CURE FOR THE COMMON COLD?
Mulled wine comforts the sick - and fills the house with a delicious cider aroma
BY DAVID HIMMEL

Around late September and early October, many suffer from a combination of allergies and a vicious cold. This includes me. The symptoms are always the same: Swollen eyes, stuffy nose, achy bones, a hoarse voice and zero desire to booze. 

That was me early this month. I had no voice, which proved problematic when I was in radio. These days, it's just a nuisance as colleagues constantly joke, "Finally, some peace and quiet." I feel like hell and they mock me. (Jerks.) But not all of them …

In the midst of my sickness, I was invited to my dear friends' apartment for dinner and wine. David and Campbell Clayton often invite guests over for grub and suds and it's often a delicious time, all leaving full and soused. 

"Bring that girl you said you were talking to," Campbell suggested.

"I tried calling her already," I said. "But because my voice is M.I.A. I guess she couldn't hear me, so it's just me tonight."

I never need to bring anything to the Clayton's. They always supply the food and wine. My role is to clean any dishes afterwards. A staple is the Clayton House Wine, which is nothing more than an Italian Cabernet from Trader Joe's, also known as 3-Buck Chuck ($2.99).

I didn't have to knock when I arrived at their flat; David had heard me coughing from the stairwell about 30 yards away and was waiting with the door open. Always the entertainer and caretaker, Campbell had a brilliant idea: She was going to make me mulled wine, or a wine cider, to nurse my throat and cure my cold. 

Her grandmother visited Oregon's wine country a few months back and picked up some mulling spices as well as some blueberry wine for Campbell. Although she forgot to mail the wine, Campbell had the wine-mulling spices, which were actually made in California. Mulled wine spices commonly consist of a dried orange peel, a whole cinnamon stick, all spice and cloves. They came in a tiny tin with a mulling bag. On average, a one-pound bag of mulling spices can cost between $10 and $20. During the holiday season, you can buy mulling spices at Cost Plus World Market stores.

Campbell poured a bottle of house wine into a pot with the spices, a bit of water and brown sugar. She let it mull on low heat for about two hours. Italians call it vin brule, the French label it vin chaud, and the smell is incredibly comforting. It's like cider for alcoholics - er, wine enthusiasts.

Mulled wine is similar to German Gluhwein. In Romania, it is called vin fiert, which translates literally to "hot wine." It is usually made from red wine, but white can be substituted. I would imagine the flavor would not be as rewarding because white wines lack the body that reds possess, which is needed to complement the spices. Mulled wine is very popular in the Ukraine as a cure for a cold.

"I learned that when I was in the Peace Corps volunteering at an orphanage," Campbell said. "A nurse knew I was sick and brought it to me."

"And she drank it by the gallons until she was better," David chimed in.

The next morning, I woke up and the tickle in my throat that had plagued me all week was absent. My nose was still a bit stuffy, but overall I felt worlds better. I'm not saying the mulled wine cured me, or initiated a cure, but it certainly helped. And it tasted better than NyQuil. 

With the flu and allergy season upon us, mulled wine is a great way to enjoy your daily glass of vino while bundled under the covers trying to sweat out the bug. And with the holidays just around the corner, this new comfort drink just might take the place of Bailey's and hot cocoa. LW