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Mulled Warm Wine

Mulled Warm Wine

Drink Recipes

The perfect mulled warm wine involves simmering sweet red wine with cinnamon sticks, cloves, citrus peel, cardamom pods and sugar. The addition of these warming spices makes mulled warm wine, also known as gluhwein, the perfect drink for chilly winter evenings. While Boozn Sam’s Glow Kits allow you to skip the cooking and jump to the end result, if you’re looking for a great mulled warm wine recipe, here’s one to try:

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle (750 ml) red wine
  • 1/2 cup sugar*
  • 1 orange, sliced
  • 4 cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon anise seeds

Mulled Warm Wine Recipe:

1. Combine all ingredients in a pot over medium-low heat. (If you are pressed for time, crank up the heat to medium but make sure to stir frequently and prevent boiling.)

2. If you are cooking low and slow to maximize your experience, bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and mull for 10 minutes.

3. The ideal temperature is 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes.

4. Strain and serve.

Add a Shot:

And if you want to give your gluhwein recipe a little kick, add a splash of brandy or rum. But, my personal favorite is a shot of butterscotch schnapps. The flavor complements sweet red wine and doesn’t get me hammered and laying on the floor drunk listening to Frank Sinatra in an hour.

Enjoy, and be sure to comment any variations of this mulled wine below. We want to hear about your upgrades. Cheers!

*For a sugar reduced or free recipe here, try Port wine, which is a naturally fortified sweet wine.

For other variations, check out the fruit mulled wine and the white mulled wine recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions About Glühwein

Frequently Asked Questions About Glühwein

Mulled Wine

What is Glühwein?

Glühwein (pronounced glue – vine), mulled wine, mulled spiced wine, or Glogg are all variations on the same theme – heated wine seasoned with sweet and aromatic spices. These spices include, to name a few, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, orange, and allspice.

There are many recipes for glühwein, but the traditional glühwein spiced wine recipe calls for heating wine with sugar and spices.  Wine is simmered with cinnamon sticks, cloves, citrus peel, cardamom pods and sugar. The addition of these warming spices makes gluhwein the perfect drink for chilly winter evenings. 

Glühwein spiced wine is not a complicated drink to make. But, traditional Glühwein is challenging to perfect. Today you don’t have to go to Germany to enjoy the glow of a cup of gluhwein. You can make your own using the curated Sam’s Glow cocktail kit, or track down the supplies on your own. 

The special Boozn’ Sam’s Glow recipe isn’t for sale anywhere else and took years of diligent research amongst wooden stands and blackened kettles through places like Austria, Germany, Finland and Sweden. 

Is Glühwein the same as mulled wine?

Yes, Gluhwein means “Glow Wine” in German. Call it Glühwein, mulled wine, or Glogg. You’re speaking the same language. 

Can you get drunk on Glühwein?

Oh yes. It might taste like heated fruit punch but it’s made with wine, which means it has alcohol. The heating occurs below the boiling point so that none of that precious alcohol is evaporated. Oh course, non alcoholic versions to exist too. That’s called Kinder punch in Germany, or kid punch. 

What is Glühwein in English?

The word glühwein is a combination of glühen, which means “to glow,” and wein, which means “wine.” And that’s exactly what gluhwein does to you after a few cups. It glows in your cheeks and warms you from the inside out.

Is Glühwein from Germany?

Glühwein is from Germany. Glogg is from Scandinavia. Mulled Wine, that a loose English translation. All the same, with slight variations. 

Glühwein Recipes

Glühwein is traditionally made with cinnamon sticks, cloves, citrus peel, cardamom pods and sugar. The addition of these warming spices makes gluhwein the perfect drink for chilly winter evenings. Below are several variations on Glühwein.

Blueberry Glühwein

Traditional Glühwein

Port Wine Glühwein

Glogg

Boozn’ Sam’s Glow

Blueberry Wine Glühwein

Blueberry Wine Glühwein

Mulled Wine

The word Glühwein (pronounced glue – vine) is a combination of glühen, which means “to glow,” and wein, which means “wine.” And that’s exactly what Glühwein does to you after a few cups. It glows in your cheeks and warms you from the inside out.

Glühwein, mulled wine, mulled spiced wine, or Glogg are all variations on the same theme – heated wine seasoned with sweet and aromatic spices. There are many recipes for Glühwein, but the traditional Glühwein recipe calls for heating wine with sugar and spices.

Blueberry Wine Glühwein is a twist on a delicious classic and involves using blueberry wine to naturally enhance and improve gluhwein, while cutting down on sugar. It’s a healthier alternative to traditional Glühwein and is a tasty treat that is sure to bring the warmth of the fire into your glass and belly, even on a cold day. 

Usually, wine is simmered with cinnamon sticks, cloves, citrus peel, cardamom pods and sugar. The addition of these warming spices makes Glühwein the perfect drink for chilly winter evenings.

Finding a way to incorporate fruit wines is a novel take on a beverage I spent years thanklessly traipsing across Europe to research via diligent consumption sessions next to open fires, singing carolers, and against cold nights seemed like an essential. Plus, a fruit wine will cut down or eliminate the amount of sugar you need to add, depending on the sweetness of the wine.

What is Blueberry Wine?

Blueberry wine is a fruit wine fermented with fruit, instead of wine, which most people are used to.  The blueberry is a small, round berry that grows on a bush. The fruit is native to North America and has been used in wine making for centuries. The blueberry wine made today is a sweet, fruity wine that can be enjoyed on its own or with food.

The process of making blueberry wine begins with the fermentation of the berries. This can be done with either fresh or frozen berries. Once the berries have been fermented, they are then pressed and the juice is extracted. The juice is then filtered and usually blended with other wines to create a unique flavor. The final step in the process is bottling and aging the wine.

Blueberry wine has a variety of benefits that make it a popular choice among wine lovers. One of the most notable benefits is its ability to pair well with food. Blueberry wine can be enjoyed with a variety of different dishes, making it a versatile choice for any occasion. Additionally, blueberry wine has been shown to have health benefits due to its high antioxidant content.

Blueberry wine has a more intense and complex flavor but is less sweet than you’d expect for a fruit wine.  It’s made by fermenting blueberries with sugar and water, and sometimes adding yeast. The fermentation process can take weeks or even months. Blueberry wine is usually red or purple in color, and has a high alcohol content.

Blueberry Wine Glühwein

Making blueberry wine glühwein is easy. Blueberry wines add a natural sweetness and additional flavor complexity to your glühwein. Just follow a traditional Glühwein recipe, using blueberry wine in place of the red wine to make blueberry wine Glühwein. You can use any type of blueberry wine you like, but we recommend something semi-sweet or sweet for best results. One of the wines mentioned above will work perfect. When selecting a fruit wine, just make sure it is not too sweet. You want the German Glühwein to have a balance of sweetness and acidity.

For a blueberry wine Glühwein, you’ll need:

  • 1 bottle Blueberry wine

  • Sugar to taste

  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 orange, sliced
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 8 allspice
  • 1 star anise (optional)

Steps:

1. Put all of the ingredients into a pot over med-low heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved.

2. You want to ensure your Glühwein is piping hot before serving.

3. Heat to a simmer. Do not bring to a boil or that will mess with the wine.

4. At that point, turn off the heat and let the mixture steep for about 10 minutes.  This will give time for the ingredients to mix and meld.

5. You can then either strain it or serve it as is.

6. If you want to keep it warm, put it back on the stove over low heat.

7. Serve in Glühwein mugs or glasses with blueberries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

History of Glühwein

History of Glühwein

Mulled Wine

Glühwein originated in Germany as a story of survival and reprisal from a hard life, a life we can’t imagine. In truth, the hot mulled spiced beverage existed centuries before making its way to Germany. But, since traditional Gluhwein is synonymous with Germany that’s the history we’ll explore.

The history of glühwein is fascinating. Glühwein first noted appearance in Germany wasn’t until the early 1400’s, long after the pillage and death of Julius Caesar. Still, I have to imagine it existed before documentation. Either way, during the 14th and 15th century, the demographic profile still varied from many other European countries. 

Created on nights when the heat of day escaped into the open, cloudless sky and cold set in with a harshness that numbed fingers, toes, and faces, I imagine they heated wine over fires and seasoned it for taste.

Glühwein first noted appearance wasn’t until the early 1400’s. But, I have to imagine it existed before documentation, and the first recorded mention of gluhwein anywhere in the world was from centuries before that point.

During the 14th and 15th center in Germany, it’s estimated a little over 10% of the population lived in cities or towns at that time, with the majority still living and working farms. Germany’s economy was agricultural in nature, as opposed to trade and industry. The Germanic people was spread out across large swaths of farmland throughout the country. 

Their foray into heating and drinking hot, spiced wine more than likely came about out of necessity to stay warm against the bitter cold winters versus as a social exercise. The cold and poverty of many who farmed and now found themselves restricted in movement and bound as serfs by the nobles of the time to land they originally owned would drive anyone to drink. 

Today Glühwein, or mulled spiced wine is a memory and has moved far beyond the history of glühwein. The heated, spiced wine is synonymous with the Christmas season, a time of love, friends, happiness, and joy. A good cup of christkindl (Christmas) gluhwein transports you into that world. Gluhwein ascended in popularity through Christkindlmarkt, Christmas Markets, in Germany, places filled with holiday cheer and goodness. 

German Christmas Markets

Not much is known about the first Christkindlmarkts, or Christmas markets. We do know that they served as a place for farmers to sell their goods, and for people to come together and celebrate the holiday season. Over time, these markets became more and more popular, eventually becoming the staple of German Christmas culture that we know today.

With its rich history and unique traditions, it’s no wonder that the Christkindlmarkt has become a global phenomenon. Cities big and small in Germany take their town squares hostages for several weeks leading up to and through the holiday season in this seasonal farmers market.

Just like cities large and small in the United States have farmer’s markets, so, too, do Christmas Markets pop up throughout the entire country of Germany and Europe. At any of these markets you can find a local, with a recipe probably passed down for generations, stirring a pot blackened by open flames, and filled with gluhwein.

At these markets, you can purchase everything from handmade decorations to fresh foods and gluhwein. Some of the more popular Christkindlmarkts are in the bigger cities of Germany, including Nuremberg, Munich, Heidelberg, Dresden, Berlin, Frankfurt, and more.

So if you find yourself in Germany during the holidays, be sure to check one out! And if not, don’t worry – you can always find a Christmas market near you. Just keep an eye out for the telltale signs: twinkling lights, the smell of fresh gingerbread, and the sound of holiday cheer.

Glühwein Recipes

Glühwein is traditionally made with cinnamon sticks, cloves, citrus peel, cardamom pods and sugar. The addition of these warming spices makes gluhwein the perfect drink for chilly winter evenings. Below are several variations on Gluhwein.

Check out a traditional glühwein recipe.

Or a fruit wine glühwein recipe.

Perhaps you should take Boozn Sam’s Glow Glühwein for a spin.