Nothing evokes those cosy, Christmassy feelings like the smell of a pot of mulled wine simmering away on the kitchen stove. Fruity, spicy and boozy, ready-made mulled wine is the perfect accompaniment to wash down a crumbly mince pie and warm those bellies around a winter fire.
We’ve scoured the supermarkets from Tesco to Asda and Waitrose, and searched online on Amazon, Tesco's and John Lewis to bring you this guide on the best mulled wine available in the UK. Read our tips on how to spot a winner, then head on to our ranking of the top 10 bottles and spice packet mixes to buy this Christmas!
Quick List - Top Mulled Wines
Three Mills
A Seasonal Winter Warmer Packed With Gingerbread Flavour
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When it comes to ready-to-glug mulled wine, you have two options - packets or bottles. Bottles include a mix of spices and flavours already blended, making it the quickest to pour into mugs! Usually, you won't need to buy any additional ingredients, so it will just need a quick warming on the stove. That said, if you’re picky, you may find them too sweet or simply not to your taste.
Spice mixes are great for those who like to make their own mulled wine, just to their liking. A good compromise between making your own and buying a store-bought bottle, you can choose your preferred wine, whether that’s a deep rioja or a light merlot, and pour in the spice mix to Christmassify your brew! Spice mixes can also be added to juices, punches and fruit teas for a non-alcoholic option.
Make dessert that bit easier with our favourite Christmas Puddings!
Spices are everything when it comes to cooking, and it’s no different with mulled wine. Every blend has a distinct flavour but the key ingredients to look out for are cinnamon, clove, star anise and nutmeg.
It's these spices that hold the key to unlocking the Christmas spirit as the pungent aromas fill the air! Many bottles also recommend adding some fresh spices to your mug for an extra Christmassy feeling.
Spices are great, but they aren’t the only thing that gives mulled wine its signature flavour. Citrus notes such as orange and lemon balance out the heady, fragrant spices, complementing the overall flavour of the drink.
A slice of orange is often added to the pot whilst it’s simmering to help bring out the citrusy flavours, but it’s just as good to get a wine that already includes that particular taste in the mix.
Mulled wine usually goes one of two ways. You could get one that's light, quaffable and sweet, filled with notes of berries and blackcurrants. However, these wines can taste a little like hot squash.
If you opt for a rich, velvety taste that's more on the bitter side, you might find the aftertaste is too tart. So, if you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, or want to take the edge off a bitter brew, choose a mulled wine with added honey or maple syrup for extra sugary points!
For more Christmas favourites, try our Best Mince Pies!
Mulled wine is an alcoholic drink, but the amount of alcohol in each bottle varies significantly from a slightly spikey hot squash to a boozy, blow your socks off and spill your wine down your shirt kind of bevvy. The ABV (alcohol per volume) will give you an indication of just how strong that bottle is.
For mulled wine, the ABV can be anything from 5% to 14%. Although not foolproof, the price is often a good indication of how much alcohol is in the bottle. If you get the bottle home and realise it hasn't quite got enough bite, fear not! Traditionally a shot of brandy, rum or amaretto is added into the mix, but we'll leave that part up to you.
If you like it boozy, you'll love our Best Port Wines!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Crabbies Mulled Ginger Wine | ![]() | Rich Ginger Flavour from a Popular Scottish Winery | |
2 | Three Mills Seasonal Gingerbread Flavour Mulled Wine | ![]() | A Seasonal Winter Warmer Packed With Gingerbread Flavour | |
3 | Belgars Traditional Mulled Wine | ![]() | Enjoy The Spice and Aroma of this Traditional Recipe | |
4 | Three Mills Seasonal Mulled Wine|Pack of 6 | ![]() | Mulled Wine With Deep and Juicy Black Fruit Flavours | |
5 | Felix Solis Glühwein Mulled Wine | ![]() | The Best Boozy Choice | |
6 | Waitrose Christmas Mulled Wine | ![]() | A Mature Full-Bodied Red From Waitrose | |
7 | Soolar Mulled Wine Gift Set | ![]() | A Convenient Kit That's Perfect for Gifting | |
8 | Helen's Own International Mulled Wine Spice Mix | ![]() | Home-Made Glühwein to See You Through Winter | |
9 | Schwartz Mulled Wine Spice | ![]() | A Christmas Spice Mix to Add to Your Favourite Wine | |
10 | Tesco Mulled Wine | ![]() | The Sweetest Mulled Christmas Drink |
This wine from iconic brewery Crabbie's is a Christmas favourite among many shoppers. The distinct ginger flavouring gives this recipe an edge over some of the more traditional blends.
For the best experience, serve warm in a tall glass, with cinnamon sticks and orange peel, or even use to lightly soak a mince pie. However you choose to enjoy this wine, it's certain to hit the spot!
This gingerbread flavoured wine from Three Mills is perfect if you're keen to get into the holiday spirit. It's only 5.5% so you can enjoy plenty, no matter your alcohol preferences, and we're certain you'll be reaching for a second glass!
The company describe it as 'Christmas in a bottle' and we can't say we disagree! The spice is balanced against the vibrant red berry wine, resulting in a smooth delicate flavour that's a sure crowd-pleaser!
If you’re looking for a full-bodied flavour that doesn't stray from tradition, Belgars mulled wine is the best you can get! This wine is sure to bring back all your favourite Christmas memories with its classic blend of spices and citrus.
The recipe is 100% vegan, so it's perfect if you're hosting or going plat-based! The citrus blend is backed with a punch of red berry, the perfect blend of sweetness and spice.
This mulled wine from Three Mills has a pungent aroma of classic Christmas spices that will fill your home with the scents that we all crave at this time of the year. Taste-wise, the Three Mills have developed a fine blend that balances fresh citrus flavours of orange and lemon with deep juicy black fruits, achieving a slightly sweet, lasting taste.
Three Mills also gets bonus points as their winery runs on 100% renewable energy. And coming in a pack of 6, this is an excellent choice if you’re having a Christmas get-together and need more than one bottle.
If overly-sweet mulled wine isn’t your cup of tea, try Tesco's Glühwein instead. Made from Spanish red grapes, the finish is smooth, rich and mature. It has a little more punch than their other offering, with a gorgeous aromatic bouquet that promises to fill your house with the smell of Christmas.
The blend includes cloves and cinnamon, with a hint of citrus and a finish of deep berries. Make sure to serve with a whole cinnamon stick and a slice of fresh orange, though at 12% ABV you probably won’t need to add any more alcohol!
Waitrose's mulled wine is a clear favourite when it comes to blind-tasting. It has a much more subtle flavour in terms of sweetness, fruitiness and spice, making it seem somehow more mature than others on the list.
The flavour could be best described as a full-bodied red, with a little extra punchiness than your typical heavily-flavoured mulled wine. It's a good balance between sweet and tangy, softly spiced and best served with a stick of cinnamon, star anise and a slice of orange to bring out the flavours.
Christmas is the season of giving, so why not marry two age-old traditions and offer mulled wine as a gift? This set comes with two decorative glass mugs, 750 ml of wine and a convenient packet mix to bring it all together.
The wine follows a traditional recipe, packed with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and citrus. The bottle included is already prepared, so you can tuck into that one while you brew up a second with the included spice mix!
Containing 20 sachets, this is an excellent value spice mix providing you with a stash to last out throughout winter. It's the perfect blend for recreating a traditional German mulled wine containing favourites like orange peel, clove and star anise.
As a bonus, it comes with a recipe booklet for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic mulled wine. With over 1000 positive reviews, this one's sure to be a staple in many kitchens over Christmas.
The Christmas spice mix from Schwartz is an excellent option if you prefer to use your own wine. Each spice mix is packaged in individual sachets to pop in a pan with your favourite bottle as you leave it simmering on the stove.
You'll find a little more diversity in the spices used in these packets than those generally found in bottles. This one in particular includes allspice, dried orange peel, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. This mix also goes especially well in hot grape or cranberry juice.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, then the Tesco’s mulled wine is the one for you! Tasting more like a hot squash with a sprinkling of spice, this mulled wine has a strong taste of confected blackcurrant sweets and liquorice, with a finishing of sweet vanilla.
Sadly, there have been a few complaints since Tesco altered the recipe from last year, many noting that the flavour is a little diluted compared to the previous years. Our fix - add in a fresh cinnamon stick, a slice of orange and a shot of spiced rum to boost it up a bit!
You might want to make your mulled wine at home, but if you want to avoid the premixed packets and go the more traditional route, try this recipe to get perfect wine every time!
Written and researched by Roxy Pratley
No. 1: Crabbies|Mulled Ginger Wine
No. 2: Three Mills|Seasonal Gingerbread Flavour Mulled Wine
No. 3: Belgars|Traditional Mulled Wine
No. 4: Three Mills|Seasonal Mulled Wine|Pack of 6
No. 5: Felix Solis|Glühwein Mulled Wine
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