Vin Chaud (Mulled Wine)

From the French Food section of About.com.

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Yields: 1 pitcher

Ingredients

• 1 (750 ml) bottle red wine
• 4  cinnamon sticks
• 5  inches  by 1/2-inch piece orange zest (white pith removed)
• 4  tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2  cardamom pods
• 5  whole cloves
• 1⁄3 cup cognac

Directions

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to just under a simmer over the lowest heat setting on the stovetop. Do not allow the wine to boil. The mulled wine is hot enough when the sugar has dissolved and pulling and lifting a spoon from the wine brings up steam.
2. If desired, strain the spices from the wine by pouring it through a fine-mesh sieve or a cheesecloth-lined colander.
3. Add 1-2 teaspoons of Cognac to a mug and ladle the mulled wine over it.