I tested warm wines that are latest drinks craze… winner was packed with spice & will get people talking at Xmas parties
WARM wines are becoming the hot new drink craze this season.
And they don’t have to be super sweet or full of cinnamon – Marks and Spencer has just launched English Mulled White.
So as temperatures drop, drinks expert Helena Nicklin tries out simmering new arrivals and also suggests some of the best non-traditional wine styles ideal for making your own mulled vino all year round.
English Pink Mulled Rose
£25 for 1.5L, englishpink.co.uk
YOU may think that pastel wine is only for drinking poolside or in the summer, so prepare for something very different indeed.
A mulled, posh English pink from a pouch?
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I was not expecting to like this – but how wrong I was.
A charming blend of creamy Pinot Blanc with strawberry-scented Pinot Noir.
t’s sweet but beautifully balanced and not at all cloying with subtle, well-judged notes of cinnamon and vanilla.
Fab when it’s chilly out and proof it can be enjoyed near the fire as well as in the sun.
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It is a tad pricey, but it is unusual, plus you’ll be buying British.
RATING: 4/5
M&S Mulled White Wine
£6.50, M&S and Ocado
WHO knew mulled wine could be so lovely when white too?
This white warmer has vanilla and mulled spice flavours and the makers suggest it is ideal served with a slice of lemon.
Easy to warm, just empty the contents into a pan and gently heat until hot.
Or you can microwave a mugful for 60 seconds for a nightcap.
I would drink this subtly sweet, rounded white over a red version any day.
Think baked pears in pastry with a dusting of white chocolate.
It won’t be for everyone but it is a guilty pleasure – a great talking point for parties, and it is inexpensive to boot.
RATING: 5/5
Dry Rosé: Specially Selected Corsican Ile De Beauté Rosé
£3.21 on offer, Aldi
IF you want to mimic the style of the hot English pink but would prefer to spend a little less, I would suggest a dry rosé with a bit of texture, some subtle strawberry and a slick of saline.
This Corsican beauty will do the job perfectly.
And it is an absolute steal, costing just over £3 a bottle at the moment.
So if you don’t like the results, you haven’t wasted too much money.
It will certainly stand up to a bit of heat and gentle spice in the pan and can play with whatever mulled wine additions you fancy.
Serve in heat-proof clear mugs to show off the colour.
RATING: 4/5
Fruity Rosé - Nice Drop White Zinfandel
£4.15, Asda
FUN and super fruity – sweeter rosé styles such as white Zinfandel are a great choice for more tropical, mulled pinks.
So, if you want liquid fruit salad in a glass, why not have a go at warming up this unpretentious, Nice Drop Californian cracker with some cinnamon sticks and orange peel?
For a another talking point, you could also garnish with slices of peach then serve.
This would be a great one to serve to guests at any cold-weather gathering or festive party.
It is top value too, so well worth giving it a try.
A proper guilty pleasure!
RATING: 3/5
Spicy Shiraz: Kooliburra Australian Shiraz
£4.15, Aldi
SHIRAZ is a great grape for mulling yourself thanks to its velvety, fruity body and generous notes of plum jam with a kick of peppery spice.
If you happen to have any glasses remaining in an opened bottle, warming this wine up would be a good way to use it.
Stock up to enjoy it for the seasonal parties.
This will give you plenty to go round for your guests, without splashing out too much.
Less sweet than a Primitivo would be but packed full of flavour.
This is one for your classic Christmas do.
Or get practising by drinking it now.
RATING: 5/5
Extra Special Fiano Terre Siciliane
£6.25, Asda
ALWAYS a crowd-pleaser, Fiano is an Italian grape that appeals to all kinds of white wine drinkers.
It is one that seems to suit everyone and this option from Asda, currently with 50p off, is very well priced.
Also, it is “just tropical enough” to cope with a heat injection thanks to its orange and pineapple vibes.
Chilled or warmed, it is ravishingly refreshing and you won’t need to worry about whether it will withstand a little heat.
Adding spice and fruit will bring out that orange peel note too, so serve with a fresh slice of whatever you have to hand.
RATING: 2/5
Cheeky Chardonnay: Andrew Peace Masterpeace Chardonnay
£6.50, Tesco
IF a mulled white sounds like it could be more your thing and you fancy simmering a pan of your own pale plonk to give it a try, this could be a good bet.
To go DIY, I recommend finding a seriously fruity Chardonnay from a warm climate without too much oakiness which will stand up well to being warmed.
This cheeky Chard from Australia fits the brief.
It is ripe and round with lashings of peach and melon.
It will love a bit of cinnamon spice or star anise and will forgive the saucepan treatment.
Give it a try and see how you get on.
RATING: 3/5
Chocolatey Primitivo: M&S Primitivo Puglia
£7, M&S
MORE traditional mulled wines made with red vino do best with bold, fruity styles that do not have too much tooth- drying tannin.
Primitivo grapes, from Puglia in sunny southern Italy, are like this with flavours of Morello cherries, chocolate and spice.
This one has a sweeter, ripe fig-in-chocolate flavour that loves a bit of mulled spice.
A proper, curl-up-by-the-fire red that makes a mulled wine with that similar cosy vibe.
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Heat it gently in a pan and throw in all the traditional mulled red trimmings and spices – cinnamon, cloves, oranges and cardamon.
RATING: 4/5
