As I near the finish line of my six-month alcohol-free adventure, which is Jan. 4 for those following along, the holidays — aka mulled beverage season — are upon us. Deprivation is not part of the Bon Vivant lifestyle, so clearly, I needed a zero-proof solution so tasty that I wouldn’t miss the real thing. Enter, alcohol free wine. Most of what’s readily available at the supermarket or liquor store (specifically Fre and Ariel, available at Winn-Dixie and Martin Wine Cellar respectively) is far too sweet for my liking, but that’s what makes it perfect for alcohol free mulled wine. This recipe can be made with zero or full proof wine, as well as white or red. I made a batch to sip during our annual Christmas tree decorating activities. It paired perfectly with the Squirrel Nut Zippers “Christmas Caravan” album we listened to while trimming and the fragrance of the spices plus its major flavor factor helped send the cozy vibes up from zero to 100 in seconds.
Melanie’s (Zero or Full Proof) Mulled Wine
Ingredients
- 1 bottle alcohol free white wine
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon cloves
- 1 apple, sliced whole (remove seeds after slicing) *
- Honey to taste if it’s not already to your preferred sweetness
Directions
In a stockpot or large saucepan, combine ingredients. ** Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes (or up to three hours). Strain into a mug. Cue up holiday music and enjoy. Cheers!
*Note 1: Feel free to use oranges here in place of apples, if that’s what you prefer or have on hand
**Note 2: You could also place cinnamon sticks, cloves and apple slices in a cheese cloth, strain and pull out the cheese cloth.
