It’s around this time every year that seasonal affective disorder (or SAD for short), comes into full effect. With six weeks of winter under our ever-tightening belts, and another six odd to go, we require all the coaxing we can get to throw off those cosy layers and venture outside.
Perhaps the two most warming words in the entire English language to have us nixing our Netflix habit and breaking up with our beds: mulled wine.
Whether spiced with star anise, laced with orange peel, or muddled with a stick of cinnamon, cosy up with a steaming glass of mulled wine from one of Auckland’s finest.
Augustus Bistro
Sitting proudly on the corner of St Marys Road and College Hill, this Ponsonby stalwart serves much more than just a damn good Aperol Spritz. Until the end of August, Augustus Bistro are serving Apres Ski happy hour specials daily from 4pm – 6pm. From mulled wine and hot toddys, through to Cointreau hot chocolates and house wine and beer, there's nowhere else you'd rather be come Friday night. 1-3 St Marys Rd, St Marys Bay
Coco's Cantina
It's the K Road institution that requires no introduction, and if their mulled wine is as good as their Italian fare, then you're in for a real treat. Warm yourself from the inside out by slurping back their famous spaghetti and meatballs, or noshing on their inimitable polenta chips with confit garlic aioli, all washed down with a carafe of steaming mulled wine. It's a match made in proverbial heaven. 374 Karangahape Road
Chinoiserie
While they won't earn points for presentation, they win gold when it comes to flavour. Extending the same spicy approach to their cuisine, Chinoiserie's mulled wine is the perfect remedy during cold season. 4 Owairaka Ave, Mount Albert
46&York
Taking up residence in one of Auckland's most iconic heritage buildings, defrost your date by the fire as you park up in one of 46&York's homely armchairs with a glass of the good stuff. Whet your appetite with one of their warming winter dishes, like the za'atar spiced lamb, charred carrots, asparagus, potatoes and tzatziki yoghurt to round out your night. 46 Parnell Road
The Garden Shed
"All the winter spices and warmth you'll need" is how The Garden Shed describes their mulled wine offering, and we tend to agree. Served by the glass or carafe to share, this delicious blend is the perfect accompaniment to one of their signature sharing boards. Blue cheese, anyone? 470 Mount Eden Road
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Advertise with NZME.Pocket Bar & Kitchen
A popular watering hole in the summer months, forget what you know about Pocket Bar's greenhouse-style garden bar. In winter, this Grey Lynn mainstay transforms into an inviting nook in which to park up for the evening. Featuring mandarins they grew in their own backyard, this wintry drop is sure to keep you snug. 592 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
The Wine Cellar
At the beating heart of the city's most infamous strip, lies K Road's The Wine Cellar. A popular haunt for indie kids and music lovers alike, head downstairs at St Kevins Arcade and hibernate in its dark underbelly while you wait for your gig to start, mulled wine in hand of course. St Kevins Arcade, 183 Karangahape Road
Mission Bay Pavilion
Sweet, fruity and just a tad spicy, Mission Bay Pavilion looks to Merlot to form the base of their secret mulled wine recipe, garnished with candied orange and a blend of spices. If that weren't enough, their Jamesons-laced hot toddy with spiced apple and maple is sure to warm your cockles after just one sip. 44 Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay
The Corner Bar
East siders need not miss out on the cinnamon-y goodness that is mulled wine. This Howick local is heaving with people come Friday night, so our best advice is to arrive early and stay all night. Gorgeous winter citrus and delicate spice make this mulled wine the ultimate crowd pleaser. 143 Picton Street, Howick
Stables Matakana
A little further afield (let's call this wider Auckland), lies a restaurant come bar well worth the trip. Rug up and make a beeline for Matakana Country Park, to treat your taste buds to Stables Matakana's home-brewed mulled wine, spiced to perfection. Their DIY approach means you can expertly blend their brew with lemon and a cinnamon quill to your taste. 1151 Leigh Road, Matakana Country Park
