Like it, love it or hate it, it simply doesn't feel like Christmas without the spicy and sweet aromas of a warmed wine.
The great thing about mulled wine is you can buy it with all the hard work already done for you.
Although some families will have their own special recipes passed down over the years, which will vary from household to household.
The problem with shop bought mulled wines is, you might not find a taste exactly to your liking. If you want something done properly, DIY right?
Luckily, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on a bottle of red (something full bodied and fruity will do) - so you can leave that decade old Pinotage to age for a little longer.
If you're thinking about brewing your own mulled wine this Christmas, we've rounded up some of the best wine options below to get you started.
Best wines for making mulled wine 2019
1. Co-op Irresistible Australian Shiraz
At £7 this Australian Shiraz is a great contender for mulling.
Shiraz' tend to be quite rich and full in body, which will allow them to keep some of their natural tannins once heated.
With notes of blueberries and black currants along with subtle vanilla on the palette - this fruity number will go down a treat once warmed.
Price: £7, Co Op - buy here now
2. Baron De Ley Reserva Rioja
For mulled wine, there's a general rule of thumb not to use reds that already have a spicy palette. As Rioja tends to be less full in body compared to a Merlot or Shiraz - this option is one to consider.
Expect notes of coconut and toffee, with mild spices and earthy flavours.
As Rioja is less full, the spices won't come through too strong once warmed, so it'll be perfectly fine to add extra spices for your desired taste.
Price: £6.25, Morrisons - buy here now
3. Gold Label Merlot - Case of 6
If you're looking for the perfect grape variety to transform into a tasty mulled wine, Merlot will come top of the lists everytime. It's full bodied, rich in colour and flavours and are full of fruity notes that will compliment all of your mulled favourites.
A case of six from Marks and Spencer's is handy if you are mulling for the masses and already have your desired recipe memorised to perfection.
Price: £42, Marks and Spencer - buy here now
4. Monte Del Fra Valpolicella Classico Lena di Mezzo
The priciest wine on our list, but not by a large margin. If you're looking for a wine that has it all - you've just found it.
This Italian red has fruity palettes of cherries and plums, did somebody say Christmas? Subtle hints of pepper and cinnamon make this the perfect red to add other spiced flavours to.
Finally, something to toast about.
Price: £10.50, Amazon - buy here now
5. Barefoot Merlot
Barefoot Merlot is a Californian Merlot, so falls under the 'new world wine' category. If you're looking for rich and medium to full bodied wines - new worlds are great options to consider.
This Merlot has refreshing notes of blackberries and raspberries leaving a silky smooth finish on the palette.
Price: £6.89, Waitrose - buy here now
6. Monte Giove Sangiovese Merlot
An Italian red, specifically from the Chianti grape variety is a rare find and at £6.35 a bottle - there's nothing not to love here.
Chianti is soft on the palette and even lighter in body. It's rich in tannins so does have some body to it. If you're looking for a full bodied red - this probably isn't the best to go for. If you're looking for a mulled wine for quaffing, this is one to try.
Price: £6.35, Co Op - buy here now
7. Squealing Pig Grenache Syrah Carignan
Source from vineyards in Languedoc, France; this bottle of Squealing pig is made from a lovely blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan grapes.
If you need an aromatic full bodied red, this is pretty premium stuff. The blend of different intensity grapes will make this a charm to mull.
At £9 a bottle it isn't the cheapest wine on the list and you could go for a cheaper alternative. However, the grape varieties and refined taste makes the price tag completely understandable.
Price: £9.13, Amazon - buy here now
8. J.P. Chenet Cabernet Syrah
The Cabernet and Syrah grapes used to form this wine are grown in the sunniest parts of South-Western France - giving you ripe, fruity notes with light spices on the palette.
Cabernet tends o be quite a light red and not great for warming, Syrah however, is a much heavier variety that will offer some density to the overall taste.
At £6.75 this is a great option for mulling if you don't want a mulled wine that's going to be too heavy. If you plan on adding extra alcoholic beverages and spices, J.P Chenet is one to consider.
Price: £6.75, Morrisons - buy here now
9. Lindeman's Tollana Shiraz Cabernet
At a fiver a bottle you can't really go wrong, especially not with an Australian Shiraz.
This rich and fruity palette red has slight oak notes, which may not be the best option if you're planning on adding lots of spice to it anyway.
However, if you're going for a lighter and easy to quaff mulled wine, the already fruity tones of this wine will give you a nice, slow sipper.
Price: £4.50, Asda - buy here now
10. Graffigna Reserve Malbec
Malbecs are generally quite light in the red world, although you can get full bodied ones, in terms of taste it isn't rare to find them oaked.
If you're looking at an Argentinian Malbec however, that's pretty much as full bodied of a Malbec that you're going to find.
This fruit forward red, has a slight oak notes with hints of pepper. The berry palette combined with ripe tannins make this a Malbec worthy of mulling.
Price: £9, Sainsburys - buy here now
11. Trivento Reserve Malbec
This Malbec from the South Western region of France is high in tannins and has notes of blackberry jam and darker fruits.
This will make a fairly good mulled wine if you don't want too much of a kick; although if you prefer richer flavours in your pudding - you might want something a little more full.
Price: £8, Tesco - buy here now
