Where does the tradition of "mulling" wine come from?

Answer 1

To give it a more spicy taste

Answer 2

Most people seem to think that it dates back to mediaeval times but I think that it may be a great deal older than that. Certainly every monastery had its herbalist who kept remedies on hand for all manner of ills, including the common cold. In mediaeval times it would only have been the monasteries (and the rich) who would have been able to afford the spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves) and fruit used in mulling.

Mulled wine (and ale) is a rich, warming drink which is an excellent cold cure and also helps with digestion. All of the spices used are still sometimes used today in throat tablets and cough medicines. In mediaeval times they were all far too expensive to be used merely as flavouring and each one would have been valued for its medicinal properties. Like the many aniseed flavoured liqueurs, some of which still carry labels asserting their monastic origin, mulled wine was originally a medicine (and one of the pleasanter ones!)

Although the tradition of mulling wine must have been popularised by monks in Europe, I think that warmed and sweetened alcoholic drinks with the addition of herbs and spices must be considerably older than that. They may have developed from sangria-like recipes, which were possibly designed to make the poorer wines more palatable (and more potent) - one never wishes to waste alcohol! It is hard to say how long such drinks may have been around. They may, indeed, pre-date alcohol and could have begun as warmed honey and fruit drinks designed to ward off the chills of cave-dwellers!

Answer 3

And during times when wine was not the most healthy or pure of product, honey spice, fruits and there peels were added to take the bitter edge off the product, with residual yeast the storage vessels sometimes haing taken on odor or tastes.

Plus in the winter, the alchol and spices were not only comforting, but anteseptic, the alcol could cure diseases, purify blood and even be used as a preservitive, in the case of people curcoming to to the end of lfe, like the Egyptians used honey and Myrrh for embalming.

Answer 4

It comes from medieval times. They would often serve wine warm to help fight the cold.

The art of adding spices, or “mulling” wine is a centuries-old tradition. In the cold winters of northern Europe, wine would often be served warm during the holiday season. The English brought this custom to Virginia in the 16th century

Answer 5

I have got connections wsith Germany and Austria and it is tradition there to drink this mulled wine during the cold season.

Answer 6

The Mull of Kintyre Scotland

Answer 7

Centuries old tradition, before the days of tea, coffee and cocoa when a nice comforting warm drink with spices not only to keep the cold at bay, but also winter's ills.

Answer 8

Belgium

Answer 9

Probably to keep out the cold

Answer 10

Making things seem "more Christmassy"!