As the days start getting longer and the nights chillier, it’s time for one of our favorite seasonal pick-me-ups: mulled wine. Nothing will help you nestle into the fall season better than a glass of warm wine infused with spices and citrus. It warms your bones, pleases your palate and makes your house smell wonderful. And it’s easy and relatively inexpensive to prepare, the perfect beverage to make in batches for a holiday party.

First prepared by the Romans in the 2nd century, mulled wine in its first incarnation was a utilitarian beverage used to keep warm during the winter. As the Romans conquered many parts of Europe, mulled wine also began to hold dominion, eventually being mixed with spices and sweeteners that made it an epicurean treat as well as a practical one. The beverage rose and fell in popularity in the centuries thereafter, with a massive spike in the late nineteenth century as it became known as glögg. As glögg, mulled wine first became associated with the holiday season.

Hundreds of recipes exist for mulled wine, some using white wine, most using red. Here is a classic recipe you can customize to your own taste:

Ingredients:

1 bottle dry red wine

2 cups apple cider (pure, not sparkling)

1 orange cut into segments

2 cinnamon sticks

5 whole cloves

2 star anise

4 TBSP to ¼ cup white sugar, brown sugar, or honey (depending on how sweet you like it)

Additional orange slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish

Optional additions: ¼ cup brandy, 2 shots port, extra spices such as nutmeg or cardamom

Preparation:

Add wine, cider, orange and sugar to slow cooker (3-quart or larger). Mix to combine.

Add the spices. They can be loose in the liquid or tied up in a piece of cheesecloth or a spice sack if you prefer to keep them separate.

Turn the slow cooker’s heat to low and let the mixture sit for 30 minutes.

Stir in the brandy or port (if using).

Turn the slow cooker’s heat down to warm.

Ladle the liquid into mugs, leaving out the cooked orange slices and spices.

Add fresh orange slices and cinnamon sticks to each mug.

Voila!

As you become comfortable with the basic recipe, try different variations. Add-ins such as maple syrup and tangerine can give your wine a flavor kick your guests will love. It’s hard to go wrong—just make sure you don’t ever let the wine boil, as it will lose its alcohol content.