This warm holiday drink comes from “Your Holiday Week-End Recipes” in the December 1944 issue of Woman’s Home Companion. The recipe collection was published with an article that included menus and planning suggestions since Christmas fell on a Monday that year. That meant three days of holiday meal planning for the home front housewife. This wineade was in a menu for a Christmas Eve supper.
Hot Wineade
Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 3/4 cup lemon juice, 3 cups water, and 2 1/4 cups sweet red wine in a saucepan. Heat but do not boil. Serve with a dash of nutmeg and a slice of lemon. Add more sugar if desired. Makes 6 servings.
Results
First, I should note that I am not a wine drinker. Only one person who taste-tested this drink actually enjoys wine on a regular basis. Having said that, though, everyone liked this warm, comforting wineade. It was sweet with a nice lemon flavor that complemented the wine. I think it would be wonderful to sip in front of a fire on a cold winter’s day. It was 85°F when we tried it, so we’ll try again on a cooler evening in the future.
If the scent of wine is off-putting to you, know that it does have a strong wine scent close to the cup, but not as much farther away from the liquid. It made the kitchen smell really nice and festive. We all agreed that this is an excellent holiday drink and plan on making it again when we celebrate on New Year’s Eve.
History in the Kitchen 