Glühwein, the traditional Christmas drink of Europe (2024)

FAQs

Why is Glühwein so cheap? ›

Now, the thing with bulk produced Gluehwein is: for beverages above 1.2% alcohol there is no law requesting an ingredients list. That means open doors for the cheapest possible ingredients – stuff you would normally not want to drink.

Glühwein is traditionally served around the Christmas holidays and dates back all the way to the 2nd century. The Romans are credited as the first nation to heat and spice wine during their military march across Europe.

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%.

Warm mulled wine is a delightful drink to enjoy during the winter season. Different cultures have their own variations and the version served in Germany and Austria is known as Glühwein.

Glühwein is usually prepared from red wine, heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star aniseed, orange, sugar and at times vanilla pods. It is sometimes drunk mit Schuss (with a shot), which means that rum or some other liquor has been added.

Here in the States, they call it Hark and Holly Glühwein. And at Trader Joe's, we call it one of our favorite ways to keep warm during the holidays.

Usually the deposit of pfand (pronounced “font”) is at the bottom and ranges from €2 to €4. A mug of Glühwein may cost €3, plus the €2 deposit/pfand. They will ask for €5.

If it's a Glühwein you're going for, you can't beat classic Teutonic pairings like salty blue cheese pastries, pork schnitzel with lemon cream sauce – the fatty salty sweet and spice combination is pure heaven – or apfelkuchen (German apple cake).

As we point out in the below directions, Glühwein is served hot and should be sipped slowly just as you would with a fresh cup of coffee. Of course, you do not have to splurge on crystal glassware to sip Gluhwein. A regular mug is a fine alternative.

What is another name for Glühwein? ›

This traditional homemade mulled wine recipe is incredibly easy to make and always SO cozy and delicious. Also known as glühwein, vino caliente, glögg, vin brulé, bisschopswijn, vin chaud, candola, vinho quente…or literally a hundred other names, depending on where in the world life may find you.

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.

Mulled wine still has a high alcohol and sugar content, so you should be aware of how much you're consuming. 'People often think that because it's been heated it's less alcoholic, but only a small amount actually evaporates,' explains Dr Lee.

Here's how to make Vin Chaud (Alsatian Gluhwein/French Mulled Wine) — delightfully warming and a great way to welcome everyone in from the cold.

Gluhwein, literally translated as "glow wine", is traditionally served in German speaking countries.

Glögi is the Finnish version of mulled wine, known as glögg in other Scandinavian countries and Glühwein in German-speaking areas.