, go for it. You can easily replace the Armagnac with your favorite brandy or cognac. I personally like Grand Marnier with its subtle orange flavor (and they sell it at Costco).

A cabernet sauvignon will work well with this mulled wine recipe. If you switch to a sweeter wine, like a Pinot Noir or Merlot, you may want to reduce the brown sugar.

Over the years, I’ve chosen to use Merlot and have halved the sugar in the recipe with success.

If you are preparing this recipe for someone with a honey allergy you can substitute the honey for maple syrup.

Feel free to also use a cheap red wine. Expensive wine is not required.

I’ve never tried it with white wine, but that would definitely not be an authentic vin chaud recipe.

I usually double the recipe and warm it in a slow cooker over low heat for my parties. If you use a slow cooker too, make sure not to turn it on too early.

The more the wine cooks, the more alcohol will evaporate. So the alcohol content of your warm cup of vin chaud goes down as the evening progresses.

Of course, you can use a large pot or a large saucepan. Just heat at medium-low heat it until it’s at a low simmer then turn it down to low.

I cannot emphasize this enough. Low heat, rather than medium-high heat or even medium heat, is the way to go.

And this is not a recipe for an Instant Pot.

You’ll need to get the fresh ginger and the whole spices though. The powdered spices will not work as well.

The first year I made this at Christmas time, I made the mistake of leaving it in the crockpot for 4 hours before the party! There was no way to even get a tiny buzz from that batch, all the alcohol had burned off hours before.

You can, of course, always refill it as you go with a little more red wine or liquor every so often. Just make sure not to accidentally make burnt wine (vin brulé).

But I’ll give you the recipe as it was given to me, straight from the streets of Paris (better than Food Network) and you can decide on your own substitutions.

I do recommend keeping the beverage warm. It loses some of its spice (and magic) when it hits room temperature.

Vin Chaud Recipe (French Mulled Vine)

Authentic Vin Chaud Recipe From Paris [Hot French Mulled Wine] (7)

5 from 2 votes

Print

French Mulled Wine - Vin Chaud

CourseDrinks

CuisineFrench

Keyworddrink, homemade

Author Nathalie Brown

Ingredients

  • 1bottledry red wineLike a Cabernet (175 ml)
  • 1/2cuppacked brown sugar125g
  • 1/2zestof one lemon
  • 1/2lemon rounds
  • 1/2zestof one orange
  • 1/2orange rounds
  • 1cinnamon stick
  • 1star anise
  • 1whole clove
  • 1tspfresh ginger
  • 1/4tspnutmeg
  • 1Tbsphoney
  • 1/4cupArmagnac or other brandy

Instructions

  1. Pour all the ingredients in a pot and heat for 20 minutes on low heat, making sure the wine doesn't boil.

  2. Serve it warm by itself or with an orange slice.

You will love making this simple mulled wine recipe for holiday gatherings or even date nights on a chilly winter night as a warm comforting drink. If you are looking to pair this with a meal, pork chops go well.

It’s almost synonymous with the Christmas season for me. If I close my eyes while sipping I can imagine I am strolling through a French Christmas market. That’s why this is one of my favorite holiday season recipes.

If you’re like more authentic French recipes, I have a fantastic French Kings Cake recipe (This one is traditionally made after the new year) and some chocolate truffles that are out of this world!

Don’t forget to pin this traditional vin chaud recipe:

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Authentic Vin Chaud Recipe From Paris [Hot French Mulled Wine] (2024)

FAQs

What is vin chaud made of? ›

Stir red wine, apple juice, honey, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, cloves, and anise together in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Simmer until flavors blend, at least 10 minutes.

What is the difference between glühwein and vin chaud? ›

In the Netherlands, Glühwein is called bisschopswijn (bishop's wine) and is made using oranges instead of lemons. Order Vin chaud (hot wine), a less sweet variety when in France. Bulgaria likes to add honey, peppercorns and apples and call it greyano vino (heated wine).

What is a vin chaud in Paris? ›

“C'est quoi?” I asked, as I took a sip, finding the beverage slightly sweet and tantalizingly warming. “Vin chaud,” I was told. Hot wine. Mulled wine in Paris not only tastes delicious, it keeps you warm.

Does vin chaud contain alcohol? ›

Yes, it is. Because you are not boiling the wine or cooking it for a long time, alcohol does not evaporate off. If you want to create a version that is not quite as alcoholic, try the mulled wine approach of adding some apple cider to your vin chaud. Is Vin Chaud the same as Mulled Wine, Glühwein, or Glögg?

What is the best wine for mulled wine? ›

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.”

Is hot wine the same as mulled wine? ›

Mulled wine goes by many names—spiced wine, hot wine, glögg, glühwein, and vin chaud are a few I hear used interchangeably. As far as I know, they all essentially refer to the same drink, although the spices and booze of choice may vary depending on the region.

Is mulled wine the same as mulled cider? ›

What is Mulled Wine and Cider? When the weather gets cold, that means it's the best time of year to make your favorite warm drinks! Mulled wine is a hot beverage that's made by mixing wine with various spices and letting it simmer before serving warm. Mulled cider is the same concept, just with cider instead of wine!

Is glögg the same as mulled wine? ›

Glögg is Swedish infused wine. Usually served during the holiday season, it's similar to mulled wine — but it's not quite the same thing (glögg is a bit more involved). Traditionally, the drink is set on fire so the sugar granules completely dissolve.

Is mulled wine actually wine? ›

Like ice-cold Spanish sangria, warm mulled wine is essentially red wine that is slightly sweetened, flavoured with citrus, lightly spiced and, usually, finished with a spirit or liqueur.

What is the English name for Vin Chaud? ›

Vin Chaud (French Mulled Wine)

Is mulled wine popular in France? ›

It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas. It is usually served at Christmas markets in Europe, primarily in Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Nordics, Baltics and eastern France.

Which country drinks the most mulled wine? ›

This drink is consumed enormously in Scandinavian countries, particularly in Sweden and Denmark, where it is called Glögg and Gløgg respectively (terms meaning "mulled wine" in each language). In Germany, as in most Germanic countries, it is mainly consumed under the name Glühwein.

Does boiling mulled wine remove alcohol? ›

Heat the wine slowly to extract the maximum aroma, and never, ever, ever allow it to boil. Firstly, you will lose the alcohol, and secondly, boiling will change the flavours of the wine.

Is mulled wine OK to drink? ›

The beauty of mulled wine is that it's a drink that you can enjoy on its own. Whether you're sitting in front of the fireplace with a good book, playing games with your family, or watching TV, mulled wine is a warming drink that is brilliant on its own without the need to serve snacks or a meal.

What is mulled cider made of? ›

Mulled apple cider is unfiltered apple juice that's been heated and flavored with mulling spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice; and fruits like oranges, lemons, and apples. I'll also add a little dark rum if it's just us grown ups enjoying a round of apple cider cocktails!

What is mulled wine made of? ›

It is commonly a combination of orange, lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg, fennel seed (or star anise), cloves, cardamom, and ginger. The spices may be combined and boiled in a sugar syrup before red wine is added, heated, and served. Variations include adding brandy or ginger wine.

Is mulled wine good or bad for you? ›

The red wine base in mulled wine brings its own set of health benefits. Resveratrol is associated with heart health benefits and may help protect the lining of blood vessels, lower bad cholesterol levels, and prevent blood clots. When consumed in moderation, red wine has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.

Is mulled wine very alcoholic? ›

Not much. Mulled wine is warmed, not boiled. Usually with added spices. Whether in a still or in boeuf bourguignon, the higher the heat, the more alcohol is released.

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