Merlot for all seasons Spiced, Mulled, and Fruity: A merlot for all seasons!
Whether you’re cuddled up in front of the fireplace or packing your togs for the beach, summer is about great times with great people… and great wine. There’s no better way to celebrate summer than with spiced, mulled, and fruity wine cocktails!
For the summer holidaymakers, we suggest spiced sangria served in chilled wine glasses. This is a versatile cocktail that can be adjusted to your occasion – add a splash of vodka or spiced rum to kick start your party or mix in a cup of orange juice for a lower alcohol option.
For our cooler counterparts in the Northern Hemisphere, warm up with a steamy glass of spiced mulled wine – perfect for any occasion. Again, feel free to kick things up a notch by adding a splash of brandy or winding down with an extra dash of OJ.
Either way, we recommend reaching for the Giesen Estate Merlot as your go-to spicing and mulling wine. Our merlot features aromas of plum, dark cherry, cassis, mocha, and cedar with a fruit-focused and approachable palate showing flavours of dry spice. Sounds perfect, right‽
Spiced Sangria
2 oranges
1/3 cup caster (super fine) sugar
1 750ml bottle of your favourite Giesen Estate red wine
4 Cloves, whole
4 Cinnamon sticks
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced and seeded
1/2 orange, thinly sliced and seeded
2 cups cold club soda
Option add-ons: sliced lime, peeled clementines, blueberries, or sliced grapes
Remove a strip of peel from 1 orange and set aside. Juice both oranges (about 1 cup). Mix the orange juice and sugar in a large jug/pitcher, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the wine, and add the cinnamon sticks, lemon, and orange slices. For the pièce de résistance, press whole cloves into the reserved strip of orange peel and add to the cocktail.
Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve. Stir in club soda just before serving & enjoy!
World’s Best Mulled Wine
1 750ml bottle of your favourite Giesen Estate red wine
150g castor sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
Peel of one lemon
Peel of one orange
1 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
5 cloves
1 tsp fresh nutmeg
Pinch of ginger
Place all ingredients except the wine into a large saucepan and place on medium heat. Add just a small glug of red wine to the pan to ensure the sugar is covered and let it reduce for 5 minutes until it becomes thick and sticky. This should let all the spices infuse well.
Once the mixture has become sticky, add the rest of the wine and turn down the heat. You don’t want the wine to boil otherwise all the alcohol will evaporate! Let simmer for 5 minutes and serve hot with slices with fresh orange.