Christmas Cherry Mulled Wine

There is just something about a warm cocktail during the Christmas season that makes everything feel extra cozy. Between the twinkling lights, holiday music, Christmas movies playing in the background, and friends and family gathered around, this Christmas Cherry Mulled Wine is such a fun drink to have simmering on the stove.

If you love making festive drinks during the holidays as much as I do, you’ll also want to try my Christmas Cookie Cocktail, Gingerbread Holiday Martini, and my Christmas Punch. They’re all perfect for Christmas parties, holiday dinners, or a cozy night at home.

This cherry mulled wine is made with fruity red wine, tart cherry juice, fresh orange, warm cinnamon and cloves, a little honey, and a splash of brandy. It’s simple, warm, slightly sweet, and filled with all those cozy Christmas flavors we love this time of year.

The Perfect Cozy Christmas Cocktail

I love a beautiful Christmas martini, but sometimes the holidays call for something warm. Mulled wine is one of those cocktails that instantly makes your kitchen smell incredible while you’re making it.

The combination of red wine, orange and warm spices gives you that classic mulled wine flavor, while the tart cherry juice adds a fruity twist that makes this version a little different.

And one of my favorite things about this recipe is how easy it is. Everything warms together right on the stovetop for just a few minutes. No cocktail shaker, fancy equipment, or complicated ingredients needed.

What Does Cherry Mulled Wine Taste Like?

This Christmas Cherry Mulled Wine is warm, fruity, lightly spiced, and just sweet enough.

The cherry juice brings a deeper fruit flavor to the red wine without making the cocktail overly sweet. Orange adds a fresh citrus flavor, while cinnamon and cloves give it that unmistakable holiday aroma.

A little honey balances everything out, and the brandy at the end gives the cocktail some extra warmth.

If you’re a fan of festive cranberry cocktails too, definitely add my Clausmopolitan Cocktail Martini to your Christmas cocktail list.

What Kind of Red Wine Should I Use?

You don’t need an expensive bottle of wine for mulled wine. I would choose a fruity red wine that you already enjoy drinking.

A Pinot Noir, Merlot, or another smooth, fruit-forward red wine works beautifully because it complements the cherry juice and orange without overpowering the spices.

Since we’re adding cherry juice, honey, citrus and spices to the wine, I would save that really expensive bottle for drinking on its own!

Don’t Let the Wine Boil

This is probably the most important tip when making mulled wine.

You want to gently warm the wine rather than boil it. Keep your saucepan over low to medium-low heat and let everything warm together slowly.

Not only does this allow the cinnamon, cloves and orange to infuse into the wine, but it also keeps the cocktail tasting smooth instead of cooked or overly concentrated.

Perfect for Holiday Entertaining

This recipe makes one cozy serving, but it can easily be multiplied when you’re entertaining.

Imagine having a larger saucepan of cherry mulled wine warming on the stove when your guests arrive. Between the cinnamon, orange and cloves, your entire kitchen will smell like Christmas.

Serve it in heatproof mugs with an orange slice and cinnamon stick and you have such an easy but beautiful Christmas cocktail.

For a completely different holiday option that can serve a crowd, my Holiday Sangria is another great one to make for Christmas parties.