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Ask a dozen people what they consider the most “camping-friendly” adult beverage, and it’s a pretty good bet most of them will respond with a four-letter word …
“Beer.”
But that other four-letter beverage … “wine” … is catching on as a campsite staple. And there’s every reason for it especially canned wines and boxed wines. These containers are making red, white, and even sparkling wines totally “camping-friendly.”
So 50 Campfires decided to explore this new frontier of wine with some recipes for the cooler and cold days ahead, an inside look at some really good boxed and canned wines that are winning awards. Whether sipped next to an October campfire or next to a fireplace on a mid-winter’s evening, these are some great recipes to warm the cockles of your heart … and everything else.
Enjoy!
Pumpkin Mulled Wine
Of course there’s a mulled wine recipe with a delicious hint of pumpkin spice. What could be better?
Author: 50 Campfires
Recipe type: Cocktail
Cuisine: Camp Cooking
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- ¾ cup canned pumpkin
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 whole nutmegs, crushed
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 3 cups of Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon
Instructions
- Combine pumpkin, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar with one cup of water in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a low simmer.
- Stir occasionally until pumpkin is tender. It will take 45 minutes to an hour.
- Let cool to room temperature.
- Add the wine and refrigerate at least overnight.
- Strain through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
- Rewarm over low heat before serving.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and/or a curl of pumpkin rind.
Mulled White Wine
It’s white. It’s light. Delicious.
Author: 50 Campfires
Recipe type: Cocktail
Cuisine: Camp Cooking
Serves: 10-12 servings
Ingredients
- 6 cups of Black Box Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay
- 2 oranges, sliced
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brandy
- 16 whole cloves
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 4 star anise
- additional orange slices and star anise for garnish
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in non-aluminum saucepan.
- Bring to low simmer, but DO NOT BOIL.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for at least one hour.
- Strain and serve warm with garnishes of your choosing.
Mulled Wine With Brandy
Here’s a great recipe for those who want a little extra kick from a mug of mulled wine. The secret is … don’t let it boil or you’ll lose the alcohol.
Author: 50 Campfires
Recipe type: Cocktail
Cuisine: Camp Cooking
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 3 cups of Black Box Pinot Noir
- 1 orange, peeled and sliced (retain peel for zest)
- ¼ cup brandy
- 8-10 cloves
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp. fresh ginger, finely grated
Instructions
- Add all ingredients, including orange zest, to a medium kettle or crock pot.
- Stir to combine.
- Warm gently for 30 minutes, but DO NOT BRING TO BOIL!
- Stir occasionally to make sure the honey has melted and distributed throughout.
- When mixture is steaming, scoop with ladle but avoiding the spices.
- Serve in mugs and garnish with additional orange slices and cinnamon sticks.
