National Mulled Wine Day

National Mulled Wine Day is observed annually on March 3 and celebrates mulled wine, a warm beverage made by heating wine with spices, fruit, and sometimes sweeteners. Although red wine is the usual base, variations can use white wine, vermouth, or port. Cinnamon, cloves, citrus peel, ginger, nutmeg, and star anise are among the ingredients used in different recipes. The National Day Calendar description describes the drink as a winter warmer made with fruits, spices, and wine.

The history of the drink reaches back much further than the holiday. Spiced and heated wine was recorded in Rome as early as the second century, while a medieval English cookbook, The Forme of Cury, includes a 1390 recipe combining red wine, sugar, and several spices. The exact beginnings are uncertain: some accounts suggest that an earlier Greek drink may have been known as “hippocras,” while Roman sources refer to a spiced wine called Conditum Paradoxum. The Wine International Association’s account notes that the drink’s exact origin is not entirely clear.

Over time, mulled wine developed regional variations. Germany’s Glühwein, Sweden’s glögg, and France’s vin chaud are among the names and styles associated with spiced wine in Europe. It is especially linked with winter holidays and Christmas markets, but March 3 offers another opportunity to enjoy its fragrant, warming flavors. The holiday’s founder and origin are unknown. Calendar Holidays lists both the founder and the date of founding as unclear.

How to Observe National Mulled Wine Day

Celebrate by preparing or enjoying a warm mug of mulled wine. You can heat red wine with sugar, citrus peel, cloves, and cinnamon, or explore variations such as white mulled wine, Glühwein, or glögg. The Wine International Association also notes that grape juice or apple cider can be used for a non-alcoholic version. Share the drink with friends or family, pair it with cheese, chocolate cake, or another sweet treat, and remember to drink responsibly—never drink and drive.

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