What’s more warming after a day in the wild than a good old campfire? Well — drinking homemade mulled wine around the campfire maybe? Jen Kui-Maxwell has perfected her mulled wine recipe via the arduous task of trying wine from all over Australia. Here’s her recipe for the perfect campfire mulled wine (best drunk under a wide-open sky).

Campfire Mulled Wine

(Serves 4)

I love red wine. Whenever I am on a road trip, I visit some of the amazing local wine producers that Australia has on offer. The beautiful thing about red wine is the magic that happens when you combine it with aromatic spices and a splash of brandy. This mulled wine makes for a decadent addition to a cold night, particularly when you’re camping in the crisp open air.

To save bringing lots of separate ingredients camping with you, you can make up a mix with half the sugar, the spices and the currants at home beforehand and just slice in the fresh fruit at the last minute, adding extra sugar to taste.

If you’re hiking in to your campsite and still determined to have your mulled wine and drink it, you can use pre-chopped or dehydrated fruit and decant the wine into a bladder for easier transportation.

Prep & Cooking Time

Preparation Time

Home: 5mins to mix spices, sugar and currants

Camp: 5mins to slice fruit and add other ingredients

Camp Cooking Time

15-20mins

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle of red wine (I usually choose a more full-bodied, fruity red such as Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon)
  • ½ cup of brandy
  • 1 orange, sliced
  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 1 red apple, sliced (I like to use Royal Gala or Pink Lady)
  • ¼ cup of dried currants (or sultanas or raisins)
  • ¾ cup of brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 6-8 star anise
  • 1 tsp cloves
  • ½ tsp cardamom pods
  • ½ tsp fennel seeds

Equipment Required

  • Pot
  • Something to stir with
  • Camping stove or campfire embers
  • Chopping board
  • Sharp knife

Instructions

  1. Slice fruit
  2. In a large saucepan or pot, add all ingredients, except for the sugar
  3. Place on a medium heat on your camp stove or heat over campfire coals for an extra-warming touch, and bring to a simmer (making sure you do not bring the mixture to a boil)
  4. Simmer, uncovered, stirring the mixture occasionally. Add extra brown sugar to your tasting
  5. Serve warm.

 

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