A Violist’s Mulled Wine Recipe

Rich, satisfying, and smooth. That’s not just the sound that California Symphony’s Catherine Matovich makes when she plays her viola. Here, Catherine shares her recipe for mulled wine—the perfect, warming, spiced beverage of the season.

What You’ll Need…

• 2 bottles of red wine, preferably Cabernet
• 1 bottle Muscat Canelli or similar wine
• 1 orange studded with 20 whole cloves
• 1/2 an entire nutmeg
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 cup Grand Mariner + 3 tablespoons
• Orange slices

Instructions

In a large, stain-proof kettle or soup caldron, simmer all ingredients. Can also be made in crockpot, set on low for minimum of 2 hours.

Ladle into handle-less tea mugs, drizzle a Grand Mariner floater, and garnish with orange slices.

Can be made up to 4 days in advance, minus the clove-studded orange.

Serves 8 true drinkers or 16 people who rarely imbibe.

By Catherine Matovich, viola

See Catherine on stage at the ’Tis the Symphony holiday concerts, Saturday, Dec. 22 at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek—where you can also sip mulled wine, cocoa and other drinks at your seat.

Tickets start at $42 / $20 for kids and students under 25 with valid student I.D. at californiasymphony.org or call the Lesher Center Box Office at 925.943.SHOW.