A DIY Gift IDEA - Mulled Wine Kit {WITH TWO WAYS TO GIFT IT}

MAKE SOMEONE’S DAY BOOZY, MERRY AND BRIGHT

*originally published Dec. 2014, last updated Dec. 2021

The trees are up, the halls are decked, it's time to start spreading the holiday cheer! And what better way to do that than with something that smells like Christmas, looks like Christmas, and tastes like Christmas. A mulled wine kit is not only a delicious, festive gift to receive, but it's also fairly easy one DIY gift to assemble.

In today’s post I've included details on how to make two different mulled wine kit options. The first one is a simple, unfussy, more affordable option that makes a great gift for things like a party host/hostess, grab bag gift, Secret Santa or a co-worker gift. The second mulled wine kit is a bit more complex but is perfect for a boss, a host/hostess gift if you're staying at their house during the holidays, a family member, a friend or really any wine-lovers in your life. While the gift box requires a few more pieces to put together than the first option, it’s still super easy to assemble and also very easy to customize with aesthetics and specific items you add in.

Read on to find out more details and scroll all the way to the bottom to shop the supplies you need to make these mulled wine kits.

HOW TO MAKE A Mulled Wine Kit

Option 1 // A Bottle of Wine + Mulling Spices

This option is simple, straightforward and really easy to put together. It’s also a bit more approachable in price point, with the biggest expense being the bottle of wine you select. It makes a great gift for a colleague, a friend, a host for a casual holiday gathering or anytime you want to gift a little something but don’t need a big gift. It’s also easy to batch a bunch of these if you need a lot of host gifts and you can also keep everything on hand and easily throw this together in a pinch if you need a last minute gift.

WHAT YOU NEED

• RED WINE

  A bottle of something like a Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon is great

• MULLING SPICES

  A bag of mulling spices wrapped up in cheesecloth or a pre-made muslin cheesecloth bag; you can buy the spices pre-made in bulk or use this recipe as a guide on the spices to use- 1 cinnamon stick, 15 grates of fresh nutmeg, 5 whole cloves, 2-3 star anise, 1 teaspoon dried ginger, a pinch of allspice, a pinch of fresh ground black pepper or 2 peppercorns and a few dried orange slices)

• GIFT TAG

  Use baker's twine or jute twine to tie the gift tag around the neck of the bottle and add a festive touch with a sprig of berries or evergreen and/or an extra cinnamon stick or dried citrus slice.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE

STEP 1

Assemble the bag of mulling spices.

STEP 2

Tie the mulling spice bag, along with a handwritten gift tag with simple instructions (i.e. Add to a pan and heat over medium heat for 20 minutes) and any other festive touches, around the wine bottle neck. Voila! It’s ready to gift!

Option 2 // A Mulled Wine Gift Box

This option is a little more involved, both in cost and in the time it takes to gather the items and put it together. However, the resulting gift basket is something really beautiful and filled with items that the recipient can use to both make the mulled wine and in future cooking endeavors. This is a good gift for a good friend, a boss, a host for a dinner party, someone who likes to cook and host or for anyone you need a larger, more meaningful gift for.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS giFT BOX

• RED WINE

  A bottle of something like a Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon is a great option

• MULLING SPICES

  A bag of mulling spices wrapped up in cheesecloth or a pre-made muslin cheesecloth bag; you can buy the spices pre-made in bulk or use this recipe as a guide on the spices to use- 1 cinnamon stick, 15 grates of fresh nutmeg, 5 whole cloves, 2-3 star anise, 1 teaspoon dried ginger, a pinch of allspice, a pinch of fresh ground black pepper or 2 peppercorns and a few dried orange slices); you could also do a nice jar of mulling spices (either one you’ve filled yourself or a store bought one) as opposed to the bag

• GIFT TAG

  Use baker's twine or jute twine to tie the gift tag around the neck of the bottle or the bag/jar of mulling spices

• A WOODEN BOX or a BASKET

  If you really want to take this to the next level you could also use a large pot as the gifting vessel, something special like this or something nice but more practical like this. The pan option makes this a really great gift for someone who likes to cook and, obviously, the recipient can also use the pan to make the mulled wine.

• FESTIVE GREENERY

  You can use real evergreen branches or faux ones along with things such as olive branches, berry branches, cinnamon branches (for something scented) and even pinecones (bonus points if the pinecones are scented)

• KRAFT PAPER FILLER

  To help line and cushion the basket, but still keep things looking minimal, elevated and streamlined

• TEA TOWEL(s)

  A functional addition in that it both helps to line the basket and also serves as a useful item for the recipient to use in their kitchen

• LIQUOR

  A small bottle of brandy, cognac or orange liquor

• JAR OF HONEY

• CITRUS FRUIT

  I like to include both an orange and a lemon; you can also include dried citrus slices.

• MUGS

  I like glass mugs but copper or stoneware ones are also great options

• WOODEN SPOON

  I like to tie mine with a bow to add a nice festive touch.

• GARNISH OPTIONS

  A few extra cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices and star anise so the recipient has items to garnish their mulled wine with when they make it

• A COPY OF THE RECIPE

  Bonus points if it’s handwritten on lovely card stock as that adds such a nice personal touch to the gift basket.

• OPTIONAL ADD-ONS

  Napkins, teaspoons, a bag of dried fruit, and a holiday scented candle

HOW TO ASSEMBLE THe GIFT BOX

STEP 1

Line the gift box of your choice (either a wooden box, a basket or a pot) with paper filler and a tea towel then layer in a mix of evergreen branches, real or faux ones, along with things such as olive branches, berry branches, cinnamon branches (for something scented) and even pinecones (bonus points if the pinecones are scented).

STEP 2

Add the bottle of red wine (pinot noir or cabernet sauvignon) to the basket then arrange the remaining items around the bottle-

• A small bottle of brandy/cognac/orange liquor

• A small jar of honey and

• A nice jar of mulling spices or a bag of mulling spices wrapped up in cheesecloth or a pre-made muslin cheesecloth bag; you can buy the spices pre-made in bulk or use this recipe as a guide on the spices to use- 1 cinnamon stick, 15 grates of fresh nutmeg, 5 whole cloves, 2-3 star anise, 1 teaspoon dried ginger, a pinch of allspice, a pinch of fresh ground black pepper or 2 peppercorns and a few dried orange slices)

• Citrus fruit

• Mugs- either glass mugs, copper or stoneware ones

• A wooden spoon (I tie mine with a bow)

• A few extra cinnamon sticks

• Dried orange slices and star anise for garnishes (I like to tuck these into the mugs)

• Any other optional items you have space for or want to add in- some nice napkins, teaspoons, a bag of dried fruit and/or a holiday scented candle

STEP 3

Tuck in a copy of the recipe on nice card stock. Bonus points if it’s handwritten as that adds such a lovely personal touch to the gift basket.

STEP 4

Finish with a handwritten gift tag. I like to tie mine either around the neck of the wine bottle, the wooden spoon or the mulling spices.

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