This slow cooker mulled wine is an easy warm winter cocktail, perfect for entertaining.

Makes 12 servings.

Ingredients

• 2 bottles Shiraz or other fruity, dry red wine
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 stick cinnamon
• 2 star anise pods
• 10 whole cloves
• 1 orange

Directions

• Remove the orange peel using a vegetable peeler.
• Cut peel into strips. Squeeze juice from orange and discard seeds and pulp.
• In a 5-quart crock pot, add all ingredients.
• Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 hours to infuse flavours.
• Strain through a fine mesh sieve and return to cleaned crockpot to keep warm.
• Serve in heatproof cups with a cinnamon stick, slice of orange and star anise pod.