National Mulled Wine

The story

Mulled wine first appeared in 2nd-century Rome, though its origins may go back to Ancient Greece. The Greeks likely spiced their wine to prevent waste, calling it “hippocras” after Hippocrates. The Romans took this idea further, heating and spicing their wine, “Conditum Paradoxum, ”and spreading the tradition across Europe as they conquered new lands.

During the Middle Ages, mulled wine became wildly popular. Spices like cinnamon and cloves weren’t just for flavor, they were believed to prevent illness. By 1390, English cookbooks included recipes mixing red wine, sugar, and warming spices. By 1618, the word "mull" officially entered the dictionary, meaning "to heat and flavor with spices."

The Victorian era cemented mulled wine as a Christmas tradition. Families sipped it during holiday gatherings, a custom that spread across Europe and beyond.

Today, mulled wine has many variations:

**Glühwein (Germany):** A Christmas market staple. **Feuerzangenbowle (Germany):** A flaming rum-soaked sugarloaf drips into the wine. **Glögg (Nordic countries):** Served with ginger biscuits. **Italian mulled wine:** Sweetened with honey for extra warmth. From ancient remedies to festive drinks, mulled wine remains a winter favorite, proving that a good tradition never fades.