Traditional French Vin Chaud (Mulled Wine) Recipe

Name: Traditional French Vin Chaud (Mulled Wine) Recipe
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 22 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 2 standard 750ml bottles red wine (pick a good everyday wine, not too robust - save the expensive wine for your meal, but pick something drinkable.); 1 cup brandy or applejack; 1 cup orange juice; Half an orange, sliced thin; 4 cardamom pods; 2 sticks of cinnamon; 4 star anise; 6 whole cloves; 1/2 cup cranberries, optional

By Courtney ODell

Nov 28, 2021, Updated Feb 01, 2023

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Traditional French Vin Chaud Mulled Wine Recipe – the most delicious, easy, and authentic Vin Chaud just like French Christmas Markets serve!

vin chaud in a clear mug with slices of orange and cranberries with cinnamon sticks

In winter in France, one of the best things to slowly sip to warm up is a piping hot mug of Vin Chaud – a lightly spiced warm mulled wine that is incredibly delicious.

This mulled wine isn’t just for Christmas – while you’ll find Vin Chaud everywhere you turn at French Christmas markets, this French mulled wine is a winter-long drink that is perfect on a cold night, after skiing, after sledding, or any other time you want a warm cup of something comforting.

This wine is simple, delicious, and incredibly easy to make – it’s great for parties, a cozy night in, and anytime you just want a warm pick me up.

If you’d like to skip over my tips and tricks and photos from visiting Paris at Christmas, where I was inspired to make this French Mulled Wine Recipe, please scroll to the bottom of the page.

I get lots of comments, questions, and requests for more information on my posts, so I put in as much information for readers as possible.

If you’d like to skip and get straight to the vin chaud recipe, please scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find the easy printable recipe.

Paris Christmas Market Mulled Wine
Red Wine Mulled Wine
How to Serve Hot Wine
Slow Cooker Spiced Wine
More Christmas Market Travel:
Other Mulled Wine Recipes You’ll Love:
Traditional French Vin Chaud Mulled Wine Recipe

Paris Christmas Market Mulled Wine

I try to go to Europe every winter to take in the Christmas markets (click here to see all about trips I’ve taken!), which inspired this recipe.

In 2018, it was our second year in a row visiting for Christmas, and it was even more lovely than ever.

While Luke and I were in Paris, we spent much of our time soaking up the wintery sights – Christmas Markets, Chocolatiers who made fancy creations perfect for a Christmas spread, antique shops, over the top stores with crazy displays – it was all such a dream.

We also spent a fair amount of time sitting in quiet cafes, tucking into amazing meals and drinking fabulous wine as we watched people shopping outside, and soaked up tons of art at the Louvre and the D’Orsay – as well as just strolling up and down the banks of the Seine.

We visited the Christmas Market next to the Louvre in the Jardins de Tulleries, which was a magical sprawling space full of amazing gourmet foods like escargot, caviar, oysters, langoustines, champagne, and of course Christmas classics like Vin Chaud, chestnuts, gingerbread, candies, and tons of spiced cakes.

It was an intoxicatingly whimsical Christmas Market – I hope I can take my kids there next year for more festive fun. They asked to go to London and Paris for our family trips this year (I was pretty shocked that won out over Disneyland… but I am not complaining!!), and I can’t wait until we get to take them there.

You can’t beat Christmastime in Paris – it is just one of the most magical places on earth. I am so sad we can’t travel to Europe to be with our family there for Christmas this year, but are hoping and praying we can next year!

Red Wine Mulled Wine

The great thing about this simple mulled wine is that it is a great mulled wine base. You can easily take this recipe and build on it to make it your own – feel free to add in lots of different fruits, herbs, spices, liquors, and juices to find a blend you love.

To make your own custom Red Wine Mulled Wine, try some of these tips:

-For every bottle of red wine, add ½ cup brandy, whiskey, or bourbon to the large pot.

-Use 1 cup of sugar – but that can be granulated sugar or a sugary juice.

-Add fresh herbs like rosemary for a twist.

-Slice apples thin and add them to the pot.

-Throw in a handful of ripe berries.

-Use Aspen Mulling spices in place of spices and sugar.

-Bring to a quick boil and then immediately reduce heat. No matter your ingredients, you want them to just boil then keep them simmering for warm wine that lasts all night long.

How to Serve Hot Wine

This Vin Chaud recipe is gorgeous for parties – it is so easy and delicious, but it is also really pretty and can make for a perfect custom cocktail.

I serve mulled red wine in easy to hold mugs or cups (make sure you don’t use something that will burn guests hands while holding the hot liquid), and I like to top them off with an orange slice or a twist of orange peel, a couple fresh cranberries, and a cinnamon stick in each cup when serving for a party – it just seems prettier and more fun. You could also serve each with a star anise if desired.

When serving this hot wine at home, my husband and I just make a pot and keep it slowly simmering on the stove throughout the night (which makes the house sound fantastic) and hang a ladle off the side of the pot so we can top ourselves up a bit whenever we need.

This mulled wine is perfect for a cozy night in, or a big festive party!

Slow Cooker Spiced Wine

This Vin Chaud is perfect for dinner parties, after skiing or sledding, and even fancy events. To make this Vin Chaud in a slow cooker for easy serving and displaying, please follow the tips below:

To make this Vin Chaud in a slow cooker, combine all ingredients, stirring to dissolve any sugar you may have added.

Place the lid on the slow cooker and turn to high – cook until piping hot, and then set slow cooker to low to keep your wine served warm throughout the night.

More Christmas Market Travel:

To see more of my favorite travels around Paris and to European Christmas Markets, where this recipe was inspired by, please check out some of my travel recaps:

Other Mulled Wine Recipes You’ll Love:

If you love this delicious Vin Chaud French Mulled Wine recipe as much as I do, be sure to check out some of my other favorite easy mulled cider and wine recipes:

The Best Mulled Cider Ever
Ginger Mulled White Wine
Traditional Gluehwein
Elderflower Spiced Apple Cider – Spiked and Non Alcoholic Recipes
Crockpot Cranberry Apple Sangria and Virgin Sangria
Non Alcoholic Ginger Wassail