Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups dry red wine
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 whole cloves
• 3 whole fresh figs, quartered
• Vanilla gelato as an accompaniment
• Mint sprigs for garnish if desired

Instructions

1. In a saucepan combine the wine, sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Bring the liquid to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring, and simmer the mixture for 5 minutes. Add the figs and simmer just until figs are heated through. Let cool to warm. Arrange scoops of gelato in two stemmed glasses and top with the figs and some of the poaching liquid. Garnish with mint if desired.