Mulled Wine

I had a sip of mulled wine years and years ago, and it obviously left an impression because I spent hours on the internet today trying to find a recipe that would come close to what I tasted.  I ended up just mixing my own combination of spices and it turned out yum!!!  I hope people enjoy it tomorrow at the New Year's party.  There's something very comforting about drinking a warm spiced wine on a cold day...

Ingredients

1 cup water

1/4 cup white sugar (depending on how sweet you like things)

1 tbsp brown sugar

5 cardamom pods, split open

5 cloves

2 sticks of cinnamon (~2-3 inches long)

1/4 tsp grated nutmeg

1/2 tsp allspice

1 vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise

1 orange, cut into thin slices with the skin on

750 mL red wine (I used a Carlos Rossi Burgundy)

Directions

1.  Mix water, both sugars, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice in a small saucepan.  Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.

2.  In a heavy bottom saucepan or crock pot, add the water-spice mix, wine, orange slices, and vanilla bean.  Heat this mix on low for about an hour (should not boil, just heat).

3.  Strain (optional) and serve warm!!!