The 8 Best Wines for Mulled Wine (2024)

Updated 02/26/22

• Region: California
• ABV: 15%
• Tasting Notes: Strawberry, Coffee, Chocolate, Vanilla, Sweet Spice

Juicy, full-bodied, and loaded with fruit-driven flavors—what more could you want? This flavor-packed red from California’s North Coast is perfect for making mulled wine at home. Flavors of black cherries, tobacco, raspberry compote, vanilla, and sweet spice dominate the wine’s palate. Pour a splash on the side and sip solo whilst preparing your brew… you wont’ regret it.

• Region: Argentina
• ABV: 14%
• Tasting Notes: Blackberry, Red and Blackcurrant, Plum, Oak, Chocolate

No need to break the bank here! This deliciously flavorful malbec hovers around the $10 point and is perfect for mixing up with mulled spices. Expect full-bodied notes of black fruits, plums, tobacco, violets and cassis. With a price tag this friendly, we’d snag two.

Carrie Lyn Strong, sommelier, owner, & founder of Strong Wine Consulting LLC, notes that she uses whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, lemon peel (not orange) and candied ginger to craft her mulled wine at home. “Using ground spices adds a gritty texture to the wine that I don't prefer,” she says, noting that adding simple syrup or Cointreau to the mixture will help sweeten the palate. “And if I'm feeling extra [festive], I'll add some brandy or rum."

Read Next: Malbec Bottles To Try

• Region: France
• ABV: 14%
• Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant, Raspberry, White Pepper

This accessible, easy-to-find bottle of red is produced in Southern France at the hands of one of the region’s most popular producers of organic wines. This grenache-dominant wine is loaded with flavors of juicy red berries, black currants, licorice and sweet spice.

“I like to use a red wine that is lower in tannins so as to not take away from the holiday spices, such as grenache or full-bodied pinot noir,” says Strong, noting that finding a bottle with soft fruit flavors and lively acidity is key.

• Region: Spain
• ABV: 13.5%
• Tasting Notes: Black Cherry, Red Plum, Licorice, Spice, Tobacco

This succulent, tempranillo-dominant blend is perfect for mulling with sweet spices and dried fruits, thanks to its bright acidity and well-integrated flavors. Notes of overripe strawberries, raspberries, tobacco leaf, used leather, and vanilla ooze from the wine’s full-bodied palate.

Read Next: The Best Sweet Wines

• Region: Chile
• ABV: 14%
• Tasting Notes: Plum, Cherry, Cassis, Blackberry, Thyme, Black Pepper

This silky, easy-to-drink merlot is produced from organic fruit in the heart of Chile’s Central Valley. The wine’s smooth flavors of blackberries, blueberries, fresh herbs and black pepper come to life when mixed with baking spices and optional dried fruit. This is medium-bodied, bright and super delicious.

“For mulled wine, I’d use an inexpensive cabernet sauvignon or merlot from Chile, as these wines show lots of fruit and not so many tannins. No need to spend money here!” says Jeff Harding, wine director at New York’s Waverly Inn.

• Region: California
• ABV: 14%
• Tasting Notes: Cherry, Currant, Raspberry, Toasted Oak and Vanilla

This organic, easy-to-find, and budget-friendly bottle of cabernet sauvignon hits all of our marks for making mulled wine at home. Flavors of ripe cherries, black currants, cinnamon, and cedar lead to a textured, long-lasting finish. The wine’s bold palate holds its own against a hefty addition of mulling spices, so feel free to add an extra dash here.

Strong suggests sipping mulled wines with warm cheese dishes, such as raclette or melted brie or camembert served with charcuterie, steak tips au poivre, and all of the accouterments:dried tropical fruit (mangos, apricots, figs), fresh winter citrus (blood or cara cara oranges), salted or spiced nuts (Marcona almonds, walnuts, pecans), sweet & spicy pepper jam, and crispy, fresh-baked bread. “This dinner paired with mulled wine is perfect when the fireplace is warm, the wind howls through the night, and blankets live unfolded on the couch,” she says.

Read Next: The Best Cabernet Sauvignons

• Region: Chile
• ABV: 14.5%
• Tasting Notes: Cherry, Strawberry, Cinnamon, Citrus Peel

When choosing a pinot noir for mulled wine, selecting a bottle on the bigger-boned side is key. For this reason, we tend to steer towards New World regions that produce riper expressions of the grape. This mouthwatering bottle from Chile’s Leyda Valley is a steal for the price (and perfect for serving warm with spices). Expect flavors of plums, ripe berries, smoke, and spice to jump from the wine’s medium-bodied palate.

“Mulled wine screams holidays. I would serve it with a cake—something like coffee cake, panettone, or any treat where you’d use winter spices and/or dried fruits,” says Harding.

Read Next: The Best Pinot Noirs

• Region: France
• ABV: 14%
• Tasting Notes: Cherry, Blueberry, Currant, Chocolate

This boisterous red blend from southern France packs a serious punch, making it perfect for holding its own against flavor-packed spices. Jammy notes of red plums, cherries, licorice, and smoke jump from the wine’s medium to full-bodied palate. Silky tannins and vibrant acidity create a solid structure in this tasty blend.