Place all the ingredients apart from the alcohol into a small-medium sized saucepan and add just enough wine to cover the sugar, perhaps about 100ml.
100 g white sugar, 1 unwaxed orange, 1 unwaxed lemon, 1 unwaxed lime, 2.5 cm fresh ginger, sliced, 3 cloves, 1 small cinnamon stick, 750 ml bottle of good quality, fruity red wine
Heat on medium until the sugar has dissolved, stirring well.
Lower the heat and simmer for 2 minutes, to allow the spicy citrus flavour to develop slightly.
Add the rest of the wine, Cointreau and brandy and continue to heat on low heat. After 5 minutes or so, it should have warmed through and be ready to be served. I like to leave it on the lowest heat setting and top up my glass as needed.
60 ml Cointreau, 60 ml good quality brandy
Notes
If you are serving a crowd, have a large saucepan and get 3-4 bottles going on the stove and just leave it there and serve up to guests as needed.