Traditional German Mulled Wine Recipe (Glühwein) (30 Mins) (2024)

FAQs

How long to heat Glühwein? ›

Simmer. Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer. (Avoid letting it bubble — you don't want to boil off the alcohol.) Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.

This mulled wine recipe is for the German Glühwein, which literally translates to glow-wine, because of how you feel after you've been drinking tiny mugs outside in December.

Pour the entire bottle of wine into the pot (it's okay to lick the cork), add the cinnamon stick, sugar, cloves and orange peel. Bring the wine to nearly a boil. Note: For Santa's sake, do not boil the wine! Doing so will reduce the alcohol content thus the amount of fun you'll have by equal measure.

Mulled wine is hot spiced wine. Gluhwein is a German term for exactly the same. However, they might not necessarily taste the same way because there are so many different recipes, spice mixes and wines to choose from.

Sorry to spoil the party, but here's the real deal: Simply heating alcohol, or any other cooking liquid, does not make it evaporate as quickly as a child's allowance in a candy store. The longer you cook, the more alcohol cooks out, but you have to cook food for about 3 hours to fully erase all traces of alcohol.

Make All of It Ahead of Time

Just follow the directions for your favorite recipe and let the wine simmer with spices until it's deeply infused. Then let the mulled wine cool at room temperature, transfer it to an airtight container, and store it in the fridge — it will keep well there for up to three days.

Zinfandels, Merlots, Syrah/Shiraz, or Garnache tend to work best. Avoid red wines high in tannins or have an oaky flavor, and avoid light reds. Sometimes Cabernet Sauvignon, which tends to have a full-bodied, fruity flavor, can work in a pinch, as can Malbec, which tends to have a bold, spicy flavor.

THE GERMANS also disagree: 'Bier auf Wein das lass sein; Wein auf Bier das rat' ich Dir' (roughly translated: 'Don't touch beer after wine; but wine after beer is fine'). There is an Anglo-German difference on another bit of folklore, too.

Festive Sweets: Traditional Christmas treats like gingerbread, mince pies, or stollen are an excellent pairing. Their spices harmonise with the wine's own blend of cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Savoury Snacks: Try a glass with some pigs in blankets, sausage rolls, or even a simple bruschetta.

Is Glühwein good for you? ›

It contains high levels of polyphenols, which help combat oxidative stress, reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Additionally, cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties that may assist in lowering inflammation in the body. The red wine base in mulled wine brings its own set of health benefits.

But what if you're looking for a bit more refreshment and you want to enjoy this drink cold instead? Is it not going to taste as good as it does when warm? The answer is that you can absolutely serve mulled wine chilled, and there are quite a few recipes out there for cold versions of this iconic sipper.

Similarly, while glögg often has liquor and sugar added during the mulling process, Feuerzangenbowle is the ostentatious Glühwein, which in addition to providing a fiery show of flaming sugar cone, is spiked with enough rum and caramelized sugar to challenge your liver and pancreas simultaneously.

Gluehwein (also spelled Glühwein) is a hot spiced "glow wine" that's found in many winter markets in Germany and Austria. Many tourists know it as an after-ski drink. After you come in from being out in the cold and snow, this warm, spicy mulled drink is supposed to make you "glow" with warmth again.

Fun fact, Glühwein roughly translates to “glow-wine”. This is a term derived from the hot irons that was once used to mull the wine! It is most popular in German-speaking countries and in the Alsace region in France.

The beauty of mulled wine is in your ability to try out the older spices at the back of your cupboards in new and exciting ways. After creating your delicious concoction, warm the mixture slowly over low heat. Be sure not to bring your pot to a boil, as that will boil away all the alcohol.

Saucepan on low. The pre-bottled stuff tastes better if you toss some orange slices in there. I meant to buy a cheap bottle of red wine today to make Gluhwein. I've also done it for a few hours in a crock pot on high, that way it stays warm for refills/larger groups of people.

Re-heat it – If you make mulled wine in a pot, you can always put that pot back on the stove and re-heat the wine. As long as you don't bring it to a boil, the flavour of the wine won't be affected. You may lose a little of the alcohol punch, but you still get all the rich, spicy taste of your delicious mulled wine.