Sugar and Spice Mulled Wine

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of 1.5L Sutter Home Merlot
• 3 cups apple cider
• 2 cups fresh orange juice
• 1 cup brandy
• 2/3 cup maple syrup
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 2 tsp whole cloves
• 2-4 star anise pods
• 4 cardamom pods
• 4 oranges, sliced
• 4 pears, sliced

Directions:

• Add Sutter Home Merlot, cider, orange juice, brandy, and maple syrup to a stock pot over medium-low heat and stir well.
• Add the cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cardamom, one sliced orange, and one sliced pear. Bring to a very gentle simmer but do not let the mixture boil, otherwise the alcohol will cook out.
• Stir every 10 minutes or so and simmer at low heat for one hour or up to 3. Removed spices and mulled fruits.
• Add in another sliced orange and pear. Let infuse for 10-15 minutes at low heat, then serve warm.

Sutter Home Merlot 1.5L