Mulled Wine

Cut the orange and the lemon into slices, preserving the skin for cooking. Reserve it.

Combine all the ingredients in a large pot where they can be cooked slowly: wine (it can be Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot or Syrah / Shiraz but avoid Pinot Noir), brandy, water, a teaspoon of ground nutmeg, two teaspoons of ground ginger, five whole cloves, three cinnamon sticks, two star anise). Heat over low or medium heat, without reaching boiling, for 20-25 minutes.

Stir it to make sure that the sugar has completely dissolved. Once the wine is releasing steam and the ingredients are well integrated, put it out of the heat. Distribute the hot wine in glasses, without the condiments, and decorate them with the orange peel and a cinnamon stick.

On cold days, a hot drink like this should be more than pleasant.