# Spiced wine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** wine\ **Created:** [January 28, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783 "2007-01-28T01:03:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/1 "2007-01-28T01:03:22Z")
It is a staple of cheesy fantasy novels: spiced wine. Or sometimes even hot spiced wine. So, uh… what do they mean? It always sounded intriguing but I am not gonna just go throw some garlic in a glass of wine or something… (yes, the garlic thing was a joke. But really… what kind of spices might they mean?) ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/2 "2007-01-28T01:04:53Z")
I always assumed it was stuff like nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/3 "2007-01-28T01:09:12Z")
[Mulled wine.](http://www.thewineman.com/mulled_ns.htm) Tastes wonderful. Use something cheap as a base, like Gallo Hearty Burgundy. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/4 "2007-01-28T01:10:42Z")
Yea, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, dried fruit, etc. If you’ve ever mulled apple cider, the mulling ingredients are the same for wine. Red wine is preferred. I used [Three Thieves Cab Sauv](http://www.boxwines.org/articles/three-thieves-bandit-cabernet-sauvignon-2002.htm) for mine. I made some this fall that turned out OK. The most important thing is not to boil the wine. At all. You want in to gently, gently, gently simmer. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/5 "2007-01-28T01:15:15Z")
Oh, and honey. I know you said you like sweet stuff in another thread. I ended up adding more honey than the recipe I used called for when I made it. I found the wine too bitter for me without it once heated. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/6 "2007-01-28T01:31:28Z")
Spiced wine? Oh, yes! Every few years, the hubby and I visit Williamsburg, VA. While there, we always go to the winery, and obtain a fair amount of their Settler’s Spiced wine. Just delicious warm or room temperature; not bad a little bit chilled. It’s my ultimate winter wine. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/7 "2007-01-28T01:48:54Z")
Try some [glühwein](http://www.christmas-baking.com/gluehwein.html) sometime on a cold winter’s evening. It’ll keep you warm. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/8 "2007-01-28T03:43:11Z")
Cool thanks!! I think I might be experimenting in the next week or two! ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/9 "2007-01-28T07:12:40Z")
Mulled wine, heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves. Off with you, me lad, and be lively! ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/10 "2007-01-28T07:33:27Z")
I hear, in the day, black pepper was used as a muller. ---
**Author:** ![Corporate\_Hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@Corporate\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corporate_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/11 "2007-01-28T08:33:20Z")
If you’re feeling lazy, just to your local Ikea and pick up a bottle of [gløgg](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gl%C3%B6gg). If I recall, the instructions suggest _diluting_ the stuff with wine or vodka, and serving warm. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/12 "2007-01-28T09:47:19Z")
If you’re mulling a lot of wine, take an orange and spike it all over with cloves, then warm the wine with that in it. And cinnamon etc. ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/13 "2007-01-28T11:15:45Z")
[QUOTE=Alan Smithee] Mulled wine, heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves. Off with you, me lad, and be lively! [/QUOTE] Hey look, _mister_, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast. And we don’t need any _characters_ around to give the joint _atmosphere_. Is that clear? [Or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/14 "2007-01-28T13:36:15Z")
[QUOTE=Antonius Block] Hey look, _mister_, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast. And we don’t need any _characters_ around to give the joint _atmosphere_. Is that clear? [Or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/) [/QUOTE] You do realise who you’re talking to, don’t you? [Alan Smithee](http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=Alan+Smithee) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/15 "2007-01-28T16:06:35Z")
[QUOTE=Alan Smithee] Mulled wine, heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves. Off with you, me lad, and be lively! [/QUOTE] Who you calling [lad](http://gallery.opalcat.com/gallery/OpalCat2006/oct8_008) ? (Yeah I realize you probably weren’t specifically addressing me, but I so rarely get to indignantly defend my gender anymore…) ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/16 "2007-01-28T20:10:45Z")
Yowza! Hi Opal!!! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e9c0ed/32.png) [@El\_Perro\_Fumando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Perro_Fumando)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/17 "2007-01-28T20:20:10Z")
I personally like Wassail, like the one offered by [Boordy Vineyards](http://www.boordy.com/wines.html). It’s a local Maryland wine though, so it might not be available everywhere and you would have to find something comparable. If you like sweet wines, add some fruit as you heat it. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/18 "2007-01-28T20:25:23Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] It is a staple of cheesy fantasy novels: spiced wine. Or sometimes even hot spiced wine. So, uh… what do they mean? It always sounded intriguing but I am not gonna just go throw some garlic in a glass of wine or something… (yes, the garlic thing was a joke. But really… what kind of spices might they mean?) [/QUOTE] Opal! What does it say that you don’t remember my feeding some to you at the house a few years ago? I’m cheesily hurt! I get mine from up in Pennsylvania. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/19 "2007-01-29T00:43:37Z")
It says I probably didn’t know what it was at the time? ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2007, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783/20 "2007-01-29T00:45:13Z")
[QUOTE=El Perro Fumando] I personally like Wassail [/QUOTE] I love wassail. My mom makes it every year for her big Christmas party… the funny thing is, she has never tried it–she thinks the whole idea is gross. But everyone else likes it so she makes it (from scratch) every year. So I grew up on it. So is spiced wine basically like wassail made with wine instead of apple cider? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiced-wine/389783.md?page=2)