I think that this traditional homemade Glühwein recipe tastes better than anything you can buy at a German Christmas market. German mulled wine belongs to Christmas, as much as presents below under the Christmas tree. This recipe will fill our home with a Christmassy smell and warm you up on cold winter nights.
What is German Mulled Wine?
German mulled wine is a hot beverage consisting of red wine that is spiced with various spices such as cinnamon, anis, cloves, cardamom, and citrus fruits.
Glühwein, as this drink is called in German, literally translates as "Glowing Wine". The name is derived from the time when hot irons were used to heat the drink.
In Sweden, this wine is called Glögg.
It is usually served during Advent time and is a popular drink at German Christmas markets. Non-alcoholic mulled wine is called Kinderpunsch and is served to children at the markets.
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History
Spiced wine dates back to Greek and Roman times. This is because at the time the wine was sour. In the Middle Ages, exotic spices such as cinnamon and cloves were a status symbol, and as such wine with spices was a delicacy. In the cold winter months, the wine was heated and so Gühwein was born.
The origin of Glühwein is controversial. Swedes served their King Gustav Wasa warm wine in the 16th century (although his wife was German). The oldest Glühwein recipe in Germany dates back to 1843 and was written by Count August Josef Ludwig von Wackerbarth.
What we do know for certain is that in 1956 a man from Augsburg called Rudolf Kunzmann made the first commercial German mulled wine. You could buy a bottle ready spiced and from then on it spread across the German Christmas markets. [source: RP-Online- Wer erfand Glühwein]
Why make homemade Glühwein?
By making your own spiced wine, you not only can determine the taste and ingredients, but you can also save money. In Germany, a mug of Glühwein at a Christmas market can cost you €6. For that money, you can buy a bottle of wine and spices.
Shop-bought mulled wine often does not use good quality wine, and I think uses way too much sugar.
How to make Glühwein?
As with many traditional recipes, there is no just one authentic Glühwein recipe. Glühwein spices and ingredients can be adapted to suit your own taste. Let me show you have I make my Glühwein.
Ingredients:
- 2 bottles of dry red wine
- cloves
- cinnamon sticks
- star anise
- oranges
- brown sugar - if available, use "Braun Kandiszucker" brown rock sugar (affiliate link). It has a more caramel flavour but regular brown sugar will do
- brandy - you can also use rum or amaretto (affiliate link).
Step-by-step Instructions
- Slice two oranges and juice two oranges.
- Add the red wine, orange slices and freshly pressed orange juice and spices in a pot. Gently heat the mixture at a low temperature. Do not let it boil! The ideal temperature is 72°C/ 161 °F. Do not let it boil! Anything over 78°C/172,4°F and the alcohol will evaporate. You can best check this with a cooking thermometer.
- Optional step - leave the Glühwein to sit for an hour or two and then reheat. This will allow for the glühwein spices to fully develop their flavour.
- Add the rum (optional) and sugar. The right amount of sugar will depend on your personal taste. The better the wine, the less sugar you will need.
- Strain the orange slices and spices and serve the mulled wine hot.
To make in a slow cooker / crock pot
- Add the red wine, orange slices, and freshly pressed orange juice and spices into your slow cooker (affiliate link) / crock pot. Set your crock pot to "low" ( the high setting will bring the mulled wine to boil, you do not want that as it will boil off the alcohol.) It will take about 1 hour to heat up fully.
- Once the wine is fully warmed up, switch the crock pot setting to "warm" - and enjoy this drink with your guests.
Recipe Variations
The beauty of homemade mulled wine mix is that you can create it however you fancy. There is no limit to how creative you can be. Here are some inspirations to vary this traditional Glühwein recipe:
- Try different spices: apart from cinnamon, anise and cloves, you can try adding in a vanilla bean (affiliate link), cardamon pods, grated nutmeg, fresh ginger or coriander seeds.
- Vary the liquor: instead of rum, you can also add some brandy or amaretto (affiliate link).
- Vary the wine. In Germany, red wine is most commonly used as a basis for Glühwein. In Austria, Franconia and Italy White wine are very popular. In Hessia they prefer mulled cider. (Apfelwein)
- Try different fruits. You can also add sliced apples, raisins, oranges or cranberries to your mulled wine.
How to serve Glühwein
Serve the mulled wine hot, in cups. If you have a gathering outside you can use a portable induction hob. Also, a crockpot (affiliate link) / slow cooker (affiliate link) would work to keep the wine at a temperature without boiling.
German hot wine is served in mugs. At Christmas Markets, they will have the town's own design on them (some people even collect them)
In Germany, most Glühwein parties are held outside. If you want to offer some food to go with the wine, then finger food is perfect. For example Flammenkuchen or Quiche, cold meats and cheeses. If you want to offer something warm then German Goulash Soup or German Potato Soup with Frankfurters will all be hits.
Storage Instructions
In the unlikely event that you have leftover spiced wine, pour it into clean glass bottles and close them so that they are airtight.
Keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
You can recognize that mulled wine has gone bad, on its rancid taste. Also, the wine may appear cloudy and smell bad.
FAQ
Unfortunately yes. The warmer the drink the sooner the alcohol gets into the blood. Also because it is warm and sweet we tend to drink it faster.
German Glühwein tends to be made with red wine. I recommend choosing a wine which is not too sour, as this could have affected the taste of the Glühwein. Choose a white that is dry to medium dry, fruity and flavoursome. It needs to stand on its own against the mulled wine spices. Do not choose a sweet wine, as it will be more difficult to regulate the sweetness.
For the best Glühwein, choose a wine that you would drink normally. Do not choose the cheapest because it will just give you headache.
Wines I recommend are:
Dornfelder
Trollinger
Lemberger
Merlot
Spätburgunder
For more Christmas drinks try this Christmas Mule Recipe.
Interested in German Christmas?
- Read my Guide on German Christmas Food.
- Discover all about German Christmas Market Food
- And see all of our Christmas Recipes
Recipe
Traditional Glühwein (German Mulled Wine)
Ingredients
- 1.5 liter red wine 2 bottles 75 cl each
- 4 oranges untreated
- 5 cloves
- 3 Cinnamon Sticks
- 3 star anise
- 75 ml rum (optional)
- 100 gr brown sugar if you can get Belgium Rock Sugar
Instructions
- Slice two orange and juice the two remaining oranges.
- Add the red wine, orange slices, and freshly pressed orange juice and spices in a pot. Gently heat the mixture at a low temperature. Do not let it boil! The ideal temperature is 72°C/ 161 °F. Anything over 78°C/172,4°F and the alcohol will evaporate. You can best check this with a cooking thermometer.
- Optional Step- leave the Glühwein to sit for an hour or two and then reheat. This will allow for the spices to fully develop their flavor.
- Add the sugar. The right amount of sugar will depend on your personal taste. The better the wine, the less sugar you will need.
- For an extra kick add in the rum. But this is optional.
- Strain the orange slices and spices and serve the mulled wine hot.
To make in a slow cooker / crock pot
- Add the red wine, orange slices, and freshly pressed orange juice and spices into your slow cooker (affiliate link) / crock pot. Set your crock pot to "low" ( the high setting will bring the mulled wine to boil, you do not want that as it will boil off the alcohol.) It will take about 1 hour to heat up fully.
- Once the wine is fully warmed up, switch the crock pot setting to "warm" - and enjoy this drink with your guests.
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