How to Host a Raclette and Mulled Wine Night at Home

There's a reason raclette and mulled wine have been warming Alpine evenings for centuries. Melted cheese scraped onto potatoes, a steaming cup of spiced wine in hand, good company around the table — it's one of those combinations that just works. If you've never hosted a raclette night before, this is your guide to doing it properly.

What is Raclette?

The word raclette comes from the French "racler" — to scrape. The dish is exactly that: a block or sliced round of semi-hard Swiss cheese, melted until bubbling, then scraped straight onto your plate over warm potatoes, pickles, and cured meats. It's interactive, relaxed, and almost impossible not to enjoy.

Originally from the Swiss canton of Valais, raclette spread across Switzerland, France and the Alpine regions of Europe where it became a staple of long winter evenings. It's no coincidence that those same regions have been drinking mulled wine — Glühwein, vin chaud, Glühmost — on cold nights for just as long. The two belong together.

What to Drink with Raclette

The richness of melted raclette cheese calls for something warm, spiced and slightly fruity to cut through it. That's exactly what a well-made mulled wine does.

A glass of mulled wine alongside raclette isn't just tradition — it makes sense on the palate. The cinnamon, cloves, star anise and citrus in a good mulled wine complement the savoury depth of the cheese without overpowering it. It also keeps the mood warm and relaxed, which is exactly what a raclette night should feel like.

Our Mulled Wine Spiced Bags make it simple — drop a bag into a bottle of red, heat gently, and you're done. No measuring spices, no straining, no mess. We'd suggest a medium-bodied Shiraz or Montepulciano for the best result. For everything you need to know about heating it perfectly, see our guide to 3 Ways to Heat Mulled Wine at Home.

Not drinking alcohol? Our Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine Guide has you covered — it works just as beautifully alongside raclette.

Setting the Scene

Raclette is as much about atmosphere as it is about food. A few simple touches go a long way:

• Dim the lights and use candles if you have them
• Set the table with small bowls for each accompaniment so guests can graze freely
• Prepare the mulled wine in advance and keep it warm on the stovetop on the lowest setting — guests can help themselves throughout the evening
• Play something low-key in the background — the conversation will do the rest

What You'll Need

For the raclette:

• 1 block of raclette cheese (available at specialty cheese stores, good delis, or online)
• Small waxy potatoes
• Gherkins
• Pickled onions
• Cured meats — prosciutto, salami, or speck all work well
• Fresh vegetables — cherry tomatoes, sliced capsicum, mushrooms

For the mulled wine:

• 1 bottle of red wine — Shiraz or Montepulciano recommended
• 1 pack of Mulled Beverages Mulled Wine Spiced Bags
• Optional: fresh slices of orange, a splash of brandy for the adults

How to Make Raclette

1. Prepare your accompaniments Boil the small potatoes until tender. Slice gherkins and pickled onions, arrange the cured meats, and set out the fresh vegetables. Get everything on the table before the cheese goes on — raclette moves fast once it starts.

2. Melt the cheese If you have a raclette grill or individual melters, use those. If not, set your oven grill to medium, place cheese slices on squares of baking paper, and grill until bubbling. Use a lifter and knife to scrape the melted cheese directly onto your plate. Be careful — it's extremely hot.

3. Start the mulled wine Pour a bottle of red into a saucepan, add one spiced bag, and heat gently over low heat for 20–25 minutes. Do not boil. Keep it warm on the lowest setting throughout the night. For more detail, follow the Mulled Wine Recipe.

4. Eat, drink, repeat Pile potatoes and accompaniments on your plate, scrape the melted cheese over the top, pour the mulled wine, and enjoy. Raclette is a slow meal — there's no rushing it.

The Occasion

A raclette and mulled wine night works for almost any winter occasion — a casual dinner with friends, a family gathering, a date night that needs no further explanation. It scales easily from two people to twelve, and the interactive nature of it means the evening takes care of itself once you've set the table.

If you're thinking about it as a gift — the Mulled Beverages Gift Selection pairs beautifully with a raclette set as a combined present for someone who appreciates a proper winter night in.

Voilà — the Alpine evening, no Alps required.