Mulled Wine on the Rocks Mocktail

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This #SipSmarter shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias 

*You should consult your physician before consuming Fre if you are pregnant or have any health concerns regarding alcohol.

Two and half years ago was a really rough time for my family. My mom called me on the phone to tell me that my dad seemed really out of it. His behaviors were erratic and he was saying things that just didn’t make sense. This was totally out-of-character for him, so I went to their house to see what was going on. It seemed he couldn’t answer basic questions, like what year it was. He went to the emergency room, and they diagnosed him with a seizure disorder and gave him medication accordingly. Just weeks later, it happened again. Only this time, he lost his balance in the bathroom, crashed through the window, and really injured itself. The one good thing? This time, they correctly diagnosed his medical issues: he has liver disease. What does this mean long-term? Carefully monitoring his diet and eliminating alcohol.

In case you haven’t noticed over the last 5+ years of my blog, my family is very important to me. One way that I show the love that I have for those who are close to me is to prepare food for them. I love cooking for my family and friends! When my dad was diagnosed with his condition, he tried different alcohol-removed beers to find one he liked. He has never been much of a drinker, but he enjoyed the occasional beer when we went out for dinner together. However, he had never considered trying alcohol-removed wines. He didn’t even know they were available! When I heard about Fre Wines, I was so excited to prepare a drink that I knew he would enjoy. I used some of his favorite flavors – he loves Fall spices like cinnamon and cloves – to create a chilled summertime beverage. Here’s my recipe for Mulled Wine on the Rocks {alcohol-removed}.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle Fre Wine, Red Blend
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• juice of one orange
• zest of one orange
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 whole nutmeg
• 5 whole cloves
• 3 whole star anise

Directions:

Fre Wine is alcohol-removed wine. It is available in four varieties: Red Blend, Brut, Chardonnay, and Merlot. I grabbed a bottle of Red Blend and Chardonnay for my dad to try. Through the de-alcoholization process of producing Fre, less than one half of one percent of alcohol remains in the wine.

For this recipe, I chose the Red Blend. To begin this recipe, in a large pot, combine the cup of water, 1/2 cup of sugar, juice of one orange, zest of one orange, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, cloves, and star anise. Simmer for about 5 minutes, until the sugar has complete dissolved.

Add the entire bottle of wine to the syrup you have created. Continue to simmer for an additional 15 minutes. At that time, remove it from the heat and transfer to a pitcher. Place the pitcher in the refrigerator and cool completely.

When the mulled wine has cooled completely, add ice to the pitcher to chill it. Serve with a fresh slice of orange and enjoy this refreshing beverage! This is a great drink to serve at an outdoor barbecue, bridal shower, or other fun summertime event.

You can also just pour yourself a glass of any of the Fre Wine flavors. To make Fre, the winemakers use the revolutionary spinning cone column to remove alcohol while preserving the delicate fragrances and flavors of the wine. The finished product is a fresh, delicious beverage with all of the characteristic aromas and flavors of premium wine, but with less than 0.5% alcohol and half the calories of traditional wine.

What summertime mocktail would you create with Fre Wine? Which variety would you like to try?