Mulled wine, also known as “vino navegado,” “navegado,” “navega’o,” or “candola,” is a hot beverage made with red wine, oranges, and spices. It is very popular in Chile during the winter for its ability to “warm the body” and help withstand the low temperatures.
Contents
How to make homemade Mulled Wine?
To prepare mulled wine, you can use any variety of Chilean red wine, which is readily available in various formats (bottles or boxes) at affordable prices and of good quality.
Nutritional Information
Category: Beverages
Cuisine: Chilean
Calories: 430
Preparation: 15 minutes
Cooking: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Chilean Warm Mulled Wine recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ liters of Chilean red wine
- 300 g of sugar
- 2 oranges
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cloves (optional)
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash the oranges and cut them into approximately 1 cm thick slices. Remove the seeds and set aside.
- In a large pot, heat the red wine over low heat. Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, optional cloves, and half of the sugar. Keep it simmering for about 20 minutes to allow the alcohol to evaporate. Stir occasionally to enhance the aromas and flavors. Taste and add more sugar if desired. Remove from heat before the wine reaches boiling point.
- Serve the mulled wine immediately, while still hot, in large cups or mugs. Add a slice of orange to each serving.
In the mid-20th century, a famous anecdote gave popularity to “navegado” wine. It is said that there was a failed export of Chilean wine to the United States, where a small amount of crushed glass was detected inside the barrels, leading to the wine being returned to Chile.
Once back in Chile, the wine was inspected and put back on sale as a special product that had improved in quality due to its long navigation time in the ocean and crossing the tropics. This turned “navegado” wine into a synonym for wine with exceptional aroma and flavor.
Did you know?
The name “navegado” is associated with the fact that the orange slices float or “navigate” on the hot wine. It is also linked to an old belief that wine transported by ship improved in quality, a concept that persisted in Chile even after the arrival of steamships.
