Spiced Alcohol-Free Wine Drink (Printable Version)
A cozy, spiced alcohol-free wine infused with cinnamon, cloves, and citrus for warming festive drinks.
# What You'll Need:
→ Base
01 - 25 fl oz non-alcoholic red wine (dealcoholized wine or grape juice)
02 - 3.4 fl oz freshly squeezed orange juice
03 - 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
→ Spices and Flavorings
04 - 1 cinnamon stick
05 - 4 whole cloves
06 - 3 star anise pods
07 - 1 small piece fresh ginger (0.8 inch), sliced
08 - 1 vanilla pod, split or 1 tsp vanilla extract
09 - 1 orange, sliced into rounds
10 - ½ lemon, sliced into rounds
11 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
# How to Make It:
01 - In a medium saucepan, pour non-alcoholic red wine and orange juice.
02 - Stir in honey or maple syrup until fully dissolved.
03 - Incorporate cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, sliced ginger, vanilla, orange and lemon slices, and ground nutmeg.
04 - Heat gently over low to medium heat until steaming but not boiling, about 15 to 20 minutes.
05 - Remove from heat and allow to steep for 5 minutes to enhance flavors.
06 - Strain the beverage into heatproof mugs or glasses, garnish as desired with orange slice or cinnamon stick, and serve warm.
# Expert Insights:
01 -
- It fills your whole kitchen with the kind of spice-filled warmth that makes people linger longer than they planned.
- No guilt, no headiness—just genuine comfort in a mug that tastes like someone cared enough to slow down and make it.
02 -
- Never let this boil—I learned this the hard way when I got impatient and the spices turned bitter and sharp instead of warm and welcoming.
- Fresh spices matter more here than in almost any other recipe; old cloves and tired cinnamon will taste dusty instead of alive.
03 -
- Make a double batch and keep it in the refrigerator; it reheats gently and tastes even better the next day when the flavors have had time to settle.
- Add a few cranberries or thin apple slices for extra seasonal flavor and a touch of tartness that plays beautifully with the spices.