Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (2024)

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (1)Helene Dsouza

Make this traditional easy glühwein recipe at home. Wholesome hot mulled wine to celebrate the holidays.

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

4 servings

4.9 from 22 votes

VIDEO RECIPE

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (2)

Glühwein is a spiced hot mulled wine, commonly prepared in fall and winter in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The alcoholic beverage is a must-have german holiday drink at the Christmas markets and après ski parties in the mountains.

It's guaranteed to warm you up from within!

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (3)

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (4)

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Jump to:
  • 📕 What is Glühwein?
  • 🍷 Ingredients
  • 🔪 How to make it?
  • 💡 Is Glühwein the same as mulled wine?
  • 📜 Tradition
  • 🆚 Homemade VS store-bought
  • Choice of wine
  • 🔥 Warming up mulled wine
  • ♨️ Keeping it warm
  • 💭 FAQs
  • 👁️ Holiday Beverage ideas
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

📕 What is Glühwein?

Glühwein is a hot mulled wine infused with whole spices and orange slices.

You might have come across a hot spiced Glühwein beverage before when visiting a German-speaking country before the Christmas holidays or during an Apré Ski Party in the mountains..

The purpose of a Gluehwein is to warm up the body from within on those freezing cold days in winter.

Glühwein in german and directly translated it would say glow wine, which refers to the fact that the german Christmas wine is hot and that we will "glow from within".

🍷 Ingredients

So, to make the classic mulled wine recipe from scratch you will need the following ingredients for my recipe:

  • Red Wine - not too expensive but a good one (see further below for wine recommendation
  • Water
  • Cinnamon stick
  • Star Anis
  • Vanilla Bean or Vanilla extract
  • Nutmeg
  • Orange - Needs to be untreated organic (no pesticides) because we use the skin in the mulled wine.
  • Cloves
  • Sugar

The Christmas wine spices are always whole spices because the flavors are purer and true to a traditional gluhwein recipe.

Find the checklist for the ingredients in the recipe card further below!

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (5)

🔪 How to make it?

I broke down the steps to make Glühwein from scratch.

Find the complete recipe with ingredients, instructions + video at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Step 1

Cut your orange into thick slices.

I like to poke the clove spice into the oranges, that prevents the spice from falling into the mulled wine and it looks nice.

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (6)

Slit open your vanilla bean and scratch out the seeds.

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (7)

Step 2

Pour the wine and water into a sauce pan and heat up.

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (8)

Place the orange slices into the pan with the cloves and throw in the star anise, cinnamon stick, vanilla bean with seeds and Nutmeg.

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (9)

Step 3

Allow the spices and orange slices to mull in the red wine over slow heat for about 20 minutes

The wine should never boil or else the alcohol will evaporate.

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (10)

Step 4

Leave to infuse further on the heat and pick out spices and orange slices when done infusing.

Warm up your mulled wine and sweeten it with sugar to your liking.

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (11)

💡 Is Glühwein the same as mulled wine?

Glühwein is somewhata variety of mulled wine, so to say a wine that you mull slowly over the heat and along with different spices and orange flavors.

Mulled wine is prepared the same way, which is common in Britain for example, just that the ingredients are different.

Spiced warm wine drink must have been common in Europe since Bacchus, the Greek wine god, introduced wine to us poor mortals.

So yes, the german hot wine is related to other mulled wines across Europe such as the Nordic Glögg and the Russian Glintwein.

📜 Tradition

The advent period (4 Sundays before Christmas) is the time of the year when you indulge the magic of Christmas to its fullest.

For that reason you will see typical Christmas markets, better known as Christkindlmarkt, selling the so-called Glühwein to the visitors in Austria, Bavaria in Germany and Switzerland.

It's an incredible experience to spend time with your family and friends in such a Christmas market, with the snow crystals falling from heaven, the voice of the carols enchanting your senses, the beautiful colored warm lights, the aroma of sweets and baked goods and you with a cup of hot the best mulled wine warming your heart from within.

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (12)

Another occasion, where it is common to drink Glühwein, is the 5th of December.

The 6th of December is commonly known as St.Nikolas day and that's the day when the Saint comes to bring Chocolates, Sweets, and Oranges to well-behaved Children.

But before St.Nikolas visits with his angles, the demons come back to life to take with them the naughty kids and that's what the 5th is all about.

Those demons from old times are young boys and the man from the Village in the mountains, wearing thick stinking mutton furs, huge hand-carved demon face masks, and massive bells.

You get the idea why at that point you would need an alcoholic infused german mulled wine!

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (13)

🆚 Homemade VS store-bought

So, while some believe that preparing Gluhwein from scratch is difficult, it actually doesn't involve much work from your side if you know what ingredients to add.

Recently, grocery stores like Aldi have been selling ready-made Gluehwein and mulled wine packages all over the world, so people tend to think it's an elaborate thing to make Gluehwein at home.

Folks you will rejoice because there is seriously no extra work involved in preparing Glühwein from scratch.

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (14)

You just need to throw in all the wonderful spices and orange slices and, there you have your own homemade flavorful Gluehwein!

And the upside is that you can always adjust the flavors to your ultimate liking.

Make Gluhwein a couple of times and experiment with the spices!

You will see its fun and so rewarding!

Choice of wine

Pick as a base a fruity and flavorful stronger wine for your Glühwein.

Don't go for a sweet soft wine as it becomes difficult to adjust the sugar quantity.

You want a wine with character!

That means you can pick something like a Merlot or Pinot Noir.

Other common wines that you can use to make Glühwein are Lemberger and Zweigelt.

December 2019 Update:

A reader suggested picking a sweeter red wine in the comment section because her Glühwein turned out rather bitter with a Merlot.

In that case, you can go for a Lambrusco too, but a port wine might be too sweet (but it will be your choice if you are into sweet beverages).

Also, a Madeira might be an option for you.

I personally still recommend a not so sweet wine to make Glühwein.

🔥 Warming up mulled wine

Just pour the spiced wine into a saucepan or small pot and keep on medium heat for a few minutes until it gets hot.

The mulled wine should never boil because the flavors get way too intense and change it a bit bitter.

Don't reheat the mulled wine in the microwave, the effect will be the same as boiling the Gluehwein, the flavors will change and give the hot wine drink a burned taste.

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (15)

♨️ Keeping it warm

Pour your Glühwein into Thermos.

It will keep your Christmas mulled wine nice and hot for hours if you use a good quality Thermos.

I love myKlean Kanteen Thermosfor this exact reason and I totally recommend it!

My Glühwein remains hot for 8 hours in the Klean Kanteen Thermos.

💭 FAQs

How to spell Glühwein?

Glühwein is often while spelled wrongly. We write Glühwein in German-speaking countries, which can be also written as Gluehwein. In some English speaking countries, it is often while also just spelled as Gluhwein (which is a bit wrong to a German-speaking ear)

What does Gluhwein taste like?

German gluhwein tastes like a hot wine infused with classic holiday spices with real orange flavors. The aroma is intense and relaxing.

How long is Gluhwein good for?

Gluhwein is a mulled wine that consists mainly of alcohol. If you prepare the recipe as per direction and take out the spices, you can store your gluhwein in a bottle in a cool and dark place. Your german spiced wine will be good for the coming weeks.

👁️ Holiday Beverage ideas

  • Tyrolean Jagatee - Schnapps infused hot beverage, commonly found in Après-ski Bars in Tyrol
  • White Chocolate Liqueur
  • Eggnog
  • Caribbean Sorrel Drink
  • Cranberry Moscow Mule by spoonfulofflavor.com
Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (16)

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (17)

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📖 Recipe

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (18)

Glühwein Recipe

Make this traditional easy glühwein recipe at home. Wholesome hot mulled wine to celebrate the holidays.

4.87 from 22 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Austrian, German

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 198.56kcal

Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

Ingredients

US - Metric

Instructions

  • Wash your orange well to get rid of impurities, pat dry and cut into thick slices.

  • Poke cloves into orange slices. This is to prevent the spices to fall into the mulled wine, and it will be easier to collect them afterward. Besides, it looks great too.

  • Slice the vanilla bean lengthwise and scratch out and collect the vanilla bean seeds.

  • Pour wine into a saucepan with the water and heat up gradually.

  • Place orange slices with cloves into the pan. Also add the vanilla bean with scratched out seeds, cinnamon stick, anise and nutmeg

  • Keep on slow heat (it should never boil!) and cover the pot for 15-20 minutes. You can keep the mulled wine to infuse away from the heat if you like.

  • Take out all the spices and orange slices. You can strain the mulled wine too if you don't want the fruit pulp in it.

  • Make sure your mulled wine is kept on a steady heat. Sweeten your gluhwein to your liking and serve hot.

Notes

  1. Use only untreated unpoisend oranges because you use the orange with the skin in this recipe to infuse the hot spiced wine. Check if organic means treated without chemicals in your country (not the norm in every country)
  2. If you can't get a vanilla bean use a few drops vanilla extract or use vanilla bean paste.
  3. Pick a flavorful red wine with character. You can also use Pinot Noire or Merlot.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Glühwein Recipe

Amount Per Serving (193 g)

Calories 198.56Calories from Fat 3

% Daily Value*

Fat 0.3g0%

Saturated Fat 0.02g0%

Sodium 13.64mg1%

Potassium 285.75mg8%

Carbohydrates 7.34g2%

Fiber 0.64g3%

Sugar 1.43g2%

Protein 0.27g1%

Calcium 29.93mg3%

Iron 1.26mg7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Glühwein Recipe - German Hot Mulled Wine [+Video] ☕ MasalaHerb.com (2024)

FAQs

What is the best red wine for making Glühwein? ›

Ingredients in Glühwein

Dry red wine: You don't want to use anything too sweet (or expensive)! Chianti, cabernet Sauvignon, or pinot noir, would work all well here. Sugar: You can use granulated and turbinado sugar interchangeably in this recipe. Orange: Use both the zest and the fresh juice.

What is the best way to drink mulled wine? ›

To ensure the best experience when serving mulled wine, consider these tips:
  1. Right Temperature: Serve mulled wine warm, but not too hot. ...
  2. Appropriate Glassware: Use heat-resistant glasses or mugs. ...
  3. Garnishing: Enhance the presentation by adding a cinnamon stick or an orange slice as a garnish.

What is the difference between Glühwein and mulled wine? ›

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.

How do you heat store bought Glühwein? ›

Pour the mulled wine into a large pre-heated saucepan on a low heat. Stir occasionally for few minutes until warm to the touch.

Is there any alcohol in gluhwein? ›

The main ingredients of alcoholic glögg are red wine, sugar, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and bitter orange, and optionally also stronger spirits such as vodka, akvavit, rum or brandy.

Does Aldi sell gluhwein? ›

Glühwein Mulled Wine 1l | ALDI.

Can you drink mulled wine straight from the bottle? ›

Mull Over One Of These Mulled Wine-Friendly Bottles: Of course any of these are delicious straight from the bottle too! Though the flavors of this wine are subtle, they are crisp and clean, with plentiful citrus and peach flavors.

Why does my mulled wine taste bad? ›

You need to infuse the wine long enough with the spices to take on their flavour but DON'T ON ANY ACCOUNT LET THE MIXTURE BOIL as you'll be left with a bitter taste. Slow and low is the way to go. And it shouldn't be served piping hot, just comfortably - and comfortingly - warm.

Do you drink mulled wine in a glass or a mug? ›

Most mulled wine is served in a mug. Ceramic or porcelain mugs will help to protect your hands from the heat of the spiced wine, and the mug handle will make it much easier to drink. Glass mugs are another good option for serving mulled wine. However, there are special mulled wine glasses.

What do Americans call mulled wine? ›

Most commonly “mulled wine” in English-speaking North America (more on “mulled” later), it is vin chaud or hot wine in French. In German-speaking countries, you would most likely encounter the popular winter beverage Glühwein, describing hot, spiced wine as glowing or smoldering.

How long can you keep Glühwein? ›

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.

How much alcohol is in Glühwein? ›

Officially speaking, the drink is defined by the spices used in it, namely cloves and / or cinnamon. The base also needs to be either white or red wine and have an alcohol content of at least 7%.

Can you drink glühwein cold? ›

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.

Does alcohol burn off in gluhwein? ›

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.

What to add to store-bought gluhwein? ›

Add spices such as piment, cinnamon, anise, cardamom, cloves, and some fruit, typically sliced orange. Bring to a low simmer, sweeten to taste. Done. That's a solid Gluehwein.

What wine is good for gluwein? ›

Best Wine for Glühwein

Use dry red wine, such as Chianti or cabernet sauvignon.

What kind of wine is used in gluhwein? ›

The word “Glühwein” roughly translates to “glow wine.” A traditional Glühwein typically includes a variety of spices such as cinnamon, clove, and star anise. This German mulled wine also features citrus, vanilla, and sugar. It is most often made with red wine, although you can use white wine if you prefer.

Is Merlot or Pinot Noir better for mulled wine? ›

Ideally you want to use bigger and bolder red wines like Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, or Cabernet, but any fruity red wine your family members are leaving around will do. I've used Pinot Noir before to success. Honestly, whatever red wine that you're stuck with and you don't want to drink, they'll work.

Is cabernet or merlot better for mulled wine? ›

Merlot is an ideal choice of wine for making mulled wine. Its bold, juicy fruit flavor has notes of red cherry, plum, and cranberry.

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