I guess the point here is that after a long day at work on a winters day, there is a lot of comfort to be taken from a nice evening glass of red or two - particularly if the wine is served warm, with spices and citrus.
Serves plenty:
- 3 bottles of red
- 175 ml of brandy
- 200g of caster sugar
- 2 lemons
- 3 oranges
- 2 star anise
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sticks of cinnamon
- 2 dozen cloves
- 1 tbsp of nutmeg
First of all stud one of the oranges with the cloves (go crazy, make a pattern), then loosely squeeze the juice out of the rest of the fruit and chuck them and the juice (skins included) into a large pan with the sugar.
Throw in the bay leaves and allow the sugar to dissolve into a syrup. Now pour in all of the wine, I usually opt for a Rioja Joven (cheap, cheerful, young and bursting with fruit), and add the brandy an all of the remaining spices. Simmer this on a medium heat for 20-30 mins ensuring that it never boils. Leave it to infuse for a little longer before ladling into a vessel of your choice (the humble mug always gets my vote).
Job done. Who needs summer!?
