Photo by BitchBuzz

Drink of the Week: Mulled wine

December is officially upon us, and it's starting to get nippy out there. What to drink when coming in from a damp D.C. winter day? A warm mug of spicy mulled wine. Similar to sangria, mulled wine is festive enough for a party and soothing enough for a quiet night in. It's also easy to make at home and a great way to perk up a cheap red.

Our forefathers began mulling red wine in the middle ages as a way to salvage wine that had spoiled. The addition of spices, honey, and citrus improved the flavor, and the warm beverage was thought to be a more sanitary alternative to water (which it probably was, given the sanitation of the time). Mulled wine goes by many names: Glögg in Sweden, Glühwein in Germany, Negus in England, and Navegado in Chile. The ingredients vary from country to country, but generally red wine simmered with cinnamon, cloves, and sugar or honey. Additional spices, ginger, citrus peel, dried fruit, or nuts may also be added. Here's my take on this holiday beverage.

Shopping List:
1 bottle fruity red wine
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 tablespoon dried cranberries
2" piece of fresh ginger, sliced
4 star anise pods
12 cardamom pods
6 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
1/2 to 1 cup of honey or sugar, depending on how dry your wine is

Pour all ingredients into a pot. Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes. Do not allow the wine to boil, or you will cook off the alcohol. Strain and serve.

For extra kick, add half a cup of brandy. For a non-alcoholic version, swap out the wine for cranberry juice or apple cider.

Small Bites
Happy Repeal Day!
Today marks the 75th anniversary of the end of Prohibition. Check out our Repeal Day picks for events and drink specials that will help you party like it's 1933.

Eating and drinking for a good cause
On Friday, the P Street Whole Foods will be hosting a wine tasting to benefit the Red Cross. Wines will be paired with a selection of cheeses and prepared foods. Suggested donation is $1 per tasting.

On Sunday, bring the kiddies over to Hook to decorate cookies with pastry chef Heather Chittum. Tickets are $5 and will benefit Share Our Strength.

Blogger Carol Blymire (formerly of French Laundry at Home and now Alinea at Home) is also raising money for Share Our Strength. She will be giving away holding a drawing for copies of Grant Achatz's Alinea cookbook and Thomas Keller's Under Pressure for anyone who donates between now and December 31. Visit her SoS page for more information.

Openings

Zola Wine and Kitchen
This week, Zola Restaurant opened Zola Wine and Kitchen, a high concept wine store, in Penn Quarter. Glossy flat panel screens help point customers to which wines pair best with different types of food. The back of the store features a sleek test kitchen that will host cooking classes and private events.

Hana Japanese Market
Lovers of Asian groceries no longer have to trek all the way to the suburbs to get their mochi and sushi rice. Head over to Hana Japanese Market on 17th and U St for a respectable selection of Japanese ingredients and prepared foods.