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Mulled wine is now available at Castello di Borghese. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

Picture that it’s Christmas Eve and you’re sitting by the fireplace near a lit tree, feet up and cozy socks on.

Now complete that scene with a glass of mulled Long Island wine, a mixture of spices and red wine served warm or hot.

Popular in Europe and increasingly so in the U.S., mulled wine is traditionally enjoyed in the colder months, especially around the holidays.

Mulled wine is available for $5 a glass in the Castello di Borghese tasting room on Route 48 in Cutchogue. We sampled it over the weekend and must say, one sip will put you in the festive spirit.

It is not available by the bottle, but you can make your own at home using Borghese’s CdB red blend.

“It smells so good,” said vineyard co-owner Allegra Borghese. “I think it is a delectable, spicy, sweat treat.”

Borghese also sells jars of artisanal honey, a necessary ingredient for mulled wine, made from bees that live on the premises.

The following recipe was created by vineyard staffers and made fresh in the tasting room every weekend.

“It’s sort of an amalgamation,” said vineyard manager Evie Kahn. “It’s a recipe that is constantly evolving.”

The ingredients are as follows: 1 bottle Borghese CdB Red, 12 oz. apple cider or pomegranate juice, 1/3 cup Borghese honey, 1 orange (zest and juice, 4 cloves, 2 cardamon pods, 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 star anise (or Chinese five spice), 1/2 cup port wine and 1/4 cup Grand Marnier.

Pour wine and juice into a medium-sized pan (a crock port works as well), add honey, orange zest and spices and simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes. Removed from heat and strain out spices and zest and add port and spirits.

Castello di Borghese is located at 17150 Route 48 in Cutchogue. Mulled wine will be available in the tasting room all year long.

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