Sutter Home Sugar and Spice Mulled Wine Cocktail

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

Instructions

1. Add Sutter Home Merlot wine, cider, fresh orange juice, brandy, and maple syrup to a stock pot over medium-low heat and stir well.
2. 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.
3. Stir every 10 minutes or so and simmer at low heat for one hour (or up to 3 hours). Remove spices and mulled fruits.
4. Add in another sliced orange and pear. Let infuse for 10-15 minutes at low heat, then serve warm. Cheers!